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Chap. XVHI.
THE CASTLE.
281
improvement: one tower has unfortunately been
destroyed. In an old engraving from Puffendorf, of 1688,
I see the original had already been altered: it was
an eyesore, but, in accordance with the style of the
remainder, capped and ornamented. It, however, fell
into decay during the reign of Frederic VI., at that
unfortunate epoch when taste was bad taste, and art
atrocity: it was repaired—square and hideous—a fearful
monument of the age. Formerly it served as a
telegraph, now as a powder magazine; and unless it be blown
up, or the powder becomes damp, will, I fear, remain
untouched. You enter the interior court through a
richly ornamented gateway, guarded by statues and
overhung by a beautiful oriel window, enriched with the
arms and ciphers of its founder. Opposite to you stands
the chapel (the works of Rubens have long since
disappeared) ; the fittings of the time of Christian IV. have
been lately restored, not too carefully. It is curious to
trace, as you can by the turret to the right of the clock,
the gradual transition from the Gothic to the
Renaissance. The whole of the ornaments are of the latter
period; but there is still occasionally a sort of feeling
as if the architect was not quite decided in his views:
whether he was or not, Kronborg is one of the most
perfect specimens of its era—unspoiled, untouched, and
unrepaired—to be met with in Europe. It has long
ceased to be occupied as a royal residence. One side
is alone retained for the use of His Majesty; the rest
is occupied by the General Commandant, the officers,
and the garrison. Above the entrance of the
clocktower, surmounting the ornaments, appears the head
of a huge mastiff, holding in his fore paws a
heartlike shield, with the cipher of Frederic II., and below
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