THE GARDEN cix 



you do in your Garden ; and yet no Man who makes 

 his Happiness more publick, by a free communication 

 of the Art and Knowledge of it to others. All that 

 I my self am able yet to do, is only to recommend to 

 Mankind the search of that Felicity, which you 

 instruct them how to find and to enjoy. 



i. 



Happy art thou whom God does bless 

 With the full choice of thine own Happiness ; 



And happier yet, because thou'rt blest 



With Prudence how to choose the best : 

 In Books and Gardens thou hast plac'd aright 



(Things well which thou dost understand, 

 And both dost make with thy laborious hand) 



Thy noble innocent delight : 

 And in thy virtuous Wife, where thou again dost meet 



Both Pleasures more refin'd and sweet : 



The fairest Garden in her Looks, 



And in her Mind the wisest Books. 

 Oh ! who would change these soft, yet solid Joys, 



For empty Shows and senseless Noise ; 



And all which rank Ambition breeds, 



Which seem such beauteous Flowers, and are such poisonous 



Weeds ? 



2. 



When God did Man to his own Likeness make, 



As much as Clay, though of the purest kind, 

 By the great Potters Art refin'd, 

 Could the Divine Impression take : 

 He thought it fit to place him, where 

 A kind of Heav'n too did appear, 



As far as Earth could such a likeness bear : 

 That Man no Happiness might want, 



Which Earth to her first Master could afford ; 

 He did a Garden for him plant 



