IN PRAISE OF GARDENS 



And almanderes gret plnete, 



Fyges, and many a date tree, 



These waxen, if men hadde nede, 



Thorough the gardyn in length and brede, 



There was eke waxyng many a spice, 



As clowe-gelofre, and lycorice, 



Gyngevre, and greyn de Paradys, 



Canell, and setewale of prys, 



And many a spice delitable, 



To eten whan men rise fro table. 



And many homly trees ther were 



That peches, coynes, and apples beere, 



Medlers, plowmes, perys chesteynis, 



Chen's, of which many oon fayne is, 



Notes, aleys, and bolas, 



That for to seen it was solas; 



With many high lorer and pyn 



Was renged clene all that gardyn, 



With cipres and with oliveris, 



Of which that nygh no plente heere is. 



There were elmes grete and stronge, 



Maples, asshe, oke, aspe, planes longe, 



Pyne ew, popler, and lyndes faire, 



And othere trees full many a payre 



What shude I tel you more of it? 



There were so many trees yit, 



[26], 



