Fig. ii6. 



200 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



sarcophagus-like in the shape of the whole and the 

 termination of the pillars. For a good specimen of an 

 important stone seat, suited to an Italian garden, the 

 reader is advised to look at " Pompeian Decoration," by 

 R. A. Briggs, wherein is one which bears the somewhat 

 mournful name of *' Sepulchral Seat," but which would 



make a grand termin- 

 ation to a long tall 

 avenue of dark trees. 

 Where there is a 

 call for stonework 

 upon high ground, 

 to overlook a distant 

 view, something 

 rather Gothic in de- 

 sign would take us back in mind to a monastery of the 

 Middle Ages, where ornaments for all purposes, house or 

 garden, had an element of what we should call " Church " 

 decoration about them. The small openings between the 

 pillars above this style of seat would be delightful to look 

 through, if the eye could roam over some great stretch of 

 enchanting English woodland or upland country. 



Knowledge of these old gardens is chiefly gleaned from 

 miniatures in missals, and we learn thus that in the inner 

 court of a castle a raised seat was often formed with a 

 brickwork foundation. Evidently enough soil was placed 

 on the top of this to enable either thyme or other herbs 

 or grass to grow freely. Usually these were so arranged 

 that there were three levels. The highest was a 

 brick wall, sometimes a portion of a turret or rampart of 

 the castle, so that the approach of an enemy could be 

 well seen from here ; or else the wall formed the boundary 

 of a lady's garden. This brick or stone work was used 

 to lean Ijack against, as the next tier below was the Seat. 

 Upon this grew the herbs to make a soft and sweet- 



