362

THE LIFE OT

Observations on the Temple of Peace, built by ths Emperor

Vespasian.

* 300 Feet i. t | ^ H E Greatness of this * Temple, the most magnificent of old Rome,trflf° oFiet J. i s prodigious ; it is longer than our -j- Weftminfter-hall, and the middlet 228 Fen Nave only, besides the Ailes, is more than a seventh Part broader; inHeighthtloJe 6(3 F>H ^ exceeds the highest Cathedral now in the World.

2. The Walls are thin, where the Roof presses not; but admirably securedwhere the Weight lies; first, by the Piles behind the Pillars, which are of thatThickness backward, that they are sufficient Butment to the Arch of the Ailes:(this not being observed in the Gothick Cathedrals, the Vault of the Ailes restingagainst the Middle of the Pillars of the Nave, bend them inward; and there-fore, in Wejiminjler-abbey, they are cramped, in some Places, cross the Aile tothe outward Wall, with vast Irons, to secure the Vault of the Aile from spread-ing.) Secondly, the Weight of the Roof above hath a mighty Butment fromthe flope Walls between the Windows, which answer to the I last-frontispiecesof the Ailes; from whence the flying Buttresses of the Gothick Fabricks seem tohave taken their Original.

3. This Temple ascends to its vast Heighth each Way, by three Degrees;the mighty Nave is butted by the Ailes, and the Ailes by the Tribunals, andlittle Rooms without; which we may well suppose to be those Archives,wherein the Sibyll’s Books, the Spoils of the Jewiflj Temple, and the Recordsof Rome, the most sacred for Antiquity, were kept.

4. Thus it rises to be equal in Heighth to half the whole Breadth between

the fide 1 .1'lLunnlo , auU £1 Line ClI 2FW n iiuui ilic Key of till, Viiult r*T site NtLVCj

to the Key of the Arch of the Aile, determines the Breadth of the Aile: so thatin the farthest Part you fee always half the Vault of the Nave; which makesit seem free and spacious, containing more than an Acre of Ground in its Pave-ment, ami might well contain an Assembly of 20,000 Persons; the commonUse of it being a Hall of Justice, and for that Reason it was made very light-some; whereas the consecrated Temples were generally very obscure.

5. I have admired the Greatness and Firmness of this Pile, but I cannot com-mend the Architect’s Judgment for obscuring the majestick Stature of it with anhumble Portico, and low Wings, which cause the visual Ray to cut off verymuch of the Height; so that in Perspective the Front will look exceedingbroad and flat, and, to those that approach the Entrance, will seem as it weregrafted upon the low Portico; though the Grace in the double Frontispiece andAcroteria, doth something make amends, distinguishing the mighty Breadth intoseveral Parts.

6. But shall I accuse Antiquity for want of Skill in Opticks, of which everywhere it shews such admirable Proofs ? since particularly here the Architect hathgiven great Testimony of it in the Contrivance of his Cornice, wherein he hathleft out the Corona, or Hanging-square, by an unusual Example. The Coronaseems ah essential Part in all Cornices, as that which gives Denomination to thewhole, and is necessary to the Beauty of a Cornice; because, by its Projecture,it shadows all the lower Members, receiving upon its plane Surface a terse Lightfrom above; this gives the Eminence and distinct Appearance which we fee inthe Parts of a Cornice at distance ; but the Artist here ingeniously apprehendingthat his Lights in this Fabrick stood level with his Cornice, and therefore itwould want the Effect for which it is used, and that tire Hanging-face of it

would

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