These seeming faults, which shew the superior anatomical knowledge as well as judgment of the ancients, are not to be found in the leaden imitations of it near Hyde-park. These saturnine genius's imagin'd they knew how to correct such apparent disproportions.
These few examples may be sufficient to give an idea of what I mean (and would have understood) by the beauty of fitness, or propriety.
[CHAPTER II.]
Of Variety.
How great a share variety has in producing beauty may be seen in the ornamental part of nature.
The shapes and colours of plants, flowers, leaves, the paintings in butterflies wings, shells, &c. seem of little other intended use, than that of entertaining the eye with the pleasure of variety.
All the senses delight in it, and equally are averse to sameness. The ear is as much offended with one even continued note, as the eye is with being fix'd to a point, or to the view of a dead wall.