Trianon and the Menagerie. At each of
the grand pieces whose position Le Nôtre
marked, and whose future beauties he
described, Louis XIV interrupted him, saying,
'Le Nôtre, I give you twenty thousand
francs.' This magnificent approbation was
so frequently repeated that it annoyed Le
Nôtre, whose soul was as noble and
disinterested as that of his master was
generous. At the fourth interruption he stopped,
and said brusquely to the King, 'Sire, Your
Majesty shall hear no more. I shall ruin you.'"

In 1695 the King ennobled Le Nôtre and
bestowed upon him the Order of St. Michael.
Later, Le Nôtre presented to his sovereign
his collection of pictures and bronzes, for
which he had previously received an offer
of 80,000 francs, or about $16,000. This
collection was placed in one of the King's
intimate rooms among the rarest objects in
his possession. On occasion, when about to
make a tour of the gardens, Louis liked to
command a rolling chair similar to his own
for the aged Le Nôtre. Discussing new
projects, appraising those that were finished,
they made the promenade together.

One of the first garden decorations
undertaken was the Grotto of Thetis, a green