230 JOHN EVELYN 



and groves, with abundance of fountaines, statues, and 

 bass-relievos, and several pretty murmuring rivulets. 

 Here they had hung large netts to catch woodcocks. 

 There was also a F'ivarie, where amongst other exotic 

 fowles was an ostridge ; besides a most capacious 

 aviarie ; and in another inclosed part, an herd of 

 deere. Before the palace (which might become the 

 courte of a great prince) stands a noble fountaine of 

 white marble, inrich'd with statues. 



We tooke coach, and went 1 5 miles out of the 

 Cittie to Frascati, formerly Tusculanum, a villa of 

 Cardinal Aldobrandini, built for a country-house, but 

 surpassing, in my opinion, the most delicious places I 

 ever beheld for its situation, elegance, plentifull water, 

 groves, ascents, and prospects. Just behind the palace 

 (which is of excellent architecture) in the center of 

 the inclosure rises an high hill or mountaine all over 

 clad with tall wood, and so form'd by nature as if it 

 had been cut out by art, from the sum'it whereof falls 

 a cascade, seeming rather a greate river than a streame 

 precipitating into a large theater of water, representing 

 an exact and perfect rainebow when the sun shines out. 

 Under this is made an artificiall grott, wherein are 



