414 Sckell's Landscape- Gardetiing, 



rock lies a sleeping nymph (probably Egeria), illuminated by a 

 faint light, which breaks in unseen. Near her are inscribed 

 these words, by Alexander Pope : — 



" Nymph of the grot, these springs I keep, 

 And to the murmur of these waters sleep. 

 Ah ! spare my slumbers, gently tread the cave, 

 And drink in silence, or in silence lave." 



The grotto itself is in a quiet solitary shade; and a deep still- 

 ness surrounds the sleeping nymph, which the sensitive wanderer 

 never disturbs by any noise, but retreats from gently and not 

 without heartfelt sensations. A flight of steps lead from this 

 grotto to a height, at the top of which broad daylight bursts upon 

 the sight, and the stranger is agreeably surprised by the aspect 

 of a lake and an enchanting landscape. To accomplish such 

 natural wonders, among which the grotto should certainl}' be 

 reckoned, and particularly when it is to be on a small scale, the 

 aid of a very experienced landscape-gardener is cei'tainly neces- 

 sary, and he must be one who has often beheld similar works in 

 nature, and paid great attention to her laws. 



Among the most remarkable natural grottoes and caves, the 

 following may be particularly mentioned : 



Fingal's Cave in Scotland, Okey Cave in England, the cave at 

 Castleton, St. George's Cave in Gibraltar, Baumann's Cave in 

 the Harz, Rosenmliller's Cave in Mainkreise in Bavaria, the 

 Beatus Cave in Switzerland, the Grotto of Antiparos in the 

 Levant, and the Grotto of Pausilippo in Italy, together with the 

 Grotto del Cane, the vapour of which (carbonic acid gas) is 

 dangerous to dogs; and to these rare productions of nature, 

 the so-called Rock Theatre at Hellebrunn in Salzburg should 

 be added. 



The interior of the natural grotto] is distinguished from the 

 cave in a rock by its having generally a variety of crystallisations 

 and petrifactions, stalactites or basalt-like pillars, such as those 

 in Fingal's Cave : and in these grottoes the most wonderful ap- 

 pearances are seen, such as long protuberances hanging from the 

 roof, with innumerable prisms, and surrounded by smooth flat 

 surfaces, like looking-glasses, which reflect the most astonishing 

 appearance of light, occasioned by the infinity of reflected rays; 

 and these pillar-like appendages often reach the floor, and give 

 an appearance as if they supported the roof The mind fancies 

 such grottoes the abode of nymphs in fairyland. 



12. There are also other kinds of grottoes which formerly 

 ornamented the geometric garden, and these were sometimes 

 in buildings, in niches, or by the sides of fountams; but these 

 grottoes were always grotesque, and never had a natural ex- 

 pression. 



