Ruinenwert

John Aubrey, An Introduction to the Survey and Natural History of the North-Division of the County of Wiltshire (1671) Aqui.

And as in Prospects, we are there pleased most when something keeps the Eye from being lost, and leaves us Room to guess; so here the Eye and Mind is no less affected with these stately Ruins, that they would have been when standing and entire. They breed in generous Minds a Kind of Pity and sets the Thoughts a-work to make out their Magnifice[nce] as they were taken in Perfection. These Remains are tanquam Tabulata Naufragii, that after the Revolution of so many Years and Governments, have escap'd the Teeth of Time, and (which is more dangerous) the Hands of mistaken Zeal. So that the retrieving of these forgotten Things from Oblivion, in some sort resembles that of a Conjurer, who make those walk and appear that have lain in their Graves many Hundreds of Years, and to represent, as it were to the Eye, the Places, Customs, and Fashions that were of old Time.