34 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



rich. There was dwelling not long since a rich man, named 

 Gatholonabes, who was full of tricks and subtle deceits. He 

 had a fair and strong castle in a mountain, so strong and noble 

 that no man could devise a fairer or a stronger. And he had 

 caused the mountain to be all walled about with a strong and 

 fair wall, within which walls he had the fairest garden that 

 might be imagined; and therein were trees bearing all manner 

 of fruits, all kinds of herbs of virtue and of good smell, and 

 all other herbs also that bear fair flowers. And he had also 

 in that garden many fair wells, and by them he had made fair 

 halls and fair chambers, painted all with gold and azure, re- 

 presenting many divers things and many divers stories. 



There were also beasts and birds which sang full delectably, 

 and moved by craft, that it seemed they were alive. 



And he had also in his garden all kinds of birds and beasts, 

 that men might have play or sport to behold them. And he 

 had also in that place the fairest damsels that might be found 

 under the age of fifteen years, and the fairest young striplings 

 that men might get of that same age ; and they were all clothed 

 full richly in clothes of gold; and he said they were angels. 

 And he had also caused to be made three fair and noble wells, 

 all surrounded with stone of jasper and crystal, diapered with 

 gold, and set with precious stones and great Orient pearls. 

 And he had made a conduit under the earth, so that the 

 three wells, at his will, should run one with milk, another with 

 wine, and another with honey. And that place he called 

 Paradise. And when any good Knight, who was hardy and 

 noble, came to see this royalty, he would lead him into 

 Paradise, and show him these wonderful things for his sport, 

 and the marvellous and delicious song of divers birds, and 

 the fair damsels, and the fair wells of milk, wine, and honey, 

 running plentifully. The Voyages and Travels of Sir J. M. 

 (The first English Edition was printed by Winkyn de Worde, 

 1499.) 



