16 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



of Francesco Colonna, Polyphilus and his beloved 

 are led through an enchanted garden where banquet- 

 houses, temples and statues stand in the midst of 

 myrtle groves and labyrinths on the banks of a 

 shining stream. The pages of this curious book are 

 adorned with a profusion of wood-cuts by some 

 Venetian engraver, representing pergolas, fountains, 

 sunk parterres, pillared loggie, clipped box and ilex- 

 trees of every variety, which give a good idea of 

 the garden artist then in vogue. 



"Boccaccio and the Italians more usually employ 

 the word orto, which has lost its Latin signification, 

 and is a place, as we learn from the context, planted 

 with fruit-trees and potherbs, the sage which 

 brought misfortune on poor Simona and the sweet 

 basil which Lisabetta watered, as it grew out of 

 Lorenzo's head, only with rosewater, or that of 

 orange-flowers, or with her own tears. A friend of 

 mine has painted a picture of another of Boccaccio's 

 ladies, Madonna Dianora, visiting the garden which 

 the enamored Ansaldo has made to bloom in Jan- 

 uary by magic arts; a little picture full of the quaint 

 lovely details of Dello's wedding-chests, the charm 

 of roses and lilies, the flashing fountains and birds 

 singing against a background of wintry trees, and 

 snow-shrouded fields, dainty youths and damsels 



