254 {Tbe (Barren 



which is very great in finishing and support- 

 ing the terrace- walks, in levelling the parterres, 

 and in the stone stairs that are necessary from 

 one to the other. 



" The perfectest figure of a garden I ever saw, 

 either at home or abroad, was that of Moor 

 Park in Hertfordshire, when I knew it about 

 thirty years ago. It was made by the Countess 

 of Bedford, esteemed among the greatest wits 

 of her time, and celebrated by Doctor Donne ; 

 and with very great care, excellent contrivance, 

 and much cost ; but greater sums may be thrown 

 away without effect or honor, if there want 

 sense in proportion to money, or \inature be not 

 followed^ which I take to be the great rule in 

 this, and perhaps in every thing else, as far as 

 the conduct not only of our lives, but our gov- 

 ernments." 



We shall see how natural that admired garden 

 was. 



"Because I take* the garden I have named 

 to have been in all kinds the most beautiful and 

 perfect, at least in the figure and disposition, 

 that I have ever seen, I will describe it for a 

 model to those that meet with such a situation, 

 and are above the regards of common expense. 

 It lies on the side of a hill, upon which the 



* This garden seems to have been made after the plan 

 laid down by Lord Bacon in his 46th Bssay, to which, that 

 I may not multiply quotations, I will refer the reader, 



