THE GARDEN BY A. COWLEY 



I NEVER HAD ANY OTHER DESIRE That 



so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that 



one which I have had always, that I might be human 



master at last of a small house and large gar- in 



den, with very moderate conveniences joined 



to them, and there dedicate the remainder of 



my life only to the culture of them and study of 



nature, 



And there (with no design beyond my wall) 



whole and entire to lie, 

 Innounactiveease,andno unglorious poverty. 

 Or, as VirgiLhas said, shorter and better for me, 

 that I might there 



Studiis florere ignobilis oti : 

 (though I could wish that he had rather said, 

 " nobilis otii," when he spoke of his own). But 

 several accidents of my ill fortune have disap- 

 pointed me hitherto, and do still, of that felicity ; 

 for though I have made the first and hardest step 

 to it, by abandoning all ambitions and hopes 

 in this world, and by retiring from the noise of 

 all business and almost company, yet I stick still 

 in the inn of a hired house and garden, among 

 weeds and rubbish; and without that pleasant- 

 est work of human industry, the improvement 

 of something which we call (not very properly, 

 49 D 



