Gardens of the Poets 221 



Bacon — and not in the disguise of Shakespeare 

 either. For no stronger proofs can be found of the 

 existence of two individualities than are in the works 

 of each of these men, in their sentences and pages 

 which relate to gardens and flowers. 



This fair garden and Shakespeare Border are 

 loveliest in the cool of the day, in the dawn or 

 at early eve ; and those who muse may then remem- 

 ber another Presence in a garden in the cool of the 

 day. And then I recall that gem of English poesy 

 which always makes me pitiful of its author ; that he 

 could write this, and yet, in his hundreds of pages of 

 English verse, make not another memorable line : — 



" A Garden is a lovesome thing, God wot ; 



Rose plot, 

 Fringed pool, 



Ferned grot, 

 The veriest school of Peace ; 

 And yet the fool 



Contends that God is not in gardens. 

 Not in gardens ! When the eve is cool ! 



Nay, but I have a sign. 

 'Tis very sure God walks in mine." 



Shakespeare Borders grow very readily and freely 

 in England, save in the case of the few tropical flowers 

 and trees named in the pages of the great dramatist; 

 but this Shakespeare Border at Hillside needs much 

 cherishing. The plants of Heather and Broom and 

 Gorse have to be specially coddled by transplanting 

 under cold frames during the long winter months in 

 frozen Albany ; and thus they find vast contrast to 

 their free, unsheltered life in Great Britain. 



