THE MEDIEVAL PLEASAUNCE 87 



according to the derivation of the word from zerd, garth, 

 or yard (three nouns from the same Aryan root as the 

 French word jardin), originally signified a walled but 

 unroofed enclosure containing cultivated vegetation. 

 Usually this vegetation principally consisted of herbs, 

 grass, or fruit trees. Thus there were wyrt-zerds, grass- 

 zerds, ortzers, cherry-zerds, and apple- zerds, or yards, the 

 prefix specifying more or less exactly the contents of 

 the circumscribed space. 



This enclosure protected the vegetation from ma- seclusion 



. requisite 



rauders, and secluded its occupants. Privacy was a very and neces- 

 sary, 

 important characteristic of the garden. Inside the castle 



there was scant opportunity for confidential conversa- 

 tion. So when people wished to talk without being 

 overlooked or overheard, they were apt to retire to the 

 pleasaunce. For lovers especially it was a favourite 

 meeting-place. 



" Into the gardyn go we, and ye shal here 

 Al pryvely of this a longe sermon : 

 With that thei wenten arm and arm yfere, 

 Into the gardyn from the chambre doun. 

 And when that he so fer was, that the soun 

 Of that he spake no man heren mighte 

 He seyd hire thus, and out the letre plyghte." 



" Troylus and Cryseyde." 



For the sake of seclusion as well as safety the garden 

 was, therefore, surrounded by high and thick walls, fences, 

 or a hedge, and usually still further defended by a moat. 



