EVOLUTION OF THE GARDEN 19 



Symbolism played an important part in Indian 

 gardens. The beautiful garden of Babar (near 

 Kabul) was called the Bagh-i-vafa "The Garden 

 of Fidelity." This has many points in common with 

 the illustration of the "Romaunt of the Rose," par- 

 ticularly the high walls. 



There is also great similarity with the gardens of 

 Elizabethan days. The "pleached allies" and 

 "knots" of the English gardens of Shakespeare's 

 time find equivalents in the vine pergolas and geo- 

 metrical parterres of the Mogul emperors; and the 

 central platform of the Mogul gardens answered the 

 same purpose as the banqueting-hall on the mound, 

 which decorated nearly every English nobleman's 

 garden. 



IV 



Bagh-i-vafa 



Babar' s "Garden of Fidelity" was made in the 

 year 1508. We see Babar personally superin- 

 tending the laying out of the "four-field plot." 

 Two gardeners hold the measuring line and the 

 architect stands by with his plan. The square 

 enclosure at the bottom of the garden (right) is the 

 tank. The whole is bordered with orange and pome- 

 granate trees. An embassy knocks at the gate, but 



