ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 
graceful courtesy would lend lustre to the most 
splendid banquet. Several other remarkable men 
were present on this occasion—Messer Pietro Aretino, 
that miracle of nature ; Jacopo Tatti, called Sansovino, 
who is as renowned a sculptor as our host is a painter; 
and Messer Jacopo Nardi. The heat of the sun was 
still great, although the garden is shady, so, while 
the tables were being carried out and supper laid, we 
spent our time in looking at the admirable paintings 
which adorn the house, and in enjoying the rare beauty 
and delights of the garden, which lies on the sea-shore 
at the far end of Venice, looking towards the lovely 
island of Murano and other fair places. As the sun 
went down, the lagoon swarmed with gondolas full of 
beautiful women, and the sweet sounds of musical 
instruments and singing floated over the water and 
charmed our ears as we sat at our delightful supper 
till midnight. The garden is beautifully laid out, and 
excites universal admiration. The supper also was 
most excellent, rich in choice viands and rare wines. 
In short, nothing was lacking which could heighten 
the charm of the summer evening and the pleasure 
of the company. The fruit had just been placed on 
the table when your letter came, and Aretino’s wrath 
was excited by your assertion of the superior excellence 
of the Latin tongue. Lie called for ink and paper, 
and was with difficulty restrained from committing his 
fierce invectives to writing. And so the supper ended, 
as gaily as it began ! ” 1 
The garden in which Titian gave these joyous 
supper-parties has been built over, and the noble tree 
1 Priscianese, Della lingua rornana, Ticozzi Dizionario, iv. 79. 
112 
