BOOKOFOLD-WORLDGARDENS 



Two The useless soil unprofitably share; 

 Trdens But simple nature's hand, with nobler grace, 

 Diffuses artless beauties o'er the place." 



There is certainly something in the amiable 

 simplicity of unadorned nature that spreads 

 over the mind a more noble sort of tranquillity, 

 and a loftier sensation of pleasure, that can be 

 raised from the nicer scenes of art. 



This was the taste of the ancients in their gar- 

 dens, as we may discover from the descriptions 

 extant of them. The two most celebrated wits 

 of the world have each of them left us a particu- 

 lar picture of a garden; wherein those great 

 masters, being wholly unconfined, and painting 

 at pleasure, may be thought to have given a full 

 idea of what they esteemed most excellent in 

 this way. These (one may observe) consist en- 

 tirely of the useful part of horticulture, fruit- 

 trees, herbs, water, etc. The pieces I am speak- 

 ing of, are Virgil's account of the garden of the 

 old Corycian, and Homer's of that of Alcinous. 

 The first of these is already known to the Eng- 

 lish reader, by the excellent versions of Mr Dry- 

 den and Mr Addison. The other having never 

 been attempted in our language with any ele- 

 gance, andbeingthe most beautifulplan of this 



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