THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 23 



with all sorts of fruit-trees, as well as other plants and 

 flowers, the most pleasant of that country ; and there- 

 by made at least the most airy gardens, as well as the 

 most costly, that have been heard of in the world. This 

 lady may probably have been native of the provinces of 

 Chasimir, or of Damascus, which have in all times 

 been the happiest regions for fruits of all the East, 

 by the excellence of soil, the position of mountains, the 

 frequency of streams, rather than the advantages of 

 climate. And 'tis great pity we do not yet see the 

 history of Chasimir, which Monsieur Bernier assured 

 me he had translated out of Persian, and intended to 

 publish ; and of which he has given such a taste, in his 

 excellent memoirs of the Mogul's country. 



The next gardens we read of, are those of Solomon, 

 planted with all sorts of fruit-trees, and watered with 

 fountains ; and though we have no more particular de- 

 scription of them, yet we may find, they were the places 

 where he passed the times of his leisure and delight, 

 where the houses as well as grounds were adorned with 

 all that could be of pleasing and elegant, and were the 

 retreats and entertainments of those among his wives 

 that he loved the best ; and 'tis not improbable, that 

 the paradises mentioned by Strabo, were planted by 

 this great and wisest king. But the idea of the garden 



