(Barrens 245 



conceptions. One school reacted on the other and 

 finally out of the two has developed an art that is like 

 neither of the old conceptions, but is a new one which 

 uses more architectural lines near the architectural 

 features and freer nature farther off. 



"All these little paths were confined and crossed 

 by a limpid and clear stream, sometimes circling amid 

 the grass and flowers in almost imperceptible threads, 

 now in larger streams flowing over a pure mosaic of 

 gravel which made the water more transparent. I 

 can imagine, said I unto them, a rich man from Paris 

 or London master of this house, bringing with him 

 an expensive architect to spoil nature. With what 

 disdain would he enter this simple, mean place ! 

 With what contempt would he have all these weeds 

 uprooted! What fine avenues he would open out! 

 What beautiful valleys he would have pierced! 

 What fine goose feet, what fine trees, like parasols 

 and fans! What fine fretted trellises! What beauti- 

 fully drawn yew hedges, finely squared and rounded! 

 What fine bowling greens of fine English turf, 

 rounded, squared, sloped, and ovalled! What fine 

 yews carved into dragons, pagodas, marmosets, 

 every kind of monster ! With what fine bronze vases, 

 what fine stone fruits he would adorn his garden ! 



"The grand air is always melancholy, it makes us 

 think of the miseries of the man who affects it. 

 Amid his parterres and grand alleys his littleness does 

 not increase. 



