lumn in the midst of it, sprang so much
water, and so high, falling also into the fountain with
delightful sound, that it would at least have driven a mill.
This, then (I mean the water which ran over from the
fountain), through hidden channels went out of the meadow,
and by little canals beautiful and artfully made becoming
visible outside of it, ran all around it; and then by similar
canals into every part of the garden, gathering together
finally in that part of it where from the beautiful garden it
escaped, and thence descending limpid to the plain, and
before reaching it, with great force and not a little
advantage to the master, turned two mills. To see this
garden, its beautiful orderliness, the plants and the
fountain with the brooks running from it, was so pleasing to
the ladies and the three youths that all commenced to declare
that if Paradise could be found on earth, they could not
conceive what other form than that of this garden could be
given to it, nor what beauty could be added to it. Wandering
happily about it, twining from the branches of various trees
beautiful garlands, hearing everywhere the songs of maybe
twenty kinds of birds as it were in contest with each other,
they became aware of another charm of which, to the others
being added, they had not taken note: they saw the garden
full of a hundred varieties of beautiful animals, and
pointing them out one to the other, on one side ran out
rabbits, on another hares, here lying roe-deer and there
feeding stags, and besides these many other kinds of harmless
beasts, each one going for his pleasure as if domesticated,
wandering at ease; all which, beyond the other pleasures,
added a greater pleasure. And when, seeing this or that, they
had gone about enough, the tables being set around the
beautiful fountain, first singing six songs and dancing six
dances, as it pleased the Queen, they went to eat, and being
with great and well-ordered service attended, and with
delicate and good dishes, becoming gayer they arose and
renewed music and song and dance, until the Queen on account
of the increasing heat judged that whoever liked should go to
sleep. Of whom some went, but others, conquered by the beauty
of the place, would not go, but remained, some to read
romanc