The PREFAC E;

these true Proportions obstrVd, it might not le more agreeable if destituteof other Parts, in which, the real Beauty consists ; such amongst otherthings, are the Manner of describing agreeably the Out-lines and Profils,and the Art of disputing with Judgment, all the Parts that make the Cha-raClers of the several Orders: which is y as has been said, the second Part,which being join d with Proportion , comprehends all that belongs to theBeauty of Architecture.

After having explain d in general, the Pgasons that may authorise theLiberty I have taken to propose some Change in the Proportions of the Orders,and reserving for the following Treatise, the Particulars of each Alteration $it remains, that I give the Reasons why I change something likewise in theCharacters which distinguish the Orders 5 which is still a greater Licencethan that which touches Proportions, because this Change is most eastly dis-cover d y the Eye alone, without Pule or Compasses, being capable of per-ceiving it.

Those that are of Opinion there is no Reason can justifie any Change ofthose Pules, which they suppose were establistrd by the Ancients, may alsotake the Liberty to deride my Arguments, and censure the Pastiness of myDesign : but 1 make no Appeal to such, there being no disputing with thosethat deny Principles 3 and I hold it for one of the chief'm Architecture, as.well as in all other Arts, that none of them being brought to the highestPerfeCtion, there is cause to thinks that, if that be unattainable, irn may,at least, approach nearer to it by diligent Search j and those who believe itnot impojfible, ought rather to pretend to it than those that are persuaded ofthe contrary.

The Orders of ArchiteClure are employed in two Sorts of Works, either inStructures built adually for Service, such as Churches, Palaces, and other pub-lics and private Buildings,, which require Ornaments and Magnificence • orin historical Pepresentations, where there is need of Architecture, such dsare made in Painting , Sculpture, or in the Machines of Theatres, Entriesof Princes, Balls and Carrousels. In performances of this latter Sort, 3 t iscertain the Ancient Architecture ought punBmUy to be followed in all its par-ticular Circumstances, and'that sot Instance, in’the Pjepresentation of the Storyof Theseus or of Perieks, if the Doric Order be made use of, the Columns

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