AN OLD ENGLISH GARDEN 259 



standard laurels, and at large distances, which have 

 the beauty of orange-trees, out of flower and fruit. 



From this walk are three descents by many stone 

 steps, in the middle and at each end, into a very 

 large parterre. This is divided into quarters by 

 gravel-walks, and adorned by two fountains and 

 eight statues in the several quarters. 



At the end of the terras-walk are two summer- 

 houses, and the sides of the parterre are ranged 

 with two large cloisters, open to the garden, upon 

 arches of stone, and ending with two other summer- 

 houses even with the cloisters, which are paved 

 with stone, and designed for walks of shade, there 

 being none other in the whole parterre. Over 

 these two cloisters are two terrasses covered with 

 lead, and fenced with balusters ; and the passage 

 into these airy walks is out of the two summer- 

 houses at the end of the first terras-walk. The 

 cloister facing the south is covered with vines, and 

 would have been proper for an orange-house, and 

 the other for myrtles, or other more common greens, 

 and had, I doubt not, been cast for that purpose, 

 if this piece of gardening had been in as much 

 vogue as it is now. 



From the middle of the parterre is a descent by 

 many steps, flying on each side of a grotto that lies 

 between them (covered with lead, and flat) into the 

 lower garden, which is all fruit-trees, ranged about 

 the several quarters of a wilderness which is very 

 shady. The walks here are all green, the grotto 

 embellished with figures of shee-rock-work, fountains, 

 and water-works. If the hill had not ended with 



