THE 



GARDEN. 



To J. Evelyn, Esquire. 



I NEVER had any other Desire so strong, and so 

 like to Covetousness as that one which I have had 

 always, That I might be Master at last of a small 

 House and large Garden, with very moderate Con- 

 veniencies joined to them, and there dedicate the 

 remainder of my Life only to the Culture of them, 

 and study of Nature, 



And there (with no Design beyond my Wall) whole 



and entire to lie, 

 In no unactive Ease, and no unglorious Poverty ; 



Or as Virgil has said, shorter and better for me, 

 that I might there Studiis Jiorere ignobilis oti (though 

 I could wish that he had rather said, Nobilis otii, when 

 he spoke of his own :) But several accidents of my ill 

 Fortune have disappointed me hitherto, and do still 

 of that Felicity ; for though I have made the first and 

 hardest step to it, by abandoning all Ambitions and 

 Hopes in this World, and by retiring from the noise 

 of all Business and almost Company ; yet I stick still 

 in the Inn of a hired House and Garden, among 

 Weeds and Rubbish ; and without that pleasantest 

 Work of Human Industry, the Improvement of some- 



