35

a Roman Work and Temple.

For that, Sir Henry intends not that the Contraction is insensible, inregard of the thing contracted, but in respect of the manner it selfof the Contraction; well knowing, that the Diminution of a Co-lumn, or Pylaster under the Astragal, more or less, according to itsOrder, is not insensible; but that the Procedure thereof, as I mayfay, or how it doth diminish from the third Part to the Astragal, isinsensible. As for Example, there is a Tuscan Column three Foot in‘Diameter, which at six Diameters (admitting this Doctor s Propor-tions ) gives the Height of eighteen Foot; this Column then is to bein the Diameter above, two Foot three Inches, that is, nine Inches, orone fourth Part less than the Diameter below: Now, the Loss of nineInches in Thickness may easily be discerned at eighteen Foot high, orrather (the third Part of the Body of the Column excluded) in thir-teen Foot and an half, by any vulgar Eye, when how that diminish-ing (from the third Part of the Fust upwards) gradually proceedscannot, but appears to the most judicious Sight insensible : Andthis might well have been apprehended from Sir Henry’s own Words ;for, he speaks not how much a Column should have of diminishing,more or less, according to its Height or Order; for the higher thePillars are, the less they be to diminish; but from what Part of theBody of the Column it may take its diminishing, viz. “ From one zUJrch.p. 31." third Tart of the whole Shaft upwards ; which Philander, faith" he, (though this Doctor quotes him as his own Author) doth pre-“ scribe by his own precise measuring of the ancient Remainders, as" the mojl graceful Diminution.” But, others ( as ancient as Thilan-der at least) have observed, as Scamozzi tells us, to diminish the Bo- scam.i.e.c.e.dies of the Columns, as it were, by a right Line from the Bottom tothe Top, which how conform soever, or not, unto Fitruvius, is na-tural, and, as cannot be denied, most resembles the Taper-growth ofTine-trees, which lessen from the very Root, and from which not on-

ly the Figure of all Columns, but also their diminishing was firs taken.However, we all know, that Talladio hath given us, as well fromhis own long Practice, as from the precise measuring of ancient Re-mainders, the most exact Rule, and of all others, without Exception,the most conform unto Hztruvzus (His Adjedlio in mediis Columnisconsidered) for the diminishing of Pillars., And he begins it in all theOrders indifferently, from the Diameter below directly, giving a lit-tle Check only unto the Templet at the third Part in the other Orders;and at the fourth in the Tuscan. And others of no less Judgmentalso, but far more Experience than Thilander, make it otherwise,telling us that the Diminution of t&t Corinthian'and Italian Co-lumns both, is to begin from the third Part of the Height of their Fustsupwards; the Ionian and Dorian betwixt a third and a fourth; andthe Tuscan particularly from the fouitli; and not third Part, as thisDoctor positively affirms. Thus were the Tuscan Pillars' of theChurch in Covens-Garden diminished; And thus; all Architects havecontracted this Column, in regard of the Shortness of it» for, shouldthe fame be diminished from the third Part, it would have ho moreGrace and Comeliness than those, which being'made to swell in theMiddle, seem as if they were sick of some Tympany, or Dropsy, asSir H. IVotton hath it. All Pillars then are-not diminished from thethird Tart of their Scape upward ; neither is their ContraBion in -*

Tall.I, i.e, 1 j.&inQrd.Tusc.

Scam,

11.

I. 6. c.