WILLIAM LAWSON 81 



an Orchard. If they thrive (as they must needs if your Gardiner 

 be skilful], and love them : for they love their friends, and hate 

 none but their Enemies) they will besides the pleasure, yeeld 

 great profit, to pay him his wages. Yea, the increase of tw^enty 

 Stocks, or Stooles with other fees will keep your Orchard. You 

 need not doubt their stings, for they hurt not, whom they know, 

 and they know their keeper and acquaintance. If you like not 

 to come amongst them, you neede not doubt them : for but neere 

 their store, and in their owne defence, they will not fight, and in 

 that case onely (and who can blame them ?) they are manly and 

 fight desperately. Some (as that Honourable Lady at Hack?ies^ 

 Whose name doth much grace mine Orchard) use to make seats 

 for them in the Stone wall of their Orchard or Garden, which is 

 good, but wood is better. A vine over-shadowing a seat is very 

 comely, though her Grapes with us ripe slowly. 



One chiefe grace that adornes an Orchard I cannot let slippe. 

 A broode of Nightingales, who with their several notes and tunes, 

 with a strong delightsome voyce, out of a weake body, will beare 

 you company night and day. She loves (and lives in) hots of 

 wood in her heart. She will help you to cleanse your trees of 

 Caterpillars, and all noysome wormes and flyes. The gentle 

 Robbin-red-brest will helpe her, and in Winter in the coldest 

 stormes will keepe a part. 



Neither will the Silly Wren be behind in Summer, with her 

 distinct whistle (like a sweet Recorder) to cheere your spirits. 



The Black-bird and Threstle (for I take it the Thrush sings 

 not, but devoures) sing loudly in a May morning, and delights 

 the Eare much (and you neede not want their company, if you 

 have ripe Cherryes or Berries, and would as gladly as the rest doe 

 you pleasure :) But I had rather want their company than my 

 fruit. 



What shall I say? 1000 of delights are in an Orchard : and 

 sooner shall I be weary, then I can reckon the least part of that 

 pleasure, which one, that hath and loves an Orchard may finde 

 therein. 



What is there, of all these few that I have reckoned, which 



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