Page:Essays of Francis Bacon 1908 Scott.djvu/73

Bacon was the author or "chief contriver " or "chief encourager" of no less than six masques. After his marriage, in 1606, he found his father's house at Gorhambury too small, and built there a large and stately mansion, Verulam House, an experience which enabled him to speak with authority Of Building. In the following essay, Of Gardens, he writes,—"I, for my part, do not like images cut out in juniper or other garden stuffs; they be for children." That is a criticism of Sir Nicholas Bacon's garden at Gorhambury, which gave place to the "princely garden" of not less than "thirty acres" surrounding Verulam House, and which is described with such minuteness of detail that the plan of it may be easily reconstructed. Bacon's fondness for gardens is his most engaging trait. A garden, he says, is "the purest of human pleasures," "the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man." John Aubrey's gossip brings him before us enjoying his own garden. "Every meale, according to the season of the yeare, he had his table strewed with sweet herbes and flowers, which he sayd did refresh his spirits and memorie." And again,—"His Lordship was a very contemplative person, and was wont to contemplate in his delicious walks at Gorhambury, and dictate to Mr. Bushell, or some of his gentlemen, that attended him with ink and paper ready to set downe presently his thoughts." But the favorite companion in the meditative walks through the covert alleys of Gorhambury was Thomas Hobbes, author of The Leviathan. "Mr.