ON GARDENS 225 



little distance on the left is a lodge full of fine statues, 

 amongst which the Sabines is antiq and singularly rare- 

 In the arcado neere this stand 24 statues of great 

 price, and hard by is a mount planted with cypresses 

 representing a fortresse, with a goodly fountaine in 

 the middle. Here is also a row balustred with white 

 marble, covered over with the natural shrubbs, ivy, 

 and other perennial greenes, divers statues and heads 

 being placed as in niches. At a little distance are 

 those fam'd statues of Niobe and her family, in all 15, 

 as large as the life, of which we have ample mention 

 in Pliny, esteemed among the pieces of best worke in 

 the world for the passions they expresse, and all other 

 perfections of that stupendous art. There is in this 

 garden a faire obelisq full of hieroglyphics. In going 

 out, the fountaine before the front casts water neere 

 50 foote in height, when it is received in a most ample 

 marble basin. Here they usually rode the greate-horse 

 every morning, which gave me much diversion from 

 the terrace of my owne chamber, where I could see all 

 their motions. 



We went to see Prince Ludovisio's villa where was 

 formerly the Viridarium of the poet Sallust. The 



