1881.] TRANSACTIONS. 45 



liquid — acanthns ; this is surrounded by a walk enclosed with 

 tonsile evergreens, shaped into a variety of forms. Beyond it is 

 the gestatio laid out in the form of a circus, ornamented in the 

 middle with box cut in numberless figures, together with a planta- 

 tion of shrubs prevented by the shears from shooting up too high ; 

 the whole is fenced in with a wall covered with box rising in dif- 

 ferent ranges to the top. On the outside|of the wall lies a mead- 

 ow that owes as many beauties to nature as all T have been de- 

 scribing within does to art; at the end of which are several other 

 meadows and fields interspersed with thickets. The hippodrome 

 is encompassed on every side by plane-trees covered with ivy, so 

 that while their heads flourish with their own foliage their bodies 

 enjoy a borrowed verdure ; and thus the ivy, twining round 

 the trunk and branches, spreads from tree to tree anc! connects 

 them together. Between each plane-tree are planted box-trees, 

 and behind these bay-trees which blend their shade with that of 

 the planes. This plantation forming a straight boundary on 

 both sides of the hippodrome, bends at the farther end into a 

 semi-circle, which being set round and sheltered with cypress-trees, 

 varies the prospect and casts a deeper gloom ; while the inward 

 circular walks (for there are several) enjoying an open exposure 

 are perfumed with roses and correct by a very pleasing contrast 

 the coolness of the shade with the warmth of the sun. Having 

 passed through these several winding alleys, you enter a straight 

 walk which breaks out into a variety of others divided by box 

 hedges. In one place you have a little meadow ; in another the 

 box is cut into a thousand different forms ; sometimes into letters 

 expressing the name of the master, sometimes that of the arti- 

 ficer ; whilst here and there little obelisks rise intermixed alter- 

 nately with fruit-trees ; when on a sudden in the midst of this 

 elegant regularity you are surprised with an imitation of the 

 negligent beauties of rural nature, in the centre of which lies a 

 spot surrounded witli a knot of dwarf plane-trees — beyond there 

 is a walk planted with tlie smooth and twining acanthus, where 

 the trees are also cut into a variety of names and shapes." 



Then follows a description of the architectural portion, the 

 alcoves, fountains and summer houses constructed of marble. 

 The gestatio which has been mentioned was a sort of avenue in 

 which the Romans were accustomed to be carried to and fro in 

 a litter by their servants. The hippodrome was an avenue for 

 horse exercise. No villa was of course complete without a vine- 

 yard, orchard and kitchen garden. 



I have transcribed this letter of Pliny at considerable length 

 because it expresses better than in words of my own the two dis- 

 tinctive ideas which seemed to predominate in Roman landscape 

 7 



