From the head of the porticus extends a triclinium. Looking through its doors onto the xystus, [the triclinium] views nearby the meadow and much of the countryside, [and] from the windows on one side [it looks onto] the xystus and the villa part which projects, [while] from the windows on the other side it gazes forth onto the grove and the tree branches of the hippodrome[-garden] lying next to it. Almost opposite the middle part of the porticus a diaeta is set back a little. It encircles a tiny open court, which is plunged into shade by four plane trees. In the midst of these trees water pours forth from a marble basin, which waters and nourishes with its delicate spray the plane trees surrounding it and the ground under the plane trees. In this diaeta is a sleeping room which closes out the day, noise and sound, and joined to it is an informal dining space for friends: it looks onto that little courtyard, the porticus wing, and the same views which the porticus has. And there is another chamber, also shaded by the plane trees' greenness at dose hand, made elegant by a thin marble sode, nor do its paintings which imitate branches and birds sitting in that foliage fall short of the beauty of the marble. In this chamber is a tiny fountain, in its jet an urn; around it many tiny trickles mingle together a most delightful murmur.
展开▼
