But although in their houses the modem Romans profit little by their abounding supply of water, in their public fountains they excel all other cities. We shall be excused for quoting the fino account of them, given by Eustace in his classical tour.

FOUNTAINS. obelisks, we pass to the fountains, because they are generally employed in " From the

the decoration of the same squares, and sometimes united as in the Piazza Favona and St. John a Lateran, to set each other off to more advantage. Three only of the ancient

48 PRELIMINARY ESSAY.

aqueducts now remain to supply modern Rome, and yet such is the quantity they convey, and so pure the sources whence they derive it, that no city can boast of such a profusion of clear and salubrious water. Artificial fountains in general, are little better than orna- ^ mented pumps, which sometimes squirt out a scanty thread of water, and sometimes 'distil only a few drops into a muddy basin. Those on a greater scale, now and then throw up a column, or pour a torrent as occasion may require, on certain state days, or for the amusement of some distinguished personage, and then subside till a fresh supply enables them to renew the exhibition. Such are in general the fountains and cascades that adorn public walks and palace gardens and such the so much celebrated water- ;

works of St. Cloud, Marli, and Versailles inventions which can be considered only as pretty play -things, calculated, like a theatrical decoration to act an occasional part, and to furnish a momentary amusement, but too insignificant to be introduced into the resorts of the public, or into the walks of princes, where we have reason to expect solid magnificence, founded on nature and reality.