CLASSIC PLEASURE GROUNDS 



27 



trees and flowers. In the centre are the remains 

 of a fish-pond ornamented by a fountain, and behind 

 these there was a platform, over which vines were 

 trained on a wooden framework supported by six 

 stucco columns. Doubtless meals were often served 

 under this delightful little pavilion when the air was 

 refreshed by its vicinity to the cool fountain. The 

 illustration is taken from an edition of the " Hypneroto- 

 machia Poliphili," published early in the sixteenth 

 century, two centuries before excavations were begun 

 at Pompeii. Curiously enough, it gives a very good 

 impression of the Pompeian combination of a fountain 

 and pavilion. 



In the more palatial villas, added to the garden in Palatial 

 the peristyle and to that behind the house, were gardens, 

 various other enclosed pleasure 

 grounds laid out on a much larger 

 scale. The geometric patterns of 

 the formal enclosures were arranged 

 in sharp contrast to the studied 

 wilderness of the park. Nothing 

 could have been more harmonious 



than the general proportions of these gardens, or 

 more elaborate than their details. Straight lines pre- 

 dominated and were designed to offer a series of long 

 perspectives to the eye. If looked down upon from 

 a considerable height, they would hardly have beeri 



