OUR OWN GARDENS 265 



figure of thin alabaster) is hung in the middle, a 

 thousand pointed rays glitter, and are reflected over 

 the place. There are connected to this grotto by 

 a narrower passage two porches, one towards the 

 river of smooth stones full of light, and open ; the 

 other towards the garden, shadow'd with trees, 

 rough with shells, flints, and iron ore. . . . 



You'll think I have been very poetical in this 

 description, but it is pretty near the truth. I wish 

 you were here to bear testimony how little it owes 

 to Art, either the place itself, or the image I give 

 of it. 



OUR OWN GARDENS 



(From "Othello") 



lago. 'Tis in ourselves, that we are thus or thus. 

 Our bodies are our gardens ; to the which our wills 

 are gardeners : so that if we will plant nettles, or 

 sow lettuce ; set hyssop, and weed up thyme ; 

 supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it 

 with many ; either to have it sterile with idleness, 

 or manured with industry ; why, the power and 

 corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. 



WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 



