100 THE MANDRAKE. 
A garden it was both large and lone, 
And in it was temple, cave and mound ; 
The trees were with ivy overgrown, 
And the depth of its lake no line had found. 
Some said that the springs of the lake lay deep 
Under the fierce voleano’s root ; 
For the water would oft-times curl and leap, 
When the summer air was calm and mute. 
And all along o’er its margin dank 
Hung massy branches of evergreen ; 
And among the pebbles upon the bank 
The playful water-snakes were seen. 
And yew-trees old, in the alleys dim, 
Were cut into dragon-shapes of dread ; 
And in midst of shadow, grotesque and grim, 
Stood goat-limbed statues of sullen lead. 
The garden-beds they were long, and all 
With a tangle of flowers were overgrown ; 
And each was screened with an ancient wall, 
Or parapet low of mossy stone. 
