THE GARDENS OF VENICE 



beautiful gardens in Venice, but I will leave something 

 for others writers to tell." * 



A few months before the Milanese Canon wrote 

 these words, Murano was the scene of a splendid 

 fete given by Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, in 

 her villa gardens, in honour of Beatrice d'Este, the 

 young Duchess of Milan, whose coming as her lord's 

 ambassador was celebrated with great honour by the 

 Doge and Signory. And in the same year Queen 

 Caterina received Beatrice's sister, the Marchesana 

 Isabella, when she paid her first visit to Venice at 

 Ascension-tide, and showed this accomplished lady 

 the rare flowers and fruits that were sent her from 

 Cyprus. When, seventeen years afterwards, Caterina 

 died, and was buried with due pomp in the church 

 of the Apostoli, the funeral oration was pronounced 

 by an eloquent young Venetian patrician, Andrea 

 Navagero, who was one of her neighbours at Murano. 

 This fine scholar and distinguished public servant, who 

 held the office of Librarian and Historiographer to the 

 Republic of Venice, and went as Ambassador to Spain 

 and France, had a passionate love of gardening. There 

 was a vein of melancholy in his nature which made 

 him sigh for peace and repose in the midst of his political 

 labours, and escape, whenever he had a chance, from 

 the din and turmoil of the city to enjoy the rural 

 ^Casola, 142. 



