SSViij THE GARD E*N.

It imitates her Maker’s Power Divine,

And changes her sometimes, and sometimes does refine ;

It does, like Grace, the fallen Tree restoreTo its bless’d State of Paradise before:

Who would not joy to see his conquering HandO’er all the Vegetable World command ?

And the wild Giants of the Wood receiveWhat Law he’s pleas’d to give ?

He bids th’ ill-natur’d Crab produceThe gentle Apples winy Juice;

The Golden Fruit that worthy isOf Galetea’s Purple Kiss;

He does the savage Hawthorn teachTo bear the Medlar and the Pear;

He bids the rustick Plum to rearA noble Trunk, and be a Peach ;

Ev’n ‘Daphnes ’s Coyness he does mock,

And weds the Cherry to her Stock,

* Though she refus’d Apollo’s Suit;

Ev’n she, that Chast and Virgin TreeNow wonders at herself, to seeThat Ihe’s a Mother made, and blushes in her Fruit.

XI.

Methinks I fee Great Dioclesian walkIn the Saloman Gardens noble Shade,

Which by his own Imperial Hands was made :

I fee him smile, methinks, as he does talkWith the Ambassadors, who come in vain .

T’ entice him to a Throne again :

If I, my Friends (said he) should to you showAll the Delights which in these Gardens grow;

’Tis likelier much, that you should with me stay,

Than 'tis that you should carry me away:

And trust me not, my Friends, if every Day,

I walk not here with more DelightThan ever after the most happy Fight,

In triumph to the Capitol I rode,

To thank the Gods, and to be thought myself almost a God.

Chertfea^ Aug.16. 1666.

Abraham Cowley.

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