DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0275
Dis. THROUGH ITALY. 265
ages, though intended to grace, too frequently
disfigure the exterior of Religion. The truth is,
that the language of signs, like that of words, may
be overcharged with ornament, and that, in both,
overstrained attempts to catch the Beautiful or
to reach the Sublime, generally terminate in
littleness and in absurdity. We accordingly find,
that the same bad taste which encumbered the
ritual with petty observances, infected the style
of the times, and filled it with obscure allusions,
and turgid epithets.
This evil continued to increase with the iffno-
C5
rance and the barbarism of the times, filling the
church with new orders, and deforming divine
service with new rites, new dresses, new festivals,
and new devotions ; till the revival of taste in the
fifteenth century first checked the abuse, and lias
eversince been employed, gradually, but effectual-
ly, in driving the holy Vandals off the Stage, and
in clearing the ritual of the accumulated lumber
of the seven preceding centuries. Under the
secret influence of this improving spirit, absurd
relics, formerly honored with ill-placed though
well-meant reverence, are now left to moulder
unnoticed in their shrines; petty forms of devo-
tion are gradually falling into disuse j the orna-
ments of the church are assuming a more digni-
fied appearance ; the number of holidays intro-
ages, though intended to grace, too frequently
disfigure the exterior of Religion. The truth is,
that the language of signs, like that of words, may
be overcharged with ornament, and that, in both,
overstrained attempts to catch the Beautiful or
to reach the Sublime, generally terminate in
littleness and in absurdity. We accordingly find,
that the same bad taste which encumbered the
ritual with petty observances, infected the style
of the times, and filled it with obscure allusions,
and turgid epithets.
This evil continued to increase with the iffno-
C5
rance and the barbarism of the times, filling the
church with new orders, and deforming divine
service with new rites, new dresses, new festivals,
and new devotions ; till the revival of taste in the
fifteenth century first checked the abuse, and lias
eversince been employed, gradually, but effectual-
ly, in driving the holy Vandals off the Stage, and
in clearing the ritual of the accumulated lumber
of the seven preceding centuries. Under the
secret influence of this improving spirit, absurd
relics, formerly honored with ill-placed though
well-meant reverence, are now left to moulder
unnoticed in their shrines; petty forms of devo-
tion are gradually falling into disuse j the orna-
ments of the church are assuming a more digni-
fied appearance ; the number of holidays intro-