50 THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS 



parterres, and in the stone-stairs that are necessary from 

 one to the other. 

 s^ The perfectest figure of a garden I ever saw, either 

 at home or abroad, was that of Moor Park in Hert- 

 fordshire, when I knew it about thirty years ago. It 

 was made by the Countess of Bedford, esteemed among 

 the greatest wits of her time, and celebrated by Doctor 

 Donne; and with very great care, excellent con- 

 trivance, and much cost ; but greater sums may be 

 thrown away without effect or honour, if there want 

 sense in proportion to money, or if Nature be . not 

 followed ; which I take to be the great rule in this, 

 and perhaps in everything else, as far as the conduct 

 not only of our lives, but our governments. And 

 whether the greatest of mortal men should attempt 

 the forcing of Nature, may best be judged, by observ- 

 ing how seldom God Almighty does it himself, by so 

 few, true and undisputed miracles, as we see or hear in 

 the world. For my own part, I know not three wiser 

 precepts for the conduct either of princes or private 

 men, than 



Servare modum, finempue tueri, 



Naturamque sequi. 



Because I take the garden I have named to have 

 been in all kinds the most beautiful and perfect, at least 



