THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 39 



I must needs add one thing more in favour of our 

 climate, which I heard the king say, and I thought 

 new and right, and truly like a king of England, that 

 loved and esteemed his own country : 'twas in reply 

 to some of the company that were reviling our climate, 

 and extolling those of Italy and Spain, or at least of 

 France : he said, he thought that was the best climate, 

 where he could be abroad in the air with pleasure, or 

 at least without trouble and inconvenience, the most 

 days of the year, and the most hours of the day ; and 

 this he thought he could be in England, more than in 

 any country he knew of in Europe. And I believe it 

 is true, not only of the hot and cold, but even among 

 our neighbours in France, and the Low Countries 

 themselves ; where the heats or the colds, and changes 

 of seasons, are less treatable than they are with us. 



The truth is, our climate wants no heat to produce 

 excellent fruits ; and the default of it, is only the 

 short season of our heats or summers, by which many 

 of the latter are left behind, and imperfect with us. 

 But all such as are ripe before the end of August, 

 are, for ought I know, as good with us as anywhere 

 else. This makes me esteem the true region of gardens 

 in England, to be the compass of ten miles about 

 London ; where the accidental warmth of air, from 



