BOOKOFOLD-WORLDGARDENS 



The soul's VIII 



1 Nor does this happy place only dispense 

 Such various pleasures to the sense; 

 Here health itself does live, 



That salt of life, which does to all a relish give, 



Its standing pleasure, and intrinsic wealth, 



The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune, 

 health. 



The tree of life, when it in Eden stood 



Did its immortal head to heaven rear; 



It lasted a tall cedar, till the flood ; 



Now a small thorny shrub it does appear ; 

 Nor will it thrive too everywhere : 

 It always here is freshest seen; 

 'Tis only here an evergreen. 

 If,through the strong and beauteous fence 

 Of temperance and innocence, 



And wholesome labours, and a quiet mind, 

 Any diseases passage find, 

 They must not think here to assail 



A land unarm'd, or without a guard ; 



They must fight for it, and dispute it hard, 

 Before they can prevail : 

 Scarce any plant is growing here, 



Which against death some weapon does not 

 bear, 



58 



