THE ELIZABETHAN FLOWER-GARDEN 165 



fine arbours redolent by sweet trees and flowers, at 

 each end one, the garden plot under that, with fair 

 alleys green by grass, even voided from the borders 

 on both sides, and some (for change) with sand, not 

 light, or too soft, or soily by dust, but smooth and 

 firm, pleasant to walk on, as a sea-shore when the 

 water is availed. Then, much gracified by due 

 proportion of four even quarters ; in the midst of each, 

 upon a base of two feet square and high, seemly 

 bordered of itself, a square pilaster rising pyramidi- 

 cally fifteen feet high. Symmetrically pierced through 

 from a foot beneath to two feet of the top: where- 

 upon, for a Capitol, an orb of ten inches thick; 

 everyone of these with its base, from the ground to the 

 top, of one whole piece; hewn out of hard porphyry, 

 and with great art and heed (think me) thither 

 conveyed and there erected. Where, further also, by 

 great cast and cost, the sweetness and savour on all 

 sides, made so respirant from the redolent plants, and 

 fragrant herbs and flowers, in form, colour and 

 quantity so deliciously variant ; and fruit trees bedecked 

 with apples, pears, and ripe cherries. . . . 



" A garden then so appointed, as wherein aloft upon 

 sweet shadowed walk of terrace, in heat of summer 

 to feel the pleasant frisking wind above, or delectable 

 coolness of the fountain-spring beneath ; to taste of 

 delicious strawberries, cherries, and other fruits, even 



