rich damp growth of moss and fern, is a fountain mask from which the 

 water flows into an oval basin beneath. 



Within the broad recess is a half-moon shaped cistern, which has a 

 very beautiful balustrade, with a small fountain tazza above each pier. 

 This cistern, unlike the one at the Villa Lancellotti, is completely 

 detached from the terrace wall, so that there is a free passage all 



around it. 



Beneath the grass and weeds that to-day carpet the terrace is a pave- 

 ment of vari-coloured marbles. The face of the terrace was formerly 

 encrusted with mosaic in which the Borghese dragon was conspicuous, 

 traces of which, as well as of the mosaic that lines the steps, still 

 remain. Besides the statues that once adorned the niches, many others 

 crowned the parapet above the teatro, and in a niche at the foot of the 

 stairway stood a figure of Pan playing upon his pipes. 



Thanks to the masonry having been built almost entirely of the good 

 warm local stone, the weather has not played the havoc which has been 

 wrought with similar work at Tivoli, where stucco has been used in the 

 most reckless way, even among the fountains. 



Even to-day, though we cannot but regret the absence ot the many 

 statues and busts, and though we miss the sparkle of the numerous foun- 

 tains, the Villa Mondragone still remains one of the best examples 

 of garden architecture in Italy. 



Evelyn writes of this villa, to which he appears to have paid a hurried 

 visit in 1645 : 



" We went hence to another house and garden not far distant, on the 

 side of a hill called Mondragone, finish'd by Cardl. Scipio Borghese, an 

 ample and kingly edifice. It has a very long galerie, and at the end a 

 theater for pastimes, spacious courts, rare grotts, vineyards, olive grounds, 

 groves and solitudes. The aire is so fresh and sweete, as few parts of 

 Italy exceed it ; nor is it inferior to any palace in the cittie itselfe for 

 statues, pictures, and furniture ; but it growing late we could not take 

 such particular notice of these things as they deserv'd." 



Before we quit this most fascinating spot, one other feature must be 

 noticed. On the side of the palazzo towards Rome stretches a wide 

 terrace, the principal ornament of which is the Dragon fountain of our 



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