other, and therefore also incapable of producing a figure of tolerable variety. To prove this, it will be very easy for the reader to make the experiment, by drawing a figure or two (though ever so imperfectly) confined within such limits.

There is a medium between these, proper for every character, which the eye will easily and accurately determine.

Thus, if the lines, fig.*, were to be the measure of the extreme length and breadth, set out either for the figure of a man or a vase, the eye soon sees the longest of these is not quite sufficiently so, in proportion to the other, for a genteel man, and yet it would make P. 79 a vase too taper to be elegant; no rule or compasses

would decide this matter either so quickly or so precisely as a good eye. It may be observed, that minute differences in great lengths are of little or no consequence as to proportion, because they are not to be discerned; for a man is half an inch shorter when he goes to bed at night, than when he rises in the morning, without the possibility of its being perceived. In case of a wager, the application of a rule or compasses may be necessary, but seldom on any other occasion.

Thus much I apprehend is sufficient for the consideration of general lengths to breadths. Where, by the way, I apprehend I have plainly shewn, that there is no practicable rule, by lines, for minutely setting out proportions for the human body, and if there were, the eye alone must determine us in our choice of what is most pleasing to itself.

*Fig. 70. R. p. 2.

Thus having dispatched general dimension, which we may say is almost as much of proportion as is to be seen when we have our clothes on, I shall in the second, and more extensive method proposed for considering it, set out in the familiar path of common observation, and appeal, as I go on, to our usual feeling, or joint-sensation, of figure and motion.

Perhaps by mentioning two or three known instances, it will be found that almost every one is farther advanced in the knowledge of this speculative part of proportion than he imagines; especially he who hath been used to observe naked figures doing P. 80 bodily exercise, and more especially if he be any way interested in the success of them; and the better he is acquainted with the nature of the exercise itself, still the better judge he becomes of the figure that is to perform it. For this reason, no sooner are two boxers stript to fight, but even a butcher, thus skilled, shews himself a considerable critic in proportion; and on this sort of judgment often gives or takes the odds, at bare sight only of the combatants. I have heard a blacksmith harangue like an anatomist, or sculptor, on the beauty of a boxer's figure, though not perhaps in the same terms; and I firinly believe, that one of our common proficients in the athletic art would be able to instruct and direct the best sculptor living (who hath not seen, or is wholly ignorant of this exercise) in what would give the statue of an English boxer a much better proportion, as to character, than is to be seen even in the famous group of antique boxers (or, as some call them, Roman wrestlers) so much admired to this day.

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Indeed, as many parts of the body are so constantly kept covered, the proportion of the whole cannot be equally known; but as stockings are so close and thin a covering, every one judges of the different shapes and proportions of legs with great accuracy. The ladies always speak skilfully of necks, hands, and arms; and often will point out such particular beauties or defects in their make, as might easily escape the observation of a man of science.

Surely such determinations could not be made and pronounced with such critical truth, if the eye were not capable of measuring or judging of thicknesses by lengths with great preciseness. Nay, more, in order to determine so nicely as they often do, it must also at the same time trace with some skill those delicate windings upon the surface which have been described in page 64 and 65, which altogether may be observed to include the two general ideas mentioned at the beginning of this chapter.

If so, certainly it is in the power of a man of science, with as observing an eye, to go still further, and conceive, with a very little turn of thought, many other necessary circumstances concerning proportion, as of what size and in what manner the bones help to make up the bulk, and support the other parts; as well as what certain weights or dimensions of muscles are proper (according to the principle of the steel-yard) to move such or such a length of arm with this or that degree of swiftness or force.

But though much of this matter may be easily understood by common observation, assisted by science, still I fear it will be difficult to raise a very clear

idea of what constitutes or composes the utmost beauty of proportion; such as is seen in the Antinous, which is allowed to be the most perfect, in this respect, of any of the antique statues; and though the lovely likewise seems to have been as much the sculptor's aim, as in the Venus, yet a manly strength in its pro- P.82 portion is equally expressed from head to foot in it.

Let us try, however, and as this master-piece of art is so well known, we will set it up before us as a pattern, and endeavour to fabricate, or put together in the mind, such kind of parts as shall seem to build another figure like it. In doing which we shall soon find that it is chiefly to be effected by means of the nice sensation we naturally have of what certain quantities, or dimensions of parts, are fittest to produce the utmost strength for moving or supporting great weights; and of what are most fit for the utmost light agility, as also for every degree between these two extremes.

He who hath best perfected his ideas of these matters by common observations, and by the assistance. of arts relative thereto, will probably be most precisely just and clear in conceiving the application of the various parts and dimensions that will occur to him in the following descriptive manner of disposing of them, in order to form the idea of a fineproportioned figure.

Having set up the Antinous as our pattern, we will suppose there were placed on one side of it the unwieldy elephant-like figure of an Atlas, made up of such thick bones and muscles as would best fit him for supporting a vast weight, according to his character of extreme heavy strength: and, on the other side, P.83

imagine the slim figure of a Mercury, every where neatly formed for the utmost light agility, with slender bones and taper muscles fit for his nimble bounding from the ground.-Both these figures must be supposed of equal height, and not exceeding six foot.'

Our extremes thus placed, now imagine the Atlas throwing off by degrees certain portions of bone and muscle, proper for the attainment of light agility, as if aiming at the Mercury's airy form and quality, whilst on the other hand, see the Mercury augmenting his taper figure by equal degrees, and growing towards an Atlas in equal time, by receiving to the like places from whence they came, the very quantities that the other had been casting off, when, as they approach each other in weight, their forms of course may be imagined to grow more and more alike, till, at a certain point of time, they meet in just similitude, which being an exact medium between the two extremes, we may thence conclude it to be the precise form of exact proportion fittest for perfect active strength or graceful movement, such as the Antinous we proposed to imitate and figure in the mind.* I am apprehensive that this part of my scheme, for

If the scale of either of these proportions were to exceed six foot in the life, the quality of strength in one, and agility in the other, would gradually decrease the larger the person grew. There are sufficient proofs of this, both from mechanical reasonings and common observation.

* The jockey, who knows to an ounce what flesh or bone in a horse is fittest for speed or strength, will as easily conceive the like process between the strongest dray-horse and the fleetest racer, and soon conclude, that the fine war-horse must be the medium between the two extremes.