amount to an astonishing figure. Now that the possibilities of other 

 forms of garden delight are so much widened, it is small wonder that the 

 maze should have fallen into disuse. It must have been amusing in the 

 older days when people's lives were simpler and more leisured ; but 

 there are puzzles and difficulties enough in our more complicated days, 

 and the influences that we now want in a garden are soothing tranquilli- 

 ties rather than bewildering perplexities. Near the maze and alcove is 

 a group of three great Lombardy Poplars that tells with extremely fine 

 effect from many parts of the garden. 



On one side of the house is an old parterre of the kind now but 

 seldom seen out of Italy ; with elaborate scrolls and arabesques ofcHpped 

 box ; the more characteristically Italian form of the " knotted " gardens 

 of our Tudor ancestors. The English patterns were much nearer akin to 

 those used so lavishly on gala clothing in the form of needlework of 

 cording and braiding, and the strap-work of wood-carving, while the 

 Italian parterre designs were drawn more freely in flowing lines and less 

 rigid forms. 



Opposite the porch is a sundial, supported by a kneeling figure of a 

 black slave, of the same design as the one in the gardens of the Inner 

 Temple, that was formerly at Clement's Inn, and is known as the 

 " Blackamoor." Like this one the figure is of lead. 



128 



