286 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



to England in 1592, at Hampton Court, Whitehall, 

 and Nonsuch. He describes the one at Hampton 

 Court as follows: 



"In the middle of the first and principal court 

 stands a fountain, splendid, high, and massy, with 

 an ingenious water-work, by which you can, if you 

 like, make the water to play upon the ladies and 

 others who are standing by and give them a thor- 

 ough wetting." 



The one at Whitehall was also capable of playing 

 practical jokes: 



"A jet (Teau with a sun-dial, which, while stran- 

 gers are looking at it, a quantity of water forced by a 

 wheel, which the gardener turns at a distance 

 through a number of little pipes, plentifully 

 sprinkles those who are standing round." 



More ornate was the fountain at the superb palace 

 of Nonsuch in Surrey: 



"In the pleasure and artificial gardens are many 

 columns and pyramids of marble, two fountains that 

 spout water, one round the other like a pyramid 

 upon which are perched small birds that stream 

 water out of their bills. In the Grove of Diana is a 

 very agreeable fountain with Action turned into 

 a stag, as he was sprinkled by the goddess and her 

 nymphs with inscriptions. There is besides another 



