MEDIEVAL GARDENS 



attack. It also served as a seat ; for at intervals, 

 between the flowers and sweet-scented herbs, 

 portions were covered with turf. 



Of all the flowers in the garden the rose 

 " red and pale " was the greatest favourite, and 

 many different sorts were planted there. To so 

 many purposes were they put, and so great was 

 the demand for them, that large quantities of 

 roses frequently served as the payment of vassals 

 to their lord. They were used for strewing the 

 floor at the wedding-feast, or at the entertaining 

 of some great baron. The fresh petals were 

 sprinkled over the surface of the water in the 

 bath, and were distilled to make the rose-water 

 with which the knights and ladies washed their 

 hands and faces when they left their much- 

 curtained beds. Further, they were specially 

 prized for garlands, the making of which was 

 one of the favourite occupations of the ladies of 

 the Middle Ages. Dante, who sums up the 

 spirit of the Middle Ages from the simplest 

 reality to the sublimest ideal, alludes to garlands 

 and garland-making as amongst the joys of the 

 Earthly Paradise. In his poet's vision of the 

 pageant of the Church Militant he sees the last 

 company wreathed with red roses, emblems to 

 him of Charity or Love. Boccaccio, in a more 

 mundane atmosphere and a less august assemblage, 

 also introduces us to this mediaeval love of 

 garlands. In a preamble to one of his tales he 

 gives a dainty picture of the manners and pastimes 

 of the gay folk of his day. Of the merry com- 



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