[The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. I. (of 12) by Edmund Burke]@TWC D-Link bookThe Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. I. (of 12) PART III 45/54
But I would by no means insinuate that ugliness of itself is a sublime idea, unless united with such qualities as excite a strong terror. SECTION XXII. GRACE. Gracefulness is an idea not very different from beauty; it consists in much the same things.
Gracefulness is an idea belonging to _posture_ and _motion_.
In both these, to be graceful, it is requisite that there be no appearance of difficulty; there is required a small inflection of the body; and a composure of the parts in such a manner, as not to incumber each other, not to appear divided by sharp and sudden angles.
In this case, this roundness, this delicacy of attitude and motion, it is that all the magic of grace consists, and what is called its _je ne scai quoi_; as will be obvious to any observer, who considers attentively the Venus de Medicis, the Antinous or any statue generally allowed to be graceful in a high degree. SECTION XXIII. ELEGANCE AND SPECIOUSNESS. When any body is composed of parts smooth and polished, without pressing upon each other, without showing any ruggedness or confusion, and at the same time affecting some _regular shape_, I call it _elegant_.
It is closely allied to the beautiful, differing from it only in this _regularity_; which, however, as it makes a very material difference in the affection produced, may very well constitute another species.
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