76 THE GARDEN 



Who, that has reason, and his smell, 

 Would not among roses and jasmin dwell, 



Rather than all his spirits choke 

 With exhalations of dirt and smoke ? 



And all th' uncleanness, which does drown 

 In pestilential clouds a populous town ? 

 The earth itself breathes better perfumes here, 

 Than all the female men or women, there, 

 Not without cause, about them bear. 



When Epicurus to the world had taught, 

 That pleasure was the chiefest good, 



(And was, perhaps, i' th' right, 1 if rightly understood) 

 His life he to his doctrine brought, 



And in a garden's shade that sovereign pleasure sought : 



Whoever a true epicure would be, 



May there find cheap and virtuous luxury. 



Vitellius his table, which did hold 



As many creatures, as the ark of old ; 



That fiscal table, to which every day 



All countries did a constant tribute pay, 



1 was, perhaps, :' //;' right] The author had seen Gassendi's 

 fine work on this subject. 



