architectural splendour of the surrounding objects, is such as cannot
be communicated by any other means whatever, and we might in vain
attempt to describe. It is of such a kind, however, that those who
are capable of experiencing it, would as soon think of treading upon
the object that conveys it to them, as those who honour Nature would
think of rooting up a nest of violets. Speaking for ourselves alone,
there is but one thing that can disturb and deteriorate the absolute
tranquillity of mind, and peace of heart, which fall upon us, like
dew from heaven, on entering a place like that we have attempted to
describe above; it is, to see a capped and gowned Fellow, profaning
with his footsteps the floor of that, in some sort, sacred temple,
merely because he can, by so doing, reach his habitation by a few
footsteps less than if he kept to the path allotted for him. We look
upon the act as a species of impiety; to say nothing of its proving,
to a demonstration, that the person who commits it is either utterly
insensible to the mysterious harmony that subsists between a certain
class of natural objects and the heart of man; or utterly disregards
that harmony, and sets it at naught. He is, in fact, one of whom it
may in one sense be said, that

"He hath no music in his soul."

And we are almost tempted to complete the quotation, by adding--

"Let no such man be trusted!"

* * * * *