a garden, which he described in his "Dictionarus," quaintly speaking of himself in the third person: "In Master John's garden are these plants: sage, parsley, dittany, hyssop, celandine, fennel, pellitory, the rose, the lily, the violet; and at the side (in the hedge), the nettle, the thistle and foxgloves. His garden also contains medicinal herbs, namely, mercury and the mallows, agrimony with nightshade and the marigold." Master John had also a special garden for pot-herbs and "other herbs good for men's bodies," i.e., medicinal herbs, and a fruit garden, or orchard, of cherries, pears, nuts, apples, quinces, figs, plums, and grapes. About the same time Guillaume de Lorris wrote his "Roman de la Rose"; and in this famous work of the Thirteenth Century there is a most beautiful description of the garden of the period. _L'Amant_ (the Lover) while strolling on the banks of a river discovered this enchanting spot, "full long and broad behind high walls." It was the Garden of _Delight_, or Pleasure, whose wife was _Liesse_, or Joy; and here they dwelt with the sweetest of companions. _L'Amant_ wandered about until he found a small wicket door in the wall, at which he knocked and gained admittance. When he entered he was charmed. Everything was so beautiful that it seemed to him a spiritual place, better even than Paradise could be. Now, walking down a little path, _bordered with mint and fennel_, he reached the spot where _Delight_ and his companions were dancing a carol to the song of Joy. _L'Amant_ was invited to join the dance; and after it was finished he made a tour of the garden to see it all. And through his eyes we see it, too. [Illustration: FIFTEENTH CENTURY GARDEN WITHIN CASTLE WALLS, FRENCH] The Garden of Delight was even and square, "as long as it was large." It contained every known fruit-tree--peaches, plums, cherries, apples, and quinces, as well as figs, pomegranates, dates, almonds, chestnuts, and nutmegs. Tall pines, cypresses, and laurels formed screens and walls of greenery; and many a "pair" of elms, maples, ashes, oaks, aspens, yews, and poplars kept out the sun by their interwoven branches and protected the green grass. And here deer browsed fearlessly and squirrels "in great plenty" were seen leaping from bough to bough. Conduits of water ran through the garden and the moisture made the grass as thick and rich as velvet and "the earth was as soft as a feather bed." And, moreover, the "earth was of such a grace" that it produced plenty of flowers, both winter and summer: There sprang the violet all new And fresh periwinkle rich of hue And flowers yellow, white and red, Such plenty grew there, never in mead. Full joy was all the ground and quaint And powdered as men had it paint With many a fresh and sundry flower That casteth up full good savor.