games. Not far from the baths, is the tair-cafe which leads to the inclofed portico, after having firft paffed through three apartments : one of thefe looks upon the little area with the four planetrees round it, the other has a fight of the meadows, and from the third you have a view of several vineyards; fo that they have as many different profpects as expofitions. At one end of the inclofed portico, and indeed taken off from it, is a chamber that looks upon the hippodrome, the vineyards, and the mountains; adjoining is a room which has a full expofure to the fun, especially in winter: from hence runs an apartment that connects the hippodrome with the houfe: and fuch is the form and afpect of the front. On the fide is a fummer inclofed portico which ftands high, and has not only a profpect of the vineyards, but feems almoft to touch them. From the middle of this portico you enter a diningroom cooled by the wholefome breezes which come from the Apennine valleys: from the windows in the back front, which are extremely large, there is a profpect of the vineyards, as you have alfo another view of them from the folding-doors through the fummer portico along that fide of this dining-room where there are no windows, runs a private ftair-cafe for the greater conveniency of ferving at entertainments: at the farther end is a chamber from whence the eye is entertained with a view of the vineyards and (what is equally agreeable) of the portico. Underneath this room is an inclofed portico fomething refembling a grotto, which enjoying in the midst of fummer heats, its own natural coolness, neither admits nor wants the refreshment of external breezes. After you have paffed both thefe porticos, at the end of the dining-room ftands a third, which as the day is more or lefs advanced, ferves either for winter or fummer ufe. It leads to two different apartments, one containing four chambers, the other three, which enjoy by turns both fun and fhade.

In the front of thefe agreeable buildings lies a very fpacious hippodrome, entirely open in the middle, by which means the eye, upon your first entrance, takes in its whole extent at one view. It is encompaffed on every fide with plane-trees covered with ivy †, fo that while their heads flourish with their own green, their bodies enjoy a borrowed verdure; and thus the ivy twining round the trunk and branches, fpreads from tree to tree, and connects them together. Between each plane-tree are planted boxtrees, and behind thefe, bay-trees, which blend their fhade with that of the planes. This plantation, forming a ftreight boundary on both fides of the hippodrome, bends at the farther end into a femicircle, which being fet round and sheltered with cyprefs-trees, varies the prospect, and cafts a deeper and more gloomy fhade; while the inward circular walks (for there are feveral) enjoying an open expofure, are perfumed with rofes, and correct by a very pleafing contraft the coolness of the fhade with the warmth of the fun. Having paffed through these several winding alleys, you enter a ftreight walk 1, which breaks out into a variety of others, divided off by box-hedges. In one place you have a little meadow; in another the box is cut into a thousand different forms §; fometimes into letters,

*The Hippodromus, in its proper fignification, was a place among the Grecians, fet apart for it feems here to be nothing more than a particular hotte-racing and other exercifes of that kind. But walk, to which Pliny perhaps gave that name, from its bearing fome refemblance in its form to the public places fo called.

66

"What the Hedera were, that deferved a "place in a garden, (fays Sir William Temple in "his Effay on Gardening) I cannot guess, uniefs they had forts of ivy unknown to us." But it does not feem neceflary to have recourfe to that fuppofition; for there are two forts among us, which are very beautiful plants, the one called the ivy. The former, perhaps, is the pallentes Hefilver-striped ivy, the other the yellow variegated dere of Virgil, which epithet fome of the critics, not attending to the different kinds of ivy, have injudiciously changed for palantes.

Here icems to begin what we properly call the Garden, and is the only defcription of a Roman one, which is come down to us. Virgil indeed mentions that of his Corycian friend's, but he only gives an account of the plants which that contented old man cultivated, without defcribing the form in which his little fpot was laid out.

It is very remarkable that this falfe tafte in gardening, fo justly rejected by modern improve ments in that agreeable art, was introduced among the Roman, at a time when one thould little expect

expreffing the name of the mafter; fometimes that of the artificer; whilft here and there little obelisks rife intermixed alternately with fruit-trees: when on a fadden, in the midst of this elegant regularity, you are furprifed with an imitation of the negligent beauties of rural nature; in the centre of which lies a fpot furrounded with a knot of dwarf planetrees. Beyond these is a walk interfperfed with the smooth and twining acanthus, where the trees are alfo cut into a variety of names and shapes. At the upper end is an alcove of white marble, thaded with vines, fupported by four fmall Caryitian pillars 1. From this bench the water guthing through feveral little pipes, as if it were preffed out by the weight of the perfons who repofe themfelves upon it, Falls into a ftone ciftern underneath, from whence it is received into a fine polifhed marble bason, so artfully contrived, that it is always full without ever overflowing. When I fup here, this bafon ferves for a table, the larger fort of dishes being placed round the margin, while the fmaller ones fwim about in the form of little veffels and water-fowl. Correfponding to this, is a fountain which is inceffantly emptying and filling; for the water, which it throws Pa great height, falling back again to it, is by means of two openings retarted as fast as it is received. Fronting

to meet with any inelegancies in the polite retements of life. Matius, the friend of Julius Crtar, and peculiar favourite of Auguftus, of whom there is still extant a letter to Cicero, greatly rd for the beauty of its fentiments and ex. , is faid to have first taught his countrymen this monftrous method of distorting nature, cating trees into regular forms. Columel. 1.

12. C. 44

The plane-tree was extremely cultivated mong the Romans upon account of its extraordifhade, and they used to nourish it with wine || ittead of water, believing (as Sir William Teme cherves)" This tree loved that liquor, as

wal as those who used to drink under its fhade." It is probable the Acanthus here mentioned is me fine plant with that defcribed above; it is

Gain at least there were different forts of them.

the alcove (and which reflects as great an ornament to it, as it borrows from it) ftands a fummer-houfe of exquifite marble, whofe doors project and open into a green enclosure; as from its upper and lower windows the eye is prefented with a variety of different verdures. Next to this is a little private clofet (which though it feems diftinct, may be laid into the fame room) furnished with a couch; and notwithstanding it has windows on every fide, yet it enjoys a very agreeable gloomlinefs, by means of a fpreading vine which climbs to the top, and entirely overfhades it. Here you may lie and fancy yourfelf in a wood, with this dif ference only, that you are not exposed to the weather: in this place a fountain alfo rifes and inftantly disappears: in different quarters are difpofed several marble feats, which serve, as well as the fummer-house, as fo many reliefs after one is wearied with walking. Near each feat is a little fountain; and throughout the whole hippodrome several small rills run murmuring along, wherefoever the hand of art thought proper to conduct them, watering here and there different fpots of verdure, and in their progress refreshing the whole.

! Itus marble came from Caryftus (now called Carito, in Eubea, an ifiind in the Archipelago, a.A has fince changed its name into Negroente. From hence likewife, it is faid, the Roa ferched that famous it one out of which they fpon a fort of incombustible cloth, wherein they apes the bodies of their deal, and thereby prefrist tir abes diftinct and unmixed with thofe at the funeral pile.

Plin. Hift. Nat.

And now, I fhould not have hazarded the imputation of being too minute in this detail, if I had not propofed to lead you into every corner of my houfe and gardens. You will hardly, I imagine, think it a trouble to read the defcription of a place, which I am perfuaded would please you were you to fee it; especially as you have it in your power to ftop, and by throwing afide my letter, fit down as it were, and reft yourself as often as you think proper. I had at the fame time a view to the gratification of my own paffion; as I confeis, I have a very great one for this villa, which was chiefly built or finished by myself. In a word, (for why fhould I conceal from my friend my fentiments whether right or wrong?) I look upon it as the first duty of every writer frequently to throw his eyes upon his title-page, and to confider well the fubject he has propofed to himfelf; and he may be affured if he clofely purfues his plan he cannot justly be though tedious; but on the contrary, if he fuffers himself to be carried off from it, he will moft certainly incur that cenfure. Homer, you know, has employed many veries in

the defcription of the arms of Achilles, as Virgil also has in those of Æneas; yet neither of them are prolix, because they both keep within the limits of their original defign. Aratus, you fee, is not efteemed too circumftantial, though he traces and enumerates the minutest stars; for he does not go out of his way for that purpose, he only follows where his fubject leads him. In the fame manner (to compare fmall things with great) if endeavouring to give you an idea of my houfe, I have not wandered into any thing foreign, or, as it were, devious, it is not my letter which defcribes, but my villa which is defcribed, that is to be deemed large. But not to dwell any longer upon this digreffion, left I should myfelf be condemned by the maxim I have juft laid down; I have now informed you why I prefer my Tufcan villa, to those which I poffefs at Tufculum *, Tibert, and Præneftet. Besides the advantages already mentioned, I here enjoy a more profound retirement, as 1 am at a farther distance from the bufinefs of the town, and the interruption of trouble

fome avocations. All is calm and composed; which contributes, no lefs than its clear air and unclouded fky, to that health of body and cheerfulness of mind which I particularly enjoy there; both of which I keep in proper exercife by ftudy and hunting. And indeed there is no place which agrees better with all my family in general; I am fure at least, I have not yet loft one (and I fpeak it with the fentiments I ought) of all thofe I brought with me hither and may the gods continue that happiness to me, and that honour to my villa!

You

:

Farewel.

fuming upon the fuccefs of an experiment which I have never yet made; but because it is a noble employment to rescue from oblivion those who deferve to be eternally remembered, and extend the reputation of others at the fame time that we advance our own. Nothing, I confefs, fo ftrongly affects me as the defire of a lasting name: a paffion highly worthy of the human breast, especially of one, who not being confcious to himfelf of any ill, is not afraid of being known to pofterity. It is the continual fubject therefore of my thoughts,

By what fair deed I too may raise a name § : for to that I moderate my wishes; the reft,

And gather round the world immortal fame, is much beyond my hopes:

Though yet "

However, the firft is fufficient, and hiftory perhaps is the fingle means that can affure it to me. Oratory and poetry, unless carried to the highest point of eloquence, are talents but of fmall recommendation to thofe who poffefs them; but history, however executed, is always entertaining. Mankind are naturally inquifitive, and are fo fond of having this turn gratified, that they will liften with attention to the plaineft matter of fact, and the most idle tale. But befides this, I have an example in my own family that inclines me to engage in this ftudy, my uncle and adoptive father having acquired great reputation as a very accurate hiftorian; and the philofophers, you know, recommend it to us to tread in the fteps of our ancestors, when they have gone before us in the right path. If you ask me then, why I do not immediately enter upon the task? My reafon is this: I have pleaded fome very important caufes, and (though I am not extremely fanguine in my hopes concerning them) I have determined to revife my fpeeches, left, for want of this remaining labour, all the pains they coft me fhould be thrown away, and they with their author be buried in oblivion; for with refpect to

Virgil. Georg. fub init.

Part of a verfe from the fifth Æneid, where Menestheus, one of the competitors in the naval games, who was in fome danger of heing diftanced, exhorts his men to exert their utmost vigour to prevent fuch a difgrace.