OF GARDENS 15 



Then in some flower's beloved hut 



Each bee, as sentinel, is shut, 



And sleeps so too ; but if once stirr'd, 



She runs you through, nor asks the word. 



O thou, that dear and happy Isle, 



The garden of the world erewhile, 



Thou Paradise of the four seas 



Which Heaven planted us to please, 



But, to exclude the world, did guard 



With wat'ry if not flaming sword ; 



What luckless apple did we taste 



To make us mortal and thee waste ! 



Unhappy ! shall we never more 



That sweet militia restore, 



When gardens only had their towers, 



And all the garrisons were flowers ; 



When roses only arms might bear, 



And men did rosy garlands wear ? 



ANDREW MARVELL. 



OF GARDENS 



GOD Almighty first planted a garden. And, indeed, 

 it is the purest of human pleasures ; it is the greatest 

 refreshment to the spirit of man, without which 

 buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks. 

 And a man shall ever see that when ages grow to 

 civility and elegancy, men come to build stately, 

 sooner than to garden finely, as if gardening were 

 the greater perfection. . . . 



And because the breath of flowers is far sweeter 



