XXV-

THE GARDEN.

VI.

When Epicurus to the World had taught, .That Pleasure was the chiefest Good,

( And was perhaps i’th’ right, if rightly understood )His Life he to his Doctrine brought,

And in a Garden’s Shade that fbveraign Pleasure sought.Whoever a true Epicure would be,

May there find cheap and vertuous Luxury.Vitellius his Table, which did holdAs many Creatures as the Ark of Old ;

That fiscal Table, to which every DayAll Countries did a constant Tribute pay,

Could nothing more delicious afford,

Than Nature’s Liberality,

Help’d with a little Art and Industry,

Allows the meanest Gard’ner’s Board.

The wanton Taste no Filh or Fowl can choose,For which the Grape or Melon lhe would loose,Though all th’ Inhabitants of Sea and AirBe listed in the Glutton’s Bill of Fare ;

Yet still the Fruits of Earth we feePlac’d the third Story high in all her Luxury.

VII.

/

But with no Sense the Garden does comply j,

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None courts or flatters, as it does the Eye:

When the great Hebrew King did almost strainThe wond’rous Treasures of his Wealth and Brain,

His Royal Southern Guest to entertain;

Though she on Silver Floors did tread,

With bright Assyrian Carpets on them spread,

To hide the Metal’s Poverty :

Though lhe look’d up to Roofs of Gold,

And nought around her could beholdBut Silk and rich Embroidery,

And Babylonian Tapistry,

And wealthy Hiram’s Princely Die :

Though Ophir’s Starry Stones met every where her Eye;Though lhe herself and her gay Host were dress’dWith all the Ihining Glories of the East ;

When lavilh Art her costly Work had done,

The Honour and the Prize of BraveryWas by the Garden from the Palace won;

And every Rose and Lilly there did standBetter attir’d by Nature’s Hand :

The Cafe thus judg’d against the King we fee,

By one that would not be so rich, though wiser far than he.

VIII.

Nor does this happy Place only dispenseSuch various Plealures to the Sense,

Here Health itself does live,

That Salt of Life which does to all a Relish give,

Its