For his
pleasure and retirement, and built by him with an excess of
magnificence and elegance, even to ostentation: one would imagine
everything that architecture can perform to have been employed in
this one work. There are everywhere so many statues that seem to
breathe so many miracles of consummate art, so many casts that rival
even the perfection of Roman antiquity, that it may well claim and
justify its name of Nonesuch, being without an equal; or as the post
sung -
"This, which no equal has in art or fame,
Britons deservedly do NONESUCH name."
The palace itself is so encompassed with parks full of deer,
delicious gardens, groves ornamented with trellis-work, cabinets of
verdure, and walks so embrowned by trees, that it seems to be a
place pitched upon by Pleasure herself, to dwell in along with
Health.
In the pleasure and artificial gardens are many columns and pyramids
of marble, two fountains that spout water one round the other like a
pyramid, upon which are perched small birds that stream water out of
their bills. In the Grove of Diana is a very agreeable fountain,
with Actaeon turned into a stag, as he was sprinkled by the goddess
and her nymphs, with inscriptions.
There is besides another pyramid of marble full of concealed pipes,
which spurt upon all who come within their reach.
