PLINY THE YOUNGER 17 



alternately with fruit-trees : when, on a sudden, in the midst of 

 this elegant regularity, you are surprised with an imitation of the 

 negligent beauties of rural nature : in the centre of which lies a 

 spot surrounded with a knot of dwarf plane-trees. 1 



Beyond these is a walk planted with the smooth and twining 

 Acanthus, where the trees are also cut into a variety of names 

 and shapes. At the upper end is an alcove of white marble, 

 shaded by vines, supported by four small Carystian pillars. 

 From this bench, the water, gushing through several little pipes, 

 as if it were pressed out by the weight of the persons who repose 

 themselves upon it, falls into a stone cistern underneath, from 

 whence it is received into a fine polished marble basin, so artfully 

 contrived that it is always full without ever overflowing. 



When I sup here, this basin serves for a table, the larger sort 

 of dishes being placed round the margin, while the smaller ones 

 swim about in the form of little vessels and water-fowl. Corre- 

 sponding to this, is a fountain which is incessantly emptying and 

 filling; for the water, which it throws up a great height, falling 

 back into it, is by means of two openings, returned as fast as 

 it is received. Fronting the alcove (reflecting as great an 

 ornament to it, as it borrows from it) stands a summer-house of 

 exquisite marble, the doors whereof project and open into a 

 green enclosure; as from its upper and lower windows the eye 

 is presented with a variety of different verdures. Next to this 

 is a little private recess (which, though it seems distinct, may be 

 laid into the same room) furnished with a couch ; and notwith- 

 standing it has windows on every side, yet it enjoys a very 

 agreeable gloominess, by means of a spreading vine which climbs 

 to the top and entirely overshades it. Here you may recline and 

 fancy yourself in a wood ; with this difference only that you are 

 not exposed to the weather. In this place a fountain also rises 

 and instantly disappears ; in different quarters are disposed marble 

 seats, which serve, no less than the summer-house, as so many 

 reliefs after one is wearied with walking. Near each seat is a 

 little fountain; and, throughout the whole hippodrome, several 



1 The plane-tree was nourished on wine by the Romans. 

 B 



