Gardens of the Poets 
221 
Bacon — and not in the disguise of Shakespeare 
either. For no stronger proofs can be found of the 
existence of two individualities than are in the works 
of each of these men, in their sentences and pages 
which relate to gardens and flowers. 
This fair garden and Shakespeare Border are 
loveliest in the cool of the day, in the dawn or 
at early eve ; and those who muse may then remem- 
ber another Presence in a garden in the cool of the 
day. And then I recall that gem of English poesy 
which always makes me pitiful of its author ; that he 
could write this, and yet, in his hundreds of pages of 
English verse, make not another memorable line : — 
“ A Garden is a lovesome thing, God wot ; 
Rose plot. 
Fringed pool, 
Ferned grot. 
The veriest school of Peace ; 
And yet the fool 
Contends that God is not in gardens. 
Not in gardens ! When the eve is cool ! 
Nay, but I have a sign. 
’Tis very sure God walks in mine.” 
Shakespeare Borders grow very readily and freely 
in England, save in the case of the few tropical flowers 
and trees named in the pages of the great dramatist ; 
but this Shakespeare Border at Hillside needs much 
cherishing. The plants of Heather and Broom and 
Gorse have to be specially coddled by transplanting 
under cold frames during the long winter months in 
frozen Albany ; and thus they find vast contrast to 
their free, unsheltered life in Great Britain. 
