288 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



Birds add much to the pleasure of the garden. 

 Pigeons and doves give a poetic touch as they strut 

 along the paths and flutter about. Nothing gives 

 more quality and elegance, however, than a peacock, 

 and, to quote from a contemporary writer: 



"The peacock is a bird of more beautiful feathers 

 than any other that is. He is quickly angry, but he 

 is goodly to behold, very good to eat, and serveth as 

 a watch in the inner court, for that he, spying 

 strangers to come into the lodging, he f aileth not to 

 cry out and advertise them of the house." 



The peacock is as much of a joy to the garden 

 lover as the sun-dial. 



XII 



The Sun-dial 



The sun-dial forms a perfect ornament at the 

 intersection of the garden paths. Every one re- 

 sponds to the quaint beauty and mystery of the sun- 

 dial with its dark shadow that creeps quietly across 

 the dial and tells the hours so softly. As Charles 

 Lamb says: "It is the measure appropriate for sweet 

 plants and flowers to spring by and birds to appor- 

 tion their silver warblings by." Nothing has a more 

 antique air than the sun-dial. The simple baluster 



