And, therefore, though "flowers, fresh in hue and many in their class," absolutely "_implore_ the pausing step," we forbear, and will let him off this time with rehearsing only three or four among them:--the _Allium fragrans_, he will join with us, if he has been in Italy, in the wish that _all_ onions there were like it! the _Anchusa Italica_, through whose long funnel the proboscis of the ever-buzzing _Bombylius_ finds its way to the sweet nectar prepared within; the _Scilla Lilio-hyacinthus_--a _Squill_ masquerading it as a _Hyacinth_; the leaves of the _Cnicus Syraicus_, most beautiful of thistles, glistening here in abundance, and scarcely inferior in attractions to the far-famed _Acanthus_. But the society of plants is as promiscuous as our own, and accordingly we find here the jaundiced _Chelidonium_ filled with bilious juices; the feculent-smelling flowerets of the _Smyrnum olusatrum_, and the stinking _Geranium robertianum_, mingle with the sweets of _Calendula_, _Narcissus_, and _Jonquil_; not to mention the _Orchis_ tribe, which flourishes in profusion. Traversing the green arena of the amphitheatre,--where annual festas are held, and occasional cricket matches played--to the left, and leaving the Temple of Diana to the right, we come upon a deep descent just in front of the villa, and enter it for a minute to cast a hasty _coup-d'oeil_ at the ample frescoes of the ceiling and the grim mosaics of the floor; the subjects of the latter, however, not being congenial to an unbreakfasted stomach, we relinquish them presently, for the beauties of the park.... By the time we think of retracing our steps, the clock of Monte Citorio has struck ten; but the morning is still delightfully cool and exhilarating; we have been overtaken and passed by three pedestrians, each carrying away from the grounds something more than mere recollections; one, a _semplicista_ of the Rotunda, with a collection of Galenicals for his shop; another with a pocket full of _Arum_ roots, which he has been grubbing up for his wife, a _lavatrice_, to clear linen; and a third, whose handkerchief contains several pounds weight of _prugnoli_--_Agaricus prunulus_--destined for his breakfast. These do not long keep pace with our lingering footsteps; we are loth to quit hastily, and for the last time, this scene of by-gone pleasures. Oh! Villa Borghese, well known to us from curly-pated boyhood, before Waterloo was won, and often at intervals since, till now, when half our hair has become gray, and the remainder has left our temples, while grown-up nephews and nieces declare to us, what our contemporaries will not--the progress of time--how many happy hours of careless childhood have we frolicked away among thine avenues and plantations--on which we cast a last sad look--with urchins now as bald as ourselves! In early youth we have read our favourite authors under thy trees; a little later, have botanised with friends who loved thee and nature as dearly as we