1performing a Work, wherein the Parts are
join'd with Dignity, Convenience and Beauty,
having not only other Things praiſe-worthy,
but alſo a Variety of Ornaments, ſuch as
Decency and Proportion requires; and this no
Queſtion is a very great Matter; but to cover
all theſe with a proper, convenient and apt
Covering, is the Work of none but a very
great Maſter. To conclude, when the whole
Model and the Contrivance of all the Parts
greatly pleaſes both yourſelf and others of
good Experience, ſo that you have not the
leaſt Doubt remaining within yourſelf, and do
not know of any Thing that wants the leaſt
Re-examination; even then I would adviſe
you not to run furiouſly to the Execution out
of a Paſſion for Building, demoliſhing old
Structures, or laying mighty Foundations of
the whole Work, which raſh and inconſiderate
Men are apt to do; but if you will hearken
to me, lay the Thoughts of it aſide for ſome
Time, till this favourite Invention grows old.
Then take a freſh Review of every Thing,
when not being guided by a Fondneſs for your
Invention, but by the Truth and Reaſon of
Things you will be capable of judging more
clearly. Becauſe in many Caſes Time will
diſcover a great many Things to you, worth
Conſideration and Reflection, which, be you
ever ſo accurate, might before eſcape you.
join'd with Dignity, Convenience and Beauty,
having not only other Things praiſe-worthy,
but alſo a Variety of Ornaments, ſuch as
Decency and Proportion requires; and this no
Queſtion is a very great Matter; but to cover
all theſe with a proper, convenient and apt
Covering, is the Work of none but a very
great Maſter. To conclude, when the whole
Model and the Contrivance of all the Parts
greatly pleaſes both yourſelf and others of
good Experience, ſo that you have not the
leaſt Doubt remaining within yourſelf, and do
not know of any Thing that wants the leaſt
Re-examination; even then I would adviſe
you not to run furiouſly to the Execution out
of a Paſſion for Building, demoliſhing old
Structures, or laying mighty Foundations of
the whole Work, which raſh and inconſiderate
Men are apt to do; but if you will hearken
to me, lay the Thoughts of it aſide for ſome
Time, till this favourite Invention grows old.
Then take a freſh Review of every Thing,
when not being guided by a Fondneſs for your
Invention, but by the Truth and Reaſon of
Things you will be capable of judging more
clearly. Becauſe in many Caſes Time will
diſcover a great many Things to you, worth
Conſideration and Reflection, which, be you
ever ſo accurate, might before eſcape you.
CHAP. II.
That we ought to undertake nothing above our Abilities, nor ſtrive againſt
Nature, and that we ought alſo not only to conſider what we can do,
but what is ſit for us to do, and in what Place it is that we are to
build.
Nature, and that we ought alſo not only to conſider what we can do,
but what is ſit for us to do, and in what Place it is that we are to
build.
On examining your Model, among other
Points to be conſider'd, you muſt take
Care not to forget theſe. Firſt, not to under
take a Thing, which is above the Power of
Man to do, and not to pretend to ſtrive directly
contrary to the Nature of Things. For Na
ture, if you force or wreſt her out of her Way,
whatever Strength you may do it with, will
yet in the End overcome and break thro' all
Oppoſition and Hindrance; and the moſt ob
ſtinate Violence (to uſe ſuch an Expreſſion)
will at laſt be forced to yield to her daily and
continual Perſeverence aſſiſted by Length of
Time. How many of the mighty Works of
Men do we read of, and know ourſelves to
have been deſtroy'd by no other Cauſe than
that they contended againſt Nature? Who
does not laugh at him, that having made a
Bridge upon Ships, intended to ride over the
Sea? or rather, who does not hate him for his
Folly and Inſolence? The Haven of Claudius
below Oſtia, and that of Hadrian near Terra
cina, Works in all other Reſpects likely to laſt
to Eternity, yet now having their Mouths
ſtop'd with Sand, and their Beds quite choak'd
up, they have been long ſince totally deſtroy'd
by the continual Aſſaults of the Sea, which in
ceſſantly waſhing againſt it gains from it daily.
What then think ye will happen in any Place,
where you pretend to oppoſe or entirely repel
the Violence of Water, or the enormous
Weight of Rocks tumbling down on you in
Ruins? This being conſider'd, we ought never
to undertake any Thing that is not exactly
agreeable to Nature; and moreover we ſhould
take Care not to enter upon a Work in which
we may be ſo much wanting to ourſelves as to
be forced to leave it imperfect. Who would
not have blamed Tarquin, King of the Romans,
if the Gods had not favoured the Greatneſs of
the City, and if by the Enlargement of the
Empire he had not received an Acceſſion of
Wealth ſufficient to compleat the Magnificence
of his Beginning, for throwing away the whole
Expence of his future Work in laying the
Foundations of his Temple. Beſides it is not
amiſs to conſider, and that not in the laſt
Place, not only what you are able, but alſo
what is decent for you to do. I do not com
mend Rhodope of Thrace, the famous Courtezan,
and the Wonder of her Days, for building her
ſelf a Sepulcher of incredible Expence: For
though ſhe might poſſibly by her Whoredom
have acquired the Riches of a Queen, yet ſhe
was by no means worthy of a Royal Sepulcher.
But on the other Hand I do not blame Arte
miſia, Queen of Caria, for having built her
beloved and worthy Conſort a moſt ſtately
Points to be conſider'd, you muſt take
Care not to forget theſe. Firſt, not to under
take a Thing, which is above the Power of
Man to do, and not to pretend to ſtrive directly
contrary to the Nature of Things. For Na
ture, if you force or wreſt her out of her Way,
whatever Strength you may do it with, will
yet in the End overcome and break thro' all
Oppoſition and Hindrance; and the moſt ob
ſtinate Violence (to uſe ſuch an Expreſſion)
will at laſt be forced to yield to her daily and
continual Perſeverence aſſiſted by Length of
Time. How many of the mighty Works of
Men do we read of, and know ourſelves to
have been deſtroy'd by no other Cauſe than
that they contended againſt Nature? Who
does not laugh at him, that having made a
Bridge upon Ships, intended to ride over the
Sea? or rather, who does not hate him for his
Folly and Inſolence? The Haven of Claudius
below Oſtia, and that of Hadrian near Terra
cina, Works in all other Reſpects likely to laſt
to Eternity, yet now having their Mouths
ſtop'd with Sand, and their Beds quite choak'd
up, they have been long ſince totally deſtroy'd
by the continual Aſſaults of the Sea, which in
ceſſantly waſhing againſt it gains from it daily.
What then think ye will happen in any Place,
where you pretend to oppoſe or entirely repel
the Violence of Water, or the enormous
Weight of Rocks tumbling down on you in
Ruins? This being conſider'd, we ought never
to undertake any Thing that is not exactly
agreeable to Nature; and moreover we ſhould
take Care not to enter upon a Work in which
we may be ſo much wanting to ourſelves as to
be forced to leave it imperfect. Who would
not have blamed Tarquin, King of the Romans,
if the Gods had not favoured the Greatneſs of
the City, and if by the Enlargement of the
Empire he had not received an Acceſſion of
Wealth ſufficient to compleat the Magnificence
of his Beginning, for throwing away the whole
Expence of his future Work in laying the
Foundations of his Temple. Beſides it is not
amiſs to conſider, and that not in the laſt
Place, not only what you are able, but alſo
what is decent for you to do. I do not com
mend Rhodope of Thrace, the famous Courtezan,
and the Wonder of her Days, for building her
ſelf a Sepulcher of incredible Expence: For
though ſhe might poſſibly by her Whoredom
have acquired the Riches of a Queen, yet ſhe
was by no means worthy of a Royal Sepulcher.
But on the other Hand I do not blame Arte
miſia, Queen of Caria, for having built her
beloved and worthy Conſort a moſt ſtately
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