GARDENS OF CELEBRITIES 
in the open. Many of the most stirring episodes in English history 
happened there—in the green fields, or on the King’s highway. 
We picture Queen Elizabeth less in the council chamber, than in 
her girlhood, in the old garden at Hatfield ; or at Greenwich stairs, 
stepping from her barge on to the velvet cloak that the astute 
Raleigh sacrified in order that the Royal stocking should not be 
sullied by Thames mud, or haranguing her troops at Tilbury 
when an invasion of England was threatened. I venture to 
think that ballads, nursery rhymes, and lyrics innumerable, attest 
the fact that the life of our forefathers was. much more alfresco 
than is ours. When “all the maids of Islington went forth to 
sport and play,” it is safe to assume that the maidens of other 
towns and hamlets did so also. The lover woos his mistress with 
the promise of country joys : 
“ Come, live with me and be my love 
And we will all the pleasures prove 
That hill and valley, dale and field 
And all scraggy mountains yield.” 
Again: 
‘* Ye little birds that sit and sing 
Amidst the shady valleys, 
And see how Phillis sweetly walks 
Within her garden alleys, 
Go, pretty birds, about her bower ; 
Sing, pretty birds, she may not cower : 
Ah me! methinks I see her frown ! 
Ye pretty warblers, warble ! ”’ 
And Herrick, to Corinna gone a-maying sings : 
“Tis sin, 
Nay, profanation to keep in, 
Whereas a thousand virgins on this day 
Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.” 
Old songs tell the same story—it is everywhere the outdoor call 
that is strong. 
““ Come, lasses and lads, get leave of your dads 
And away to the Maypole hie.” 
Or: 
‘* Boys and girls, come out to play, 
The moon doth shine as bright as day.” 
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