INTRODUCTION xlix 



Spenser, and the King delivered himself of what 



Sprat considered his best epitaph : " that Mr. Cowley 



had not left a better man behind him in England." 



Perhaps a more fitting one were the words of his 



brother poet, Sir John Denham : 



Horace's Wit and Virgil's State 



He did not steal, but emulate : 



And when he would like them appear, 



Their Garb, but not their Cloaths did wear. 



In Marvell's poem, "Upon Appleton House," 



addressed to Lord Fairfax, in Hudibrastic metre, (tco 



long to quote at length,) are continuous allusions to 



Gardens. One of the early owners, it seems, had a 



touch of Uncle Toby in his composition: 



Who, when retired here to peace, 

 His warlike studies could not cease ; 

 But laid these gardens out in sport 

 In the just figure of a fort ; 

 And with five bastions it did fence 

 As aiming one for ev'ry sense. 



See how the flow'rs as at parade 

 Under their colours stand displaid ; 

 Each regiment in order grows. 

 That of the tulips, pinke and rose. 



Tulips, in several colours barr'd, 

 Were then the Switzers of our Guard. 1 



1 Allusion to the Papal Swiss Guard, whose striped 

 uniforms still in use were designed by Michael Angelo. 



d 



