246 



VERSAILLES. 



repose wliicli are characteristics of the greater part of Ver- 

 sailles^ are here absent. It is simply a sweep of gi'ass^ sur- 

 rounded by handsome trees^, with a few flower beds and fine- 

 leaved plants here and there. It is but one of a thousand 

 types of scene which pure taste and a knowledge of hardy 

 trees and plants may produce^ and yet it is sufficient to 

 show the vain_, unsatisfactory^, and trumpery character of 

 the various far more costly gardens in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood. All visitors should see it after surveying the 

 general dreariness of the rest. 



Fig. 91. 



The Tapis Yert. 



To the south of the Tapis Vert^ and near the Jardin du 

 Roi; the Colonnade is very well worth seeing^ and perhaps 

 the happiest feature of the architectural gardening. The 

 grove encloses a peristyle in marble about one hundred feet 

 in diameter. It is composed of thirty-two columns of 

 marble in diff'erent colours^ with the capitals in white 

 marblC;, and all most richly ornamented. Under each arch 

 is placed a vase-like basin in marble from which springs a 

 jet d^eau^ and in the centre of the arena is a group in 

 marble representing the Hape of Proserpine. The efi'ect of 



