128 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



And will continue in the same, 



As you have now begun; 

 And then forever to abide 



Then you my heart have won. 



The violet has always held a loved place in the 

 English garden. Gerard writes quaintly in his 

 "Herbal" : 



"The Black, or Purple Violets, or March Violets, 

 of the garden have a great prerogative above all 

 others, not only because the mind conceiveth a cer- 

 tain pleasure and recreation by smelling and 

 handling of those most odoriferous flowers, but also 

 for the very many by these Violets receive ornament 

 and comely grace; for there be made of them gar- 

 lands for the head, nosegays and poesies, which are 

 delightful to look on and pleasant to smell to, speak; 

 ing nothing of their appropriate virtues; yea, gar- 

 dens themselves receive by these the greatest orna- 

 ment of all chief est beauty and most gallant grace; 

 and the recreation of the mind, which is taken there- 

 by, cannot but be very good and honest; for they 

 admonish and stir up a man to that which is comely 

 and honest; for flowers through their beauty, 

 variety of color and exquisite form do bring to a 

 liberal and great mind the remembrance of honesty, 

 comeliness and all kinds of virtue." 



