The latter is the kind that is now associated with Shakespeare's
name; and when garden lovers devote a section of their grounds to
a "Shakespeare garden" it is the small, enclosed garden, such as
_Perdita_ must have had, that they endeavor to reproduce.
The small garden of Shakespeare's day, which we so lovingly call by
his name, was a little pleasure garden--a garden to stroll in and to
sit in. The garden, moreover, had another purpose: it was intended
to supply flowers for "nosegays" and herbs for "strewings." The
Shakespeare garden was a continuation, or development, of the Medieval
"Pleasance," where quiet ladies retired with their embroidery frames
to work and dream of their Crusader lovers, husbands, fathers, sons,
and brothers lying in the trenches before Acre and Ascalon, or storming
the walls of Jerusalem and Jericho; where lovers sat hand in hand
listening to the songs of birds and to the still sweeter songs from
their own palpitating hearts; where men of affairs frequently repaired
for a quiet chat, or refreshment of spirit; and where gay groups of
lords and ladies gathered to tell stories, to enjoy the recitation of
a wandering _trouvère_, or to sing to their lutes and viols, while
jesters in doublets and hose of bright colors and cap and bells lounged
nonchalantly on the grass to mock at all things--even love!
In the illuminated manuscripts of old _romans_, such as "Huon of
Bordeaux," the "Romaunt of the Rose," "Blonde of Oxford," "Flore et
Blancheflore, Amadis de Gaul," etc., there are many charming miniatures
to illustrate the word-pictures. From them we learn that the garden
was actually within the castle walls and _very_ small. The walls of
the garden were broken by turrets and pierced with a little door,
usually opposite the chief entrance; the walks were paved with brick
or stone, or they were sanded, or graveled; and at the intersection
of these walks a graceful fountain usually tossed its spray upon the
buds and blossoms. The little beds were laid out formally and were
bright with flowers, growing singly and not in masses. Often, too, pots
or vases were placed here and there at regular intervals, containing
orange, lemon, bay, or cypress trees, their foliage beautifully
trimmed in pyramids or globes that rose high above the tall stems.
Not infrequently the garden rejoiced in a fruit-tree, or several
fruit-trees. Stone or marble seats invitingly awaited visitors.
The note here was _charming intimacy_. It was a spot where gentleness
and sweetness reigned, and where, perforce, every flower enjoyed the
air it breathed. It was a Garden of Delight for flowers, birds, and men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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