50 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



which were several kinds of fruits, which was the cause why, 

 when meditating the sense of Psalm civ., as I have told you 

 above, straightway there took hold of me so great a desire to 

 set up my said garden, that since that time I have done nought 

 but dream about the erection thereof, and very often in my 

 sleep me-seemed that my garden was already made in the same 

 shape as I have told you, and that I was already beginning 

 to eat the fruits, and to recreate myself therein, and methought 

 that passing in the morning through the said garden, I 

 came to consider the wonderful actions which the Sovereign 

 has commanded Nature to perform, and amongst other things 

 I gazed upon the branches of the vines, peas, and gourds 

 which seemed to have some feeling and knowledge of their 

 weakly nature ; for being unable to support themselves, they 

 threw out certain small arms, like threads, into the air, and 

 finding some small branch or bough, proceeded to bind and 

 attach themselves to it, without separating from it again, in order 

 to support the parts of their weakly nature. — ^Jardin Delectable.'' 



'The Archives of the History of Switzerland' (Zurich, 1864) 

 give an account of a visit of the Swiss Ambassadors to the 

 Tuileries, nth May 1555: — 



'In the morning the Ambassadors set out for the garden of 

 the Queen, called the Tuillerie. The garden is very large 

 and very pleasant. A broad path divides it into two parts, 

 planted on each side with tall trees, elms and sycamores, which 

 afford shade to the walkers. There is a labyrinth designed 

 with such art, that, once inside, the exit is difficult. There are 

 tables made of branches and leaves, beds, etc. The astonishing 

 thing is that this labyrinth is almost entirely formed of bent cherry 

 trees. There are several fountains with nymphs and fauns, 

 holding urns from which the water flows. One is especially 

 remarkable. It is a rock over which run various reptiles, 

 serpents, snails, tortoises, lizards, frogs, and every kind of 

 aquatic animal. They also poured water — one would have 

 said the rock itself exuded water.' 



M. Anatole de Montaiglon sees in this description the Grotto 



