After  supper  the  merrymakers  of  Baden  con-
tinue their  revels  on  dry  land.     There  is  a  large

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tree-shaded  meadow  near  the  river,  where  the
visitors  while  away  the  evening  with  dancing,
singing  and  tossing  a  ball,  filled  with  little
bells,  which  all  the  others  try  to  catch.  "  I
think,"  says  the  envious  Poggio,  "  that  this
must  be  the  place  where  the  first  man  was
created,  which  the  Hebrews  call  Gamedon,  which
means  '  garden  of  pleasure.'  For  if  pleasure
can  make  life  blessed,  I  do  not  see  what  this
place  lacks  of  perfection  and  of  the  completest
happiness."

Even  in  Poggio's  day  the  value  of  the  waters
of  Baden  in  overcoming  sterility  were  recognised,
and  crowds  of  women  flocked  thither  with  that
end  in  view.  But  the  gay  life  attracted  even
more  of  all  ranks  and  both  sexes  from  every  corner
of  the  world.  "  Lovers  and  their  mistresses,
and  all  the  butterflies  of  Ufe  crowd  to  the  place
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  they  desire.  Many  feign
sickness  of  the  body,  whose  only  malady  is  of
the  imagination.  You  will  see  many  beautiful
women,  without  husbands  or  relatives,  with  two
maids  and  one  serving-man,  or  some  ancient
cousin  or  chaperon  whom  it  is  easier  to  deceive
than  to  entertain.  And  most  of  them  arrive  in
garments  heavy  with  gold  and  silver,  and  decked
out  with  jewels  ;  so  that  you  would  imagine  them
to  have  come  for  some  splendid  wedding  rather
than  to  a  watering-place.
