involves birth, progress, and dissolution, ideality is predicable all
through their existence, so that they be perfect with reference to their
supposed period of being. Thus there is an ideal of infancy, of youth,
of old age, of death, and of decay. But when the ideal form of the
species is spoken of or conceived in general terms, the form is
understood to be of that period when the generic attributes are
perfectly developed, and previous to the commencement of their decline.
At which period all the characters of vital and typical beauty are
commonly most concentrated in them, though the arrangement and
proportion of these characters varies at different periods, youth having
more of the vigorous beauty, and age of the reposing; youth of typical
outward fairness, and age of expanded and etherealized moral expression;
the babe, again, in some measure atoning in gracefulness for its want of
strength, so that the balanced glory of the creature continues in solemn
interchange, perhaps even

"Filling more and more with crystal light,
As pensive evening deepens into night."

Hitherto, however, we have confined ourselves to the examination of
ideal form in the lower animals, and we have found that, to arrive at
it, no combination of forms nor exertion of fancy is required, but only
simple choice among those naturally presented, together with careful
investigation and anatomizing of the habits of the creatures. I fear we
shall arrive at a very different conclusion, in considering the ideal
form of man.

FOOTNOTES

[35] I speak not here of those conditions of vegetation which have
especial reference to man, as of seeds and fruits, whose sweetness
and farina seem in great measure given, not for the plant's sake,
but for his, and to which therefore the interruption in the harmony
of creation of which he was the cause is extended, and their
sweetness and larger measure of good to be obtained only by his
redeeming labor. His curse has fallen on the corn and the vine, and
the wild barley misses of its fulness, that he may eat bread by the
sweat of his brow.

[36] Journal of the Horticultural Society. Part I.

[37] Compare Sect. II. Chap. IV.

CHAPTER XIV.

OF VITAL BEAUTY.--THIRDLY, IN MAN.

Sec. 1. Condition of the human creature entirely different from that of the
lower animals.

Havi