Until quite recently the beauty of this fountain was much enhanced 

 by a tall hedge of bay-trees, which formed a semicircle around it, an 

 opening at the back showing the pathway which leads upwards to the 

 cascade and bosco beyond; but this too has been destroyed by the 

 too zealous hand of the Government official. This hedge may have been 

 the last of what was a most interesting feature in the villa, for old 

 drawings made early in the eighteenth century show what was called a 

 Teatro di verdure. This was a great semicircular arcade cut in ever- 

 greens ; columns, capitals, and bases, all being clipped to bear some 

 resemblance to their architectural counterparts. - Towards the palace the 

 wings terminated with three arches to the front, nine arches going to 

 each quarter, the whole being backed by a solid hedge and vaulted over. 



Unfortunately these attempts to reproduce architectural features in 

 " greens " are rarely successful and seldom last long ; a little neglect and 

 they are past praying for ! Between this arcade and the palazzo, to the 

 right of the principal viale, was the laberinto, of which, however, 

 nothing now remains. Whether by this word was meant what we call 

 a labyrinth it is difficult to say, as the older Italian writers use the word 

 sometimes to express a complex pattern in box. 



From the Triton fountain the ground commences to slope gently 

 upwards with rough meadow grass on either hand and some beds of 

 shrubs half-lost in the long growth, and a short path brings us to the 

 foot of the cascade. From this point the ground rises more abruptly, 

 giving the architect an opportunity he was not slow to take advantage of. 

 A wide flight of steps leads upwards to a platform or resting-place, 

 which expands right and left, the low parapet walls curving outwards in 

 order to form recesses for stone benches. Here one may rest in the 

 shade of the overhanging trees and watch the play of the fountains at 

 the foot of the cascade. 



Continuing upwards the stairs divide so as to enclose the cascade, 

 which consists of half a dozen falls. At the top, within the curving 

 balustrade, is the principal fountain, which throws a jet of water to a 

 considerable height. In this basin a dolphin disports itself, and it was 

 probably from its mouth, or from that of some amorino who once 

 bestrode it, that the jet ascended. At each basin in the descent other 



31 



