446 Botanical and Horticultural Tour 



with judgment; and none of them are placed at random, which 

 is generally the case when such a trust is confided to the care of 

 those who are inexperienced, or who have not studied nature. 

 Here, on the contrary, the gradations of the different colours of 

 the foliage are so displayed as to afford abundant sources of 

 variety and pleasure. In short, the eye continually wanders 

 from one beauty to another, and particularly so around the lake, 

 where the scenes are always new, always grand, and always 

 worthy of the poet's song. The charms of nature are so com- 

 pletely reproduced and created by art, that one may say, with 

 the poet of Armida, — 



" L' arte che tutta fa, nulla si scopra." 



There is no profusion of buildings or ornaments, which, when 

 crowded together in a garden, without the necessary attention 

 being paid to situation and suitableness, rather fatigues than 

 enlivens the spectator. Amongst the edifices is one dedicated 

 to the immortal Tasso ; and amongst the other buildings is a 

 coffee-house ornamented with beautiful pictures in the Egyptian 

 style, and a beautiful statue of Apollo, admirably executed. 

 There is a small temple, in which there is a statue of Hymen, and 

 an apartment dedicated to Tasso. Four beautiful fresco paintings 

 adorn the interior of this room; the effect of which, contrasted with 

 the exterior of the building, consisting of boards unequally put 

 together, and having the upper part shaded by a penthouse of 

 straw, gives to the mind a great and delightful surprise on enter- 

 ing at the rustic gate. The inexhaustible Tasso has supplied 

 subjects for the skilful pencil of Binozzi, which decorate this 

 room. In one picture we see Erminia, clothed in the arms 

 (which are much too heavy for her) of the warrior maiden 

 Clorinda. 



" O con quanta fatica ella sostiene 

 L' inegual, peso e muove lenti i passi." 



" Heavy and slow, she moves along with pain, 

 And scarce her feet the unwonted weight sustain." 



In the second, Erminia is seen with the shepherd, in that asylum 

 of peace, where the din of arms is never heard. 



Ni strepito de Marte 



Ancor turbo questa remota parte.' 



" Removed to distance far. 



And never startled with the din of war." 



In the third, — 



" Nella scorza de faggi e degli allori 

 Segnio 1' amato nome in raille guise." 



" On the smooth beechen rind the pensive dame 

 Carves in a thousand forms her Tancred's name." 



In the fourth, Erminia is seen, accompanied by the faithful 



