256 



THE GARDENS OF ITALY. 



267. CANAL CASCADE UP. 



268. CANAL CASCADE DOWN. 



269 DETAIL OF THE HEAD OF THE CASCADE, VILLA LANTE. 



Nothing can be more 

 attractive or more deftly 

 planned than the garden 

 which surrounds the 

 formal and well kept 

 centre, with its artistic 

 fountain and parterres 

 gay with flowers. We 

 can picture vividly the 

 joyous gatherings here in 

 bygone days the songs, 

 the gaiety, the artificial 

 manners, the real enjoy- 

 ment, of all that light- 

 hearted, frivolous Court 

 life which grew up in 

 Italy in the seventeenth, 

 and lasted up to the nine- 

 teenth, century. This 

 pleasaunce is the cul- 

 minating point of the 

 garden proper, and, above 

 and beyond, it merges 

 into deep ilex woods, with 



