TO THE READER Ixxix 



that is, till they grow Old, and find by Experience the 'Pru- 

 dence and Necessity of it. When Ulysses, after a ten-years 

 Absence, was return'd from 'Troy, and coming home, found 

 his aged Father in the Field planting of Trees, He asked him, 

 why (being now so far advanc'd in Years) he would put 

 himself to the Fatigue and Labour of Planting, that which 

 he was never likely to enjoy the Fruits of? The good old 

 Man (taking him for a Stranger) gently reply'd ; / plant 

 (says he) against my Son Ulysses comes home. The Application 

 is Obvious and Instructive for both Old and Young. And 

 we have a more modern Instance, almost alike that of the 

 good old Laertes. Here then upon the Complaint of learned 

 Persons and great Travellers, deploring the loss of many 

 rare and precious Things, Trees and Wants, especially instan- 

 cing the 'Balsam-Tree of Gilead (now almost, if not altogether 

 failing, and no more to be found where it grew in great 

 plenty.) He applys himself to young Eperous, to consider 

 it seriously, and to fall a planting while time is before them, 

 with this incouraging Exclamation, <J[gite, 6 cAdolescentes, &? 

 antequam canities vobis obrepat, stirpesjam alueritis, quae vobis 

 cum insigni utilitate, delectationem etiam adferent : ${am quemad- 

 modum canities temporis successu, vobis insciis, sensim obrepit: 

 Sic natura vobis inseruiens educabit quod telluri vesfrae concredetis, 

 modo prima initia illi dederitis, 6f c. Pet. Bellonius T)e neglecta 

 stirpium Cultura. Problema ix. 



My next Advice is, that they do not easily commit them- 

 selves to the ^Dictates of their ignorant Hinds and Servants, l 

 who are (generally speaking) more fit to Learn than to 

 Instruct. Male agitur cum 'Domino quern Fillicus docet, was an 

 Observation of old Cato's ; and 'twas Ischomachus who told 

 Socrates (discoursing one day upon a like subject) That it 

 was far easier to Make, than to Find a good Husband-man : 

 1 have often prov'd it so in Gardeners; and I believe it will 



1 Vide & Curtium, 1. 7. &c. 



