Bk. II. Ch. IX. FRENCH GOTHIC CATHEDRALS. 547 to its early date, and to its situation near the German border, and its connection with the See of Tournay, with which it was long united. Like the sister church at that place, it was triaj^sal, which gave it irreat elefrance ox arransxement. The one defect of this form seems to be, that it does not lend itself easily to the combination of towers which were then so much in vogue. In singular contrast to this is the neighboring cathedral of Laon, one of the very few in France which have no chevet. It terminates A'ith a square east end, like an English church, except that it has there a great circular window only, instead of the immense wall of 399. Spires of Laon Cathedral. (From Dusomerard.) glass usually adopted in this country. In style it more resembles the cathedral of Paris than any other, though coverino- less o-round and smaller m all its features. Its great glory is its crowning group of towers. The two western (with the exception of their spires) and the two at the end of the noi-thern transept are com])]ete. On the southern side only one has been carried to its fidl height, and the central lantern is now crowned by a low pyramidal roof instead of the tall spire that must once have adorned it; but even as they now are, the six that remain, whether seen from the immediate neighborhood of the building or from the plain below — for it
