INTRODUCTION. XXV 



retire from public business, the love of gar- 

 dening returns to soothe our declining- years. 

 The truth of this is daily made manifest to us, 

 by the fact, that those persons devote them- 

 selves to gardening, whose busy occupations 

 in other pursuits we should have thought 

 must have given a distate for this quiet em- 

 ployment. We have lately seen a Kemble 

 retire from the stage to amuse himself in a 

 garden ; and it also formed a great part of 

 the occupation of the banished Napoleon. Of 

 the love of gardening, Cowley says,, 



Methinks, I see great Dioclesian walk 

 In the Salonian garden's noble shade, 

 Which by his own imperial hands was made : 

 I see him smile, methinks, as he does talk 

 With the ambassadors, who come in vain 

 To entice him to a throne again. 

 " If I, my friends," said he, " should to you show 

 All 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 delight 

 Than ever, after the most happy sight, 

 In triumph to the capitol I rode, 

 To thank the gods, and to be thought myself almost a 

 God." 



When the eastern nations were at the 



height of their glory, the art of gardening was 



VOL. I. c 



