THE GARDEN 71 



Among many other arts and excellences, which you 

 enjoy, I am glad to find this favourite of mine the 

 most predominant ; that you choose this for your wife, 

 though you have hundreds of other arts for your con- 

 cubines ; though you know them, and beget sons upon 

 them all (to which you are rich enough to allow great 

 legacies), yet the issue of this seems to be designed by 

 you to the main of the estate ; you have taken most 

 pleasure in it, and bestowed most charges upon its 

 education : and I doubt not to see that book, which 

 you are pleased to promise to the world, and of which 

 you have given us a large earnest in your calendar, as 

 accomplished, as any thing can be expected from an 

 extraordinary wit, and no ordinary expenses, and a 

 long experience. I know nobody that possesses more 

 private happiness than you do in your garden ; and yet 

 no man, who makes his happiness more public, by a 

 free communication of the art and knowledge of it to 

 others. All that I myself am able yet to do, is only 

 to recommend to mankind the search of that felicity, 

 which you instruct them how to find and to enjoy. 



