Cjiak XIV.] THE GARDENS UF VERSAILLES. 207 



On the fountains and waterworks of Versailles as much or more 

 labour and wealth were lavished by their creators as were perhaps 

 ever before bestowed on such confectionery " art." The Bassin 

 de Neptune is the most important of these creations. As the 

 waters only play on special occasions, and cost about 400Z. every 

 time they do play, one is justified in considering the basins in 

 their usual dormant aspect. Nothing can look more wretched 

 than any garden exhibiting large fountain-basins. The formality 

 of the surroundings, the mouldering faded margins, the in- 

 describable ugliness of the scenes near the great fountains here, 

 seem only worthy of some lifeless world of geometrical craters 

 and pools. 



In landscape-gardening, and even in semi-architectural gar- 

 dening (if that combination may be called gardening at all), 

 notliing is more ditlicult and requires more care and artistic 

 judgment than the introduction of fountains, which, far more 

 often than otherwise, serve to spoil the combinations which they 

 are intended to embellish. 



The Little Tricmou at Versailles. 



This is the true garden of Versailles. To enter the gardens of 

 the Little Trianon, leaving the tortured trees and many inanities 

 of the large gardens at Versailles, is like escaping from a desert 

 into a flowery land. The trees are no longer paralysed, mutilated, 

 or starved, but healthy giants ; they inspire one with awe and 

 admiration, while those we have just left give rise to pity and 

 annoyance. The Pines of Europe attain here size and dignity, 

 and so do the deciduous trees. In spring, when the tall Cherry- 

 trees are seen here and there, masses of white bloom among 

 evergreen and Ivy-clad trees, the effect is beautiful. The charm, 

 however, of the Little Trianon exists all the year round ; though 

 there is no time when it is so delightful as in April or May, when 

 the tender leaflets are swarming out into the warm air, and many 

 trees are tasselled with catkins. The grass is long, green, and 

 pleasant, and, happily, walking on it is not " forbidden," like 

 so manv things in France. Housemaid-gardening has not yet 



