332 the temple was dedicated. The river, moving with augmented rapidity as its channel is confined, at length rushes headlong over a lofty precipice; the noife of its fall refounds through the hills and groves of Tivoli; a liquid cloud arifes from the foaming water, which afterwards divides into numberlefs fmall cascades, waters feveral orchards, and, having gained the plain, flows quietly for the reft of its course, till it lofes itself in the Tiber. It is not furprising that the following lines have been fo often quoted by those who visit the Sibyl's Temple, because they delineate, in the most expreffive manner, fome of the principal features of the country around it. Me nec tam patiens Lacedæmon, Et præceps Anio, et Tiburni lucus, ut uda *But me not patient Lacedæmon charms, The As The elegant and graceful form of the beautiful little temple I have fo often mentioned, indicates its having been built when the arts were in the higheft ftate of perfection at Rome. Its proportions are not more happy than its fituation, on a point of the mountain fronting the great cafcade. Before they take their leave of Tivoli, ftrangers ufually vifit the Villa Eftenfe, belonging to the Duke of Modena. It was built by Hippolitus of Efte, Cardinal of Ferrara, and brother to the duke of that name; but more diftinguished by being the person to whom Ariofto addreffed his poem of Orlando Furiofo. The house itself is not in the finest style of architecture. There are many whimsical waterworks in the gardens. Those who do not approve of the tafte of their conftruction, ftill owe them As pure Albuneus' rock refounding fource, FRANCIS. fome fome degree of respect, on account of their being the firft grand waterworks in Europe; much more ancient than those of Versailles. The fituation is noble, the terraces lofty, the trees large and venerable; and though the ground is not laid out to the greatest advantage, yet the whole has a ftriking air of magnificence and grandeur. LETTER LXIX. Rome. RESCATI is an agreeable village, FR on the declivity of a hill, about twelve miles from Rome. It derives its name from the coolness of the air, and fresh verdure of the fields around. It is a bishop's fee, and always poffeffed by one of the fix eldest Cardinals. At prefent it belongs to the Cardinal Duke of York, who, whether in the country or at Rome, paffes the greatest part of his time in the duties. and ceremonies of a religion, of whose truth he seems to have' the fulleft conviction; and who, living himself in great fimplicity, and not in the ufual style of Cardinals, fpends a large proportion of his revenue in acts of charity and benevolence; the world forgetting, by the world forgot, except except by those who enjoy the comforts of life through his bounty. Tivoli was the favourite refidence of the ancient Romans. The moderns give the preference to Frefcati, in whofe neighbourhood fome of the moft magnificent villas in Italy are fituated. The villa Aldobrandini, called alfo Belvedere, is the most remarkable, on account of its fine fituation, extensive gardens, airy terraces, its grottos, cafcades, and waterworks. Over a faloon, near the grand cafcade, is the following infcription: HUC EGO MIGRAVI MUSIS COMITATUS APOLLO, HIC DELPHI, HIC HELICON, HIC MIHI DELOS ERIT *. The walls are adorned with a reprefentation of Apollo and the Mufes; and fome of that God's adventures are painted in Fresco by Domenichino, particularly the manner in which he treated Marfyas. This, in my humble opinion, had better *Hither I, Apollo, have come, accompanied by the Mufes. This fhall henceforth be our Delphos, Delos, and Helicon. been |