32 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



One of these gardens is shady, formed for contemplation, and 

 sacred to Apollo. It overhangs the source of the river, and is 

 terminated by rocks, and by places accessible only to birds. The 

 other is nearer my cottage, of an aspect less severe, and devoted 

 to Bacchus ; and, what is extremely singular, it is in the midst of 

 a rapid river. The approach to it is over a bridge of rocks ; and 

 there is a natural grotto under the rocks ; which gives them the 

 appearance of a rustic bridge. Into this grotto the rays of the sun 

 never penetrate. I am confident that it much resembles the place 

 where Cicero sometimes went to declaim. It invites to study. 

 Hither I retreat during the noontide hours ; my mornings are 

 engaged upon the hills, or in the garden sacred to Apollo. Here 

 I would most willingly pass my days, were I not too near Avignon, 

 and too far from Italy. For why should I conceal this weakness 

 of my soul ? I love Italy, and I hate Avignon. The pestilential 

 influence of this horrid place impoisons the pure air of Vaucluse, 

 and will compel me to quit my retirement. — Letter from Vaucluse, 

 1336. — ^ Life of Petrarch^ by Tho7nas Campbell. 



ST BERNARD TF thou desire to know the situation of Clairvaux, let those 



OF ,,„ * writings be to thee as a mirror. . . . Then the back part of 



CLAIRVAUX . . 



(1091-1153). ^^ Abbey terminates in a broad plain, no small portion of which 



a wall occupies, which surrounds the Abbey with its extended 



circuit. Within the enclosure of this wall many and various trees, 



prolific in various fruits constitute an orchard resembling a wood. 



Which, being near the cell of the sick, lightens the infirmities of 



the brethren with no moderate solace, while it affords a spacious 



walking place to those who walk and a sweet place for reclining 



to those who are overheated. The sick man sits upon the green 



sod, and while the inclemency of Sirius burns up the Earth with 



his pitiless star, and dries up the rivers, he (the sick man) tempers 



the glowing stars, under leaves of the trees, into security, and 



concealment, and shade from the . heat of the day ; and for the 



comfort of his pain, the various kinds of grass are fragrant to 



his nostrils, the pleasant verdure of the herbs and trees gratifies 



