Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/304

 Hijiory of Domeflic Manners And again, introduced equally abruptly, we are informed — In tynie of herveji mery it is ynough ; Peres and apples hongeth on bough. The hayivard bloiveth mery his home ; In everyche (every) fclde ripe is corne ; The grapes hongen on the vyne ; Sivete is trewe love and fyne. — Weber, p. 23«. When, indeed, we confider the confined and dark charafter of mofl of the apartments of the feudal dwelling, we cannot be furprifed if our mediaeval forefathers loved the recreations which brought them into the open air. Caftles and country manfions had always their gardens and pleafure-grounds, which were much frequented by all the different branches of the houfehold. The readers of Chaucer will remember the defcription of the "noble" knight January— Amonges other of his honefl t hinges. He had a gardyn •zualled al ivith Jloon, So fair a gardyn ivot I no tvher noon. It is implied, at leafi, that this garden was extenfive, and — This noble knight^ this "January the olde. Such deynte hath in it to lualk and playe. That he ivold no ivight fuffre bere the keye. Save he himfelf — Chaucer, The MarcliaunJes Tale. So, in the curious popular colle6tion of mediaeval ftories, entitled the " Seven Sages," we are told of a rich burgels who Hadde, bihinden his palcys^ ■A fair gar din of nobleys, Ful of appel-tres, and als (also) of pirie (pear-trees) ; Foules fonge therinne murie. Amideiuard that gardyn fre. So ivax (grew) a pinnote-tre. That hadde fair boives and f rut ^ Ther under tvas al his dedut (pleasure). He made ther-under a grene bench^ And drank ther under many a fjchench (cupful). — Webor, iii. 23, And again, in the fame colleftion of ftories, a prudent mother, counfelling her daughter^ tells her — Daughter, thi loverd (lord) hath a gardin, A loel fair ympe (young tree) is tharin ; A fair