38 THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



my white figs to be as good as any of that sort in Italy, 

 which is the earlier kind of white fig there ; for in 

 the latter kind, and the blue, we cannot come near the 

 warm climates, no more than in the Frontignac or 

 Muscat grape. 



My orange-trees are as large as any I saw when I 

 was young in France, except those of Fountainbleau, 

 or what I have seen since in the Low Countries, except 

 some very old ones of the Prince of Orange's ; as 

 laden with flowers as any can well be, as full of fruit 

 as I suffer or desire them, and as well tasted as are 

 commonly brought over, except the best sorts of Sevil 

 and Portugal. And thus much I could not but say, 

 in defence of our climate, which is so much and so 

 generally decried abroad, by those who never saw it ; 

 or, if they have been here, have yet perhaps seen no 

 more of it, than what belongs to inns, or to taverns 

 and ordinaries ; who accuse our country for their own 

 defaults, and speak ill, not only of our gardens and 

 houses, but of our humours, our breeding, our customs 

 and manners of life, by what they have observed of 

 the meaner and baser sort of mankind ; and of 

 company among us, because they wanted themselves, 

 perhaps, either fortune or birth, either quality or merit, 

 to introduce them among the good. 



