68 NOTES TO BOOK I. avenue of 300 feet long, and 34 broad. It was lined at each side with a file of troops ; and the colours of all the army, planted^at proper distances, had a beautiful effect in diversifying the scene. Between these colours the knights and squires took their stations. The bands played several pieces of martial music, while the com¬ pany moved forward in procession, with the ladies dressed in Turk¬ ish habits in front. As they passed, they were saluted by their knights, who then dismounted and joined them. In this order, we were all conducted into a garden that fronted the house, through the second triumphal arch dedicated to the general. This arch was also built in the Tuscan order. " On the interior of the pediment was planted a plume of feathers, and various military trophies. At the top stood the figure of Fame, and in the entablature this device,—' I, bone, quo virtus tua te vocet, I pede fausto.' On the right hand was placed a bomb¬ shell, on the left a flaming heart. The front next was adorned with preparations for a firework. From the garden we ascended a flight of steps, covered with carpets, which led into a spacious hall, the panels of which were painted in imitation of Sienna marble, enclosing festoons of white marble, with the surbase and all below black. In this hall, and in the adjoining apartments, were prepared tea, lemonade, and other cooling liquors, to which the company seated themselves ; during which time the knights came in, and, kneeling, received their favours from their respective ladies. " One of these rooms was afterwards appropriated for the use of the pharoh table. As you entered it, you saw, on a panel over the chimney, a cornucopia exuberantly filled with flowers of the richest colours. Over the door as you went out, another presented itself, shrunk, reversed, and emptied. From these apartments we were conducted to a ball-room, decorated in a light, elegant style of painting. The ground was a pale blue, panelled with a small gold bead ; the interior filled with dropping festoons of flowers in natural colours. Below the surbase, the ground was of rose- pink, with drapery festooned in blue. These decorations were de¬ corated with eighty-five mirrors, decked with rose-pink silk ribands, and artificial flowers ; and in the intermediate spaces were thirty- four branches with wax-lights, ornamented in a similar manner. 3