THE ROMAN GARDEN IN ENGLAND 



particular kind of sun-trap;whieh looks on one side towards 

 the terrace, on the other towards the sea, but on both 

 sides has the advantage of the sun. A double door 

 opens into another room, and one of the windows has 

 a full view of the gallery. On the side next the sea, 

 over against the middle wall, is an elegant little closet ; 

 separated only by transparent windows, and a curtain 

 which can be opened or shut at pleasure, from the room 

 just mentioned. It holds a bed and two chairs ; the 

 feet of the bed stand towards the sea, the back towards 

 the house, and one side of it towards some distant 

 woods. So many different views, seen from so many 

 different windows diversify and yet blend the prospect. 



" Adjoining to this cabinet is my own constant bed- 

 chamber, where I am never disturbed by the discourse 

 of my servants, the murmurs of the sea, nor the violence 

 of a storm. Neither lightning nor daylight can break in 

 upon me till my own windows are opened. The reason of 

 so perfect and undisturbed a calm here arises from a 

 large void space which is left between the walls of the 

 bedchamber and of the garden; so that all sound is 

 drowned in the intervening space. 



" Close to the bedchamber is a little stove, placed so 

 near a small window of communication that it lets out, 

 or retains, the heat just as we think fit. 



" From hence we pass through a lobby into another 

 room, which stands in such a position as to receive the 

 sun, though obliquely, from daybreak till past noon." 



There is one thing in this description that is very note- 

 worthy, the absolute content with everything, the lack 

 of any note of grumbling. After all, the pleasures of that 

 garden apartment were very simple ; he took his joy of 

 the sun, the wind, and the distant sound of the sea. 

 Heat, light, and the pleasant music of nature ; the bank 

 of Violets near by, the prospect of the villas on the shore 



81 L 



