A LIST OF BOOKS - JScholarship

TO WILLIAM GODWIN, ESQ. 143
from these latter causes that the structures
of Florence
derive their principal charm.
You can tell at once that they are natives ;
they possess appropriateness and originaHty,
qualities which redeem almost every defect
short of absolute absurdity.
A profusion of
iron-work adds, in my eyes at least, to the
prison-Hke appearance of the palaces, which is
again increased by the comparative scarcity
of the windows and the smaUness of their
apertures. Many of the fa9ades are unfinished,
displaying huge uncouth masses of dingy
brick; and in the species of stone and marble
generaUy
employed, the prevailing tints,
though always rich, are often of very dark
and almost funeral hue.
Yet the bright
sky conquers aU semblance of gloom.
There
is much appearance of age, but none of decay.
Modern Florence forms an irregular pentagon,
unequaUy divided by the Arno, sometimes
shallow and sluggish, sometimes rushing down