IN PRAISE OF GARDENS 



Others to tread the liquid harvest join; 

 The groaning presses foam with floods of wine ; 

 Here are the vines in early flower descried, 

 Here grapes discoloured on the sunny side, 

 And there in autumn's richest purple dyed; 



Beds of all various herbs, for ever green, 

 In beauteous order terminate the scene. 



Two plenteous fountains the whole prospect 



crowned : 



This through the garden leads its stream around, 

 Visits each plant, and waters all the ground. 

 HOMER'S The Odyssy, Bk. VII. 



So on a day, right in the morwe tyde, 



Unto a gardyn that was ther bisyde, 



In which that they hadde maid hir ordinaunce 



Of vitaille, and of other purveiaunce, 



They goon and playe here al the longe day; 



And this was on the sixte morwe of May, 



Which May hadde peynted with his softe shouers 



This gardyn, full of leves and of floures, 



And craft of mannes hand so curiously 



Arrayed hadde this gardyn, trewely, 



That never was ther gardyn of swich prys 



[24] 



