THE GARDEN 77 



Could nothing more delicious afford, 



Than nature's liberality, 

 Help'd with a little art and industry, 

 Allows the meanest gard'ner's board. 

 The wanton taste no fish or fowl can choose, 

 For which the grape or melon she would lose ; 

 Though all th' inhabitants of sea and air 

 Be listed in the glutton's bill of fare, 



Yet still the fruits of earth we see 

 Plac'd the third story * high in all her luxury. 



VII 



But with no sense the garden does comply, 

 None courts, or flatters, as it does the eye : - 

 When the great Hebrew king did almost strain 

 The wond'rous treasures of his wealth and brain, 

 His royal southern guest to entertain ; 



Though she on silver floors did tread, 

 With bright Assyrian carpets on them spread, 

 To hide the metal's poverty. 



1 Plac'd the third story] i. e. in the desert, which stands as the 

 third story in the fabric of modern luxury. 



- But tvith no sense the garden does comply , 



Nmt courts, or flatters, as it does the eye~\ A little obscurely 

 expressed. The meaning is The garden gratifies no sense, 

 it courts and flatters none, so much as it does the eye. 



