The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

52 ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL.
the midst, by which you may go in front upon a Fountains I intend to be of two natures; the one
stately hedge, which is to enclose the garden: that sprinkleth or spouteth water: the other a fair
but because the alley will be long, and, in great receipt of water, of some thirty or forty foot
heat of the year, or day, you ought not to buy square, but without fish, or slime, or mud. For
the shade in the garden by going in the sun the first, the ornaments of images, gilt or of marthrough the green; therefore you are, of either ble, which are in use, do well: but the main
side the green, to plant a covert alley, upon car- matter is so to convey the -water, as it never stay,
penter's work, about twelve foot in height, by either in the bowls or in the cistern: that the
which you may go in shade into the garden. As water be never by rest discoloured, green or red,
for the making of knots, or figures, with divers or the like, or gather any messiness or putrefaccoloured earths, that they may lie under the win- tion; besides that, it is to be cleansed every day
dows of the house on that side which the garden by the hand: also some steps up to it, and some
stands, they be but toys: you may see as good fine pavement about it doth well. As for the
sights many times in tarts. The garden is best other kind of fountain, which we may call a bathto be-square, encompassed on all the four sides ing pool, it may admit much curiosity and beauty,
with a stately arched hedge; the arches to be wherewith we will not trouble ourselves: as that
upon pillars of carpenter's work, of some ten foot the bottom be finely paved, and with images; the
high, and six foot broad, and the spaces between sides likewise; and withal embellished with
of the same dimension with the breadth of the coloured glass, and such things of lustre; encomarch. Over the arches let there be an entire passed also with fine rails of low statues: but
hedge of some four foot high, framed also upon the main point is the same which we mentioned
carpenter's work; and upon the upper hedge, over in the former kind of fountain; which is, that the
every arch, a little turnet, with a belly enough to water be in perpetual motion, fed by a water
receive a cage of birds: and over every space higher than the pool, and delivered into it by fair
between the arches some other little figure, with spouts, and then discharged away under ground,
broad plates of round coloured glass gilt, for the by some equality of bores, that it stay little; and
sun to play upon: but this hedge I intend to he for fine devices, of arching water without spilling,
raised upon a bank, not steep, but gently slope, and making it rise in several forms, (of feathers,
of some six foot, set all with flowers. Also I drinking glasses, canopies, and the like,) they be
understand, that this square of the garden should pretty things to look on, but nothing to health and
not be the whole breadth of the ground, but to sweetness.
leave on either side ground enough for diversity For the heath, which was the third part of our
of side alleys, unto which the two covert alleys plot, I wished it to be framed as much as may be
of the green may deliver you; but there must be to a natural wildness. Trees I would have none
no alleys with hedges at either end of this great in it, but some thickets made only of sweetbrier
enclosure; not at the higher end, for letting your and honeysuckle, and some wild vine amongst;
prospect upon this fair hedge from the green; nor and the ground set with violets, strawberries, and
at the further end, for letting your prospect from primroses; for these are sweet, and prosper in
the hedge through the arches upon the heath. the shade; and these to be in the heath here and
For the ordering of the ground within the great there, not in any order. I like also little heaps,
hedge, I leave it to variety of device; advising, in the nature of mole hills, (such as are in wild
nevertheless, that whatsoever form you cast it into heaths,) to be set, some with wild thyme, some
first, it be not too busy, or full of work; wherein with pinks, some with germander that gives a
I, for my part, do not like images cut out in juni- good flower to the eye; some with periwinkle,
per or ether garden stuff; they be for children. some with violets, some with strawberries, some
Little low hedges, round like welts, with some with cowslips, some with daisies, some with red
pretty pyramids, I like well; and in some places roses, some with lilium convallium, some with
thir columns, upon frames of carpenter's work. sweetwilliams red, some with bear's-foot, and
I would also have the alleys spacious and fair. the like low flowers, being withal sweet and
You may have closer alleys upon the side grounds, sightly; part of which heaps to be with standards
but none in the main garden. I wish also, in the of little bushes pricked upon their top, and part
very middle, a fair mount, with three ascents and without: the standards to be roses, juniper, holly,
alleys, enough for four to walk abreast; which I barberries, (but here and there, because, of the
would have to be perfect circles, without any bul- smell of their blossom,) red currants, gooseberries,
warks or embossments; and the whole mount to rosemary, bays, sweetbrier, and such like: but
be thirty foot high, and some fine banqueting- these standards to be kept with cutting, that they
house with some chimneys neatly cast, and with- grow not out of course.
out too much glass. For the side grounds, you are to fill them with
For fountains, they are a great beauty and re- variety of alleys, private, to give a full shade;
freshment; but pools mar all, and make the gar- some of them, wheresoever the sun be. You
den unwholesome, and full of flies and frogs. are to frame some of them likewise for shelter,