104 



THE FOUNTAIN. 



perses the water by eight mascarons, or grotesque figures repre- 

 senting the heads of animals. Over this basin rises a column 

 two feet in diameter, and two yards in height, adorned with a 

 variety of foliages and beautiful devices, and having four ban- 

 dalets which support the most elevated basin. This last has a 

 circumference of somewhat more than six yards, and is sur- 

 rounded by ten beautiful seraphims which spout the fluid it 

 colle6ts. In its centre appears, in a pyramidal form, another 

 finely wrought column, two yards in height, which receives the 

 vase of foliage that terminates in the pharos, composed of six 

 columns, two feet and a half in elevation, forming a cupola 

 on which is seen the figure of Fame, a yard and three quarters 

 in height, with a helmet on the head, the arms of the sove- 

 reign of Spain in the right hand, and in the left, the trum- 

 pet with which she proclaims his name and magnificence. 



This figure of Fame leads to a particular observation which 

 will atone for a short digression, namely, that the great square 

 is the scene and principal rendezvous of all the public pro- 

 cessions that take place in the capital. In the one by which 

 the Indian inhabitants celebrated the coronation of the present 

 king of Spain, Charles IV. several emblematical figures were 

 introduced by them with great taste and elFedl, as will appear 

 hy P/aU VI. the female portrayed in which represents, very 

 fancifully, the Minerva of Peru. 



To return to the fountain. The substance of which all its 

 parts are composed is bronze ; and its respe6live ornaments are 

 conformable to the rules of the composite order of civil archi- 

 tefturc. It has an elevation of fifteen yards and one-third to 

 the helmet of Fame. Dedu6ling one yard and three-quarters 

 for the height of that figure, there remain thirteen clear yards 



and 



