4 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



garden, moreover, had another purpose: it was in- 

 tended to supply flowers for "nosegays" and herbs 

 for "strewings." The Shakespeare garden was a 

 continuation, or development, of the Medieval 

 "Pleasance," where quiet ladies retired with their 

 embroidery frames to work and dream of their Cru- 

 sader lovers, husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers 

 lying in the trenches before Acre and Ascalon, or 

 storming the walls of Jerusalem and Jericho ; where 

 lovers sat hand in hand listening to the songs of 

 birds and to the still sweeter songs from their own 

 palpitating hearts; where men of affairs frequently 

 repaired for a quiet chat, or refreshment of spirit; 

 and where gay groups of lords and ladies gathered 

 to tell stories, to enjoy the recitation of a wander- 

 ing trouvere, or to sing to their lutes and viols, while 

 jesters in doublets and hose of bright colors and 

 cap and bells lounged nonchalantly on the grass to 

 mock at all things even love ! 



In the illuminated manuscripts of old romans^ 

 such as "Huon of Bordeaux," the "Romaunt of the 

 Rose," "Blonde of Oxford," "Flore et Blancheflore, 

 Amadis de Gaul," etc., there are many charming 

 miniatures to illustrate the word-pictures. From 

 them we learn that the garden was actually within 

 the castle walls and very small. The walls of the 



