Page 36

36            ANALYSIS of          BEAUTY. 
ordinary love of quantity in drefs, beyond that of conve- 
nience or elegance. 
VI. The beauty of intricacy lies in contriving wind- 
ing fhapes, fuch as the antique lappets belonging to the 
"Fig. 21. head of the fphinx *, or as the modern lappet when it 
1'   is brought before.  Every part of drefs, that will admit 
of the application of this principle, has an air (as it is 
term'd) given to it thereby; and altho' it requires dex- 
terity and a tafre to execute thefe windings well, we find 
them daily pra&ifed with fuccefs. 
This principle alfo recommends modefty in drefs, to 
keep up our expedations, and not luffer them to be too 
foon gratified. Therefore the body and limbs fhould 
all be cover'd, and little more than certain hinits be 
given of them thro' the cloathing. 
The face indeed will bear a conflant view, yet always 
entertain and keep our curiofity awake, without the 
affifance either of a mafk, or veil; becaufe vaft variety 
of changing circumfances keeps the eye and the mind 
in conflant play, in following the numberlefs turns of 
expreffion it is capable of, How foon does a face that 
wants expreffion, grow infipid, tho' it be ever fo pretty? 
---The refi of the body, not having thefe advantages in 
common with the face, would foon fatiate the eye, were 
it to be as conflantly expofed, nor would it have more 
efFe& than a marble flatue. But when it is artfully 
cloath'd aid decorated, the mind at every turn refumes 
its