26 THE DELIGHTS OF GARDENS 



No sapling, but transplanted, sure to grow, 

 Sizable standards set in every row ; 

 Some for their annual crop of fruit, and some 

 For longer service in the years to come ; 

 While his young Plane already welcome made 

 The guest who came to drink beneath the shade. 



But, by the stern conditions of my song 

 Compell'd to leave where I would linger long, 

 To other bards the Garden I resign 

 Who with more leisure step shall follow mine. 



Translated by EDWARD FITZGERALD. 



AN ITALIAN GARDEN 



(From " The Story of JRimini ") 



A NOBLE range it was, of many a rood, 



Walled round with trees and ending in a wood : 



Indeed, the whole was leafy, and it had 



A winding stream about it, clear and glad, 



That danced from shade to shade, and on its way 



Seemed smiling with delight to feel the day. 



There was the pouting rose, both red and white, 



The flamy heart's-ease, flushed with purple light, 



Blush-hiding strawberry, sunny-coloured box, 



Hyacinth, handsome with his clustering locks, 



The lady lily, looking guilty down, 



Pure lavender, to lay in bridal-gown, 



The daisy, lovely on both sides, in short, 



All the sweet cups to which the bees resort ; 



With plots of grass, and perfumed walks between, 



Of sweetbriar, honeysuckle, and jessamine, 



