ance of Quintin Matsys, who,
under the inspiration of love, deserted the anvil for the pallet; and
another by his father-in-law, Flors, supposed to be the identical picture
upon which the _ci devant_ blacksmith painted a bee, with such skill
as to obtain the old artist's cordial consent to the marriage of Matsys
with his daughter. Amongst the carved wood-work in the aisles, we admired
the execution of several statues of Saints, male and female, whose features
and drapery are finished with all the delicacy of marble.

The shades of evening now began to add to the solemnity of the scene, by
the indistinctness that was gradually enveloping the more distant objects;
and, alone, we almost dreaded to break, with our own whispers, the silence
which reigned around. In the midst of this "stillness audible," the fine
bell of the cathedral struck the hour, and its melodious tone seemed at
once to reach the heart. We sat down to listen to the prolonged note, as
each successive toll reverberated through the expanse--lingering like a
halo around the walls, and appearing to awaken echoes from the guardian
spirits of the night. I fancied I had never in my life heard so
full-toned--so musical a bell: certain it is, none ever gave me the same
sensation of delight. Indeed, the whole belfry is well assorted, for the
_carillons_, which play certain airs at intervals, produce a sweeter
effect than I remember any where else; and one of the pleasant
recollections I retain of Antwerp arises out of the frequent, but
unobtrusive, chimes that salute the ear during the day. We left Notre Dame
this time with "lingering steps and slow."

But how can I give an idea of the exterior? The tendency to placid
reflection which we had caught within found ample food for indulgence when
we came to witness the effect of the architecture without, combined with
the particular time of night--about nine o'clock--different tints and
shadows displaying themselves upon the angles of the building, as the light
decreased. Imagine a spire of light, ornamental, elegant open-work, carried
up about a hundred feet higher than St. Paul's. I believe it is the
loftiest in Europe, with the exception of Strasbourg, than which, in the
opinion of many, it is more handsome. The only drawback upon its beauty
is the glaringly large dial of the clock; but even this may suggest
appropriate reflection: for may we not consider it an emblem of Time, whose
course it measures, intruding upon