216 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



cause it beareth double flowers, like as the Cherry, 

 Apple and Peach-tree with double blossoms. 



"The wild Pomegranate (Balustium mains sive 

 Mains Punic a) is like unto the tame in the number 

 of purplish branches, having thorns and shining fair 

 green leaves, somewhat larger than the former. 

 From the branches likewise shoot forth flowers far 

 more beautiful than those of the tame, or manured, 

 sort, because they are double, and as large as a 

 double Province Rose, or rather more double, of an 

 excellent bright crimson color, tending to a silken 

 carnation, standing in brownish cups or husks, di- 

 vided at the brims usually into four, or five, several 

 points like unto the former, but that in this kind 

 there never followeth any fruit, no not in the coun- 

 try where it is naturally wild. The wild, I think, 

 was never seen in England before John Tradescant, 

 my very loving good friend, brought it from the 

 parts beyond the seas and planted it in his Lord's 

 Garden at Canterbury. The rind of the Pome- 

 granate is used to make the best sort of writing Ink, 

 which is durable to the world's end." 



The pomegranate was from the dawn of history 

 a favorite with Eastern peoples. It is represented 

 in ancient Assyrian and Egyptian sculpture and had 



