84 ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



rewards for success in various sports. Chaucer speaks 

 of the month of May as especially the season for 

 weaving garlands. In " The Pastime of Pleasure," 

 La Bel Pucel is described by the portress at the 

 garden-gate as seated within thus employed: 



"'Truly,' quod she, 'in the garden grene 

 Of many a swete and sundry flowre 

 She maketh a garlonde that is veray shene, 

 Wythe trueloves wrought in many a coloure, 

 Replete with sweteness and dulcet odoure 

 And all alone, wythout company, 

 Amyddes an herber she sitteth pleasauntly." 



And again she is described weaving a chaplet or 

 wreath to be worn on the head. 



" Besyde which fountayne the moost fayre lady 

 La Bel Pucel was gayly sittyng 

 Of many floures fayre and ryally 

 A goodly chaplet she was in makynge." 



In the " Lai d'Aristote " (Barbazon, III, 105, 107) 

 King Alexander's beautiful mistress is described as 

 descending early in the morning, walking in the 

 garden alone, and making herself a chaplet of flowers. 

 In another fabliau, cited by Wright and published by 

 Keller, a Saracenic maiden descends from her chamber 

 into the garden, performs her toilet at the fountain 

 there, and then makes herself a chaplet of flowers and 

 leaves, which she puts on her head. Then we read in 



