36 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



being long, and the weather intensely hot, Cosimo, under a 

 pretence of avoiding the heat, took his guests into the most 

 retired and shady part of the gardens ; and being all sat 

 down, some upon the grass (which is very green and pleasant 

 there), and some upon seats placed under the trees, Fabrizio 

 said it was a most delightful garden, and, looking earnestly at 

 some of the trees, seemed not to know the names of them ; 

 but Cosimo, being aware of it, immediately said, perhaps you 

 may not be acquainted with this sort of trees ; and, indeed, I 

 am not at all surprised at it, for they are very old ones, and 

 were much more in vogue amongst our ancestors than they 

 are at present. Having then told him the names of them, 

 and that they were planted by his grandfather Bernardo, who 

 was fond of such amusements : I thought so, replied Fabrizio ; 

 and both the place and the trees put me in mind of some 

 Princes in the Kingdom of Naples, who took much delight in 

 planting groves and shady arbours to shelter them from the 

 heat. The Art of War. 



ERASMUS IpUSEBIUS But what if we should take the Cool of the Morning 

 (1467-1536). now to see the Gardens, while the Wench in the Kitchen pro- 



vides us a Sallad ? Timotkeus. Never was anything in better order. 

 The very Design of this Garden bids a Man welcome to't. . . . 

 Eu. Strangers are generally pleased with this Garden ; and hardly 

 a Man that passes by the place without an Ejaculation. Instead 

 of the Infamous Priapus^ I have committed not only my Gardens, 

 but all my Possessions, both of Body and Mind, to the protection 

 of my Saviour. . . . You are loth, I perceive to leave this Place ; 

 but let's go on, and I'll show you a square wall'd Garden here 

 beyond, that's better worth your seeing . . . this Garden was 

 design'd for Pleasure ; but for honest Pleasure, the Entertainment 

 of the Sight, the Smell, and the Refreshment of the very Mind. 

 To have nothing here but sweet Herbs, and those only choice 

 ones too ; and every kind has its bed by itself. Ti. I am now 

 convinc'd that the Plants are not mute, as you were saying e'en 



