258 SOME FAMOUS GARDENS 



tainment. Here some of the gay company dis- 

 persed itself into groups about the green walks, 

 the bright fountains, the flights of Italian steps, 

 the noble terraces and marble balustrades. Others, 

 among whom I was one, took their seats in an open 

 gallery or colonnade commanding a vast prospect ; 

 with the Alhambra, the city, and the Vega far 

 below, and the distant horizon of mountains a 

 dreamy world, all glimmering to the eye in summer 



sunshine. 



WASHINGTON IRVING. 



AN OLD ENGLISH GARDEN OF THE 

 SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 



THE perfectest figure of a garden I ever saw, either 

 at home or abroad, was that of Moor Park in 

 Hertfordshire, when I knew it about thirty years 

 ago. It was made by the Countess of Bedford, 

 esteemed among the greatest wits of her time, and 

 celebrated by Dr. Donne. I will describe it for a 

 model to those that meet with such a situation, and 

 are above the regards of common expense. It lies 

 on the side of a hill (upon which the house stands), 

 but not very steep. The length of the house, 

 where the best rooms and of most use or pleasure 

 are, lies upon the breadth of the garden. The 

 great parlour opens into the middle of a terras 

 gravel-walk that lies even with it, and which may 

 be, as I remember, about three hundred paces long, 

 and broad in proportion ; the border set with 



