56 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



and in imitation whereof Petrarch speaketh, reasoning of his 

 Plowman : 



' Epoi la mensa ingombra 



Di povere vivande, 



Simili a quelle ghiande 



Le quai fuggendo tutto '1 mondo honora.' 



And then he decks his boord about 



With meats of meane esteeme, 

 Like to those Jayes whose flight contents 



The world, cause faire they seeme. 



So that you neede not mervaile if I after their fashion, fill your 

 Table with unbought viands, which, though they bee not such 

 as you are used to taste elsewhere, remember you are in a 

 Country town, and lodged in the house of a poore Host. I 

 hold it (quoth I) a happy thing to have no neede to send for 

 necessaries to the Cittie for the supply of good manners — I 

 meane not of good meate, for thereof, sir, me seemes heere 

 wants no store. It lightlie happeneth not (quoth hee) that I 

 send to y*^ Cittie for any thing necessarie or fit for the life of 

 a poore Gentleman, for (God be praised) I have aboundaunce 

 of every thing ministred unto me upon myne owne ground, 

 y* which I have devided into foure parts or formes, call them 

 what you will. The first and greatest part I plow and sowe 

 with wheate and all kind of graine. The seconde part I leave 

 for Trees and plants, which are also necessarie either for fire, 

 the use of Architecture, and other instruments of household, 

 as also in those places that are sowne are manie rewes of 

 Trees, whereupon the Vines, after the manner of our /^/// 

 Countries, are laid and fastened. The third is Medowe ground, 

 whereon the Heards and little flocks I have are wont to graze! 

 The fourth I have reserved for hearbes, flowers, and rootes, 

 where also are some store of hyves for Bees, because beyond 

 this Orchard, wherein you see that I have gryft so many fruit- 

 full Plants, and which you see is somewhat separat from my 

 possessions, there is an other Garden, full of all sorts of sallet 



