GARDEN OF THE TAJ-MAHAL 251 



pleasures. Your parlers and your banketting houses 

 both within and without, are all bedecked with 

 pictures of beautifull flowres and trees, that you 

 may not onJey feede your eyes with the be- 

 holding of the true and liuely flowre, but also 

 delight your selfe with the counterfait in the 

 midst of winter, seeing in the one, the painted 

 flowre to contend in beauty with the very flowre : 

 in the other, the wonderfull worke of nature, and 

 in both, the passing goodness of God. Moreouer, 

 your pleasant arbours to walk in, whose shaddowes 

 keepe off the heate of the sunne, and if it fortune 

 to raine, the cloisters are hard by. But especially 

 this little riuer, with most cleere water, encom- 

 passing the garden, doth wonderfully set it forth, 

 and herewithall the greene and goodly quickset 



hedges. 



BABNABY GOOGE. 



THE GARDEN OF THE TAJ-MAHAL 



(From " With Sa'di in the Garden ") 



THROUGH the vaulted door, opens to sight 

 A glorious garden green, for ever green, 

 Since hither comes no harsh nor biting time 

 To strip the buds, but, all the warm year through, 

 The palms rise feathered, and the pipal-boughs 

 Whisper men's doings to the listening gods 

 With watchful leaves ; citrons and rose-apples 

 Keep their bright blossoms and their jewelled fruits, 

 And broad bananas flaunt their silken flags. 



