Iborace TKRalpole 253 



censure when he dictated on a subject that is 

 capable of all the graces that a knowledge of 

 beautiful nature can bestow. Sir William Tem- 

 ple was an excellent man, Milton a genius of 

 the first order. 



We cannot wonder that Sir William declares 

 in favor of parterres, fountains, and statues, as 

 necessary to break the sameness of large grass- 

 plats, which he thinks have an ill effect upon 

 the eye, when he acknowledges that he dis- 

 covers fancy in the gardens of Alcinous. Milton 

 studied the ancients with equal enthusiasm but 

 no bigotry, and had judgment to distinguish 

 between the want of invention and the beauties 

 of poetry. Compare his paradise with Homer's 

 garden, both ascribed to a celestial design. For 

 Sir William it is just to observe that his ideas 

 centred in a fruit-garden. He had the honor of 

 giving to his country many delicate fruits, and 

 he thought of little else than disposing of them 

 to the best advantage. Here is the passage I 

 proposed to quote. It is long, but I need not 

 make an apology to the reader for entertaining 

 him with any other words instead of my own : 



" The best figure of a garden is either a square 

 or an oblong, and either upon a flat or a descent ; 

 they have all their beauties, but the best I es- 

 teem an oblong upon a descent. The beauty, 

 the air, the view, make amends for the expense, 



