L'ABBE DELILLE 207 



and of happily employing the rich materials of the picturesque 

 decoration of irregular gardens, of changing landscapes into 

 pictures ; with what care we must choose the locality and the 

 site, profit by its advantages, correct its inconveniences; what 

 in nature lends itself to, or resists imitation ; finally the distinc- 

 tion between different kinds of gardens and landscapes, free 

 gardens and regular gardens. . . . 



The second Canto concerns itself entirely with plantations, 

 the most important part of the landscape, and the beauty of 

 prospective and distant views, which depend upon the artifice of 

 plantations. The third contains objects, each of which would 

 not suffice to fill a canto, without falling into sterility or 

 monotonousness ; such are lawns, flowers, rocks and waters. 



The fourth Canto contains the distribution of different scenes, 

 majestic or touching, voluptuous or severe, melancholy or smil- 

 ing, the artifice with which the paths leading to them ought to be 

 traced, finally what the other arts, and particularly agriculture 

 and sculpture can add to the art of landscape. — Preface to 

 ' Les Jar dins ^^ 20th edifiofi, 1801. 



Moins pompeux qu'elegant, moins decore que beau, 

 Un jardin a mes yeux est un vaste tableau. 



Les arbres, les rochers, et les eaux et les fleurs 

 Ce sont la vos pinceaux, vos toiles, vos couleurs. 



C'est peu de charmer I'oeil, il faut parler au coeur 



Partout entremeles d'arbres pyramidaux, 

 Marbres, bronzes, palais, urnes, temples, tombeaux, 

 Parlent de Rome antique ; et la vue abusee 

 Croit, au lieu d'un jardin, parcourir un musee. 



Loin done ces froids jardins, colifichet champetre, 

 Insipides reduits, dont I'insipide maitre 

 Vous vante, en s'admirant, ses arbres bien peignes, 

 Ses petits salons verds bien tondus, bien soignes, 



