10 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



rels "in great plenty" were seen leaping from bough 

 to bough. Conduits of water ran through the gar- 

 den and the moisture made the grass as thick and 

 rich as velvet and "the earth was as soft as a feather 

 bed." And, moreover, the "earth was of such a 

 grace" that it produced plenty of flowers, both win- 

 ter and summer : 



There sprang the violet all new 

 And fresh periwinkle rich of hue 

 And flowers yellow, white and red, 

 Such plenty grew there, never in mead. 

 Full joy was all the ground and quaint 

 And powdered as men had it paint 

 With many a fresh and sundry flower 

 That casteth up full good savor. 



Myriads of birds were singing, too larks, night- 

 ingales, finches, thrushes, doves, and canaries. 

 L 'Am ant wandered on until he came to a marvelous 

 fountain the Fountain of Love under a pine- 

 tree. 



Presently he was attracted to a beautiful rose- 

 bush, full of buds and full-blown roses. One bud, 

 sweeter and fresher than all the rest and set so 

 proudly on its spray, fascinated him. As he ap- 

 proached this flower, U Amour discharged five arrows 

 into his heart. The bud, of course, was the woman 



