"THE CURIOUS KNOTTED GARDEN" 57 



celebrated by Dr. Donne ; and with very great care, 

 excellent contrivance and much cost. 



"Because I take the garden I have named to have 

 been in all kinds the most beautiful and perfect, at 

 least in the figure and disposition, that I have ever 

 seen, I will describe it for a model to those that meet 

 with such a situation and are above the regards of 

 common expense. 



"It lies on the side of a hill, upon which the house 

 stands, but not very steep. The length of the house, 

 where the best rooms and of most use or pleasure 

 are, lies upon the breadth of the garden; the great 

 parlor opens into the middle of a terrace gravel walk 

 that lies even with it, and which may lie, as I re- 

 member, about three hundred paces long and broad 

 in proportion; the border set with standard laurels' 

 and at large distances, which have the beauty of 

 orange-trees out of flower and fruit. From this walk 

 are three descents by many stone steps, in the mid- 

 dle and at each end, into a very large parterre. This 

 is divided into quarters by gravel walks and 

 adorned with two fountains and eight statues in 

 the several quarters. At the end of a terrace walk 

 are two summer-houses, and the sides of the parterre 

 are ranged with two large cloisters open to the 

 garden, upon arches of stone, and ending with two 



