CLASSIC PLEASURE GROUNDS 29 



The vegetation near the house was always placed 

 under a certain restraint, although in the park beyond 

 it might seemingly run wild. The contrast between 

 the formality of the garden and the exemption from 

 restraint in the park is shown in the accompanying 

 illustration. This is a reproduction of a wall decora- 

 tion at the Villa Livia outside of Rome, giving a good 

 idea of the general appearance of a Roman garden. 



A casino, a form of pavilion consisting of two or The 

 three rooms, was considered almost a necessity. It 

 was especially intended for games, banqueting, or 

 repose. As the villa was removed from the bustle 

 of town, so the casino was detached from the noise 

 unavoidable in a country house, containing, besides the 

 host, his family, dozens of guests, and hundreds of 

 slaves. Pliny enthusiastically describes a casino at 

 the end of one of his violet-scented terrace, walks, 

 " which I am in love with yes, literally in love with, 

 for I built it with my own hands." This contained 

 two sitting rooms and a sleeping apartment. The last 

 was heated by a hot-air apparatus and was double- 

 walled, so that it was " impervious to the voices of 

 the slave boys, the murmur of the sea, the raging of 

 storms, the light of day, and even the flash of light- 

 ning unless the windows are opened." Continuing, he 

 adds, " Here it seems to me that I have got away even 

 from my own villa, and I derive especial enjoyment from 



