Iborace TDdalpole 239 



Yet what was that boasted paradise with which 



" the gods ordain 'd 

 To grace Alcinous and his happy land" ? POPE. 



Why, divested of harmonious Greek and be- 

 witching poetry, it was a small orchard and 

 vineyard, with some beds of herbs and two 

 fountains that watered them, enclosed within a 

 quickset hedge. The whole compass of this 

 pompous garden enclosed four acres. 



" Four acres was th' allotted space of ground, 

 Fenc'd with a green inclosure all around." 



The trees were apples, figs, pomegranates, 

 pears, olives, and vines. 



" Tall thriving trees confess'd the fruitful mould ; 

 The redd'ning apple ripens into gold. 

 Here the blue fig with luscious juice o'erflows ; 

 With deeper red the full pomegranate glows. 

 The branch here bends beneath the weighty pear, 

 And verdant olives flourish round the year. 



Beds of all various herbs, for ever green, 

 In beauteous order terminate the scene." 



Alcinous' garden was planted by the poet, en- 

 riched by him with the fairy gift of eternal 

 summer, and, no doubt, an effort of imagina- 

 tion surpassing any thing he had ever seen. As 

 he has bestowed on the same happy prince a 

 palace with brazen walls and columns of silver, 



