130 



ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



Growth of 

 individual- 

 ity. 



Mithridates the Great was famous for his knowledge 

 herein as Plutarch noteth ; Euan, also, King of Arabia, 

 the happy garden of the world for principal simples, 

 wrote of this argument as Plinie sheweth ; Diocletian 

 might he have his praise, had he not drowned all his 

 honour in the blood of his persecution. To conclude 

 this point, the example of Salomon is before the rest 

 and greater, whose wisdom and knowledge was such, 

 that he was able to set out the nature of all plants from 

 the highest cedar to the lowest.moss." 



Early in the Renaissance the advice of these classic 

 writers was offered by Thomas Hill and other English 

 authors, apparently on the supposition that it would be 

 followed literally, without considering 

 that the passage of centuries and 

 the difference between Italian and 

 English customs and climate might 

 destroy a part of its usefulness. But 

 the Elizabethan age continued after 

 the death of Elizabeth, and in the 

 seventeenth century the growth of individuality made 

 slavish imitation impossible. Precedent was followed 

 only when suitable, and useless traditions were cast 

 aside. Then systems of horticulture were evolved, 

 adapted to a particular age, climate, and country. 

 Each nation had its own garden literature. In this 

 direction the French took the lead, and in the " Maison 



