THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 51 



in the figure and disposition, that I have ever seen, 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 parlours open into the middle of a terrace gravel- 

 walk that lies even with it, and which may be, as I 

 remember, about three hundred paces long, and broad 

 proportion ; the border set with standard laurels, and 

 at large distances, which have the beauty of orange- 

 trees out of flower and fruit : from this walk are three 

 descents by many stone steps, in the middle and at each 

 end, into a very large parterre. This is divided into 

 quarters by gravel-walks, and adorned with two foun- 

 tains and eight statues in the several quarters ; at the 

 end of the terrace- walk are two summer-houses, and 

 the sides of the parterre are ranged with two large 

 cloisters, open to the garden, upon arches of stone, and 

 ending with two other summer-houses even with the 

 cloisters, which are paved with stone, and designed for 

 walks of shade, there being none other in the whole 

 parterre. Over these two cloisters are two terraces 

 covered with lead, and fenced with balusters ; and the 



