78 THE GARDEN 



Though she look'd up to roofs of gold, 



And nought around her could behold, 

 But silk and rich embroidery, 

 And Babylonian tapestry, 



And wealthy Hiram's princely dye : 

 Though Ophir's starry stones met everywhere her eye ; 

 Though she herself, and her gay host were drest 

 With all the shining glories of the East ; 

 When lavish art her costly work had done, 



The honour and the prize of bravery 

 Was by the garden from the palace won ; 

 And every rose and lily there did stand 



Better attir'd by nature's hand : l 

 The case thus judg'd against the king we see, 

 By one, that would not be so rich, though wiser far 

 than he. 



Nor does this happy place only dispense 

 Such various pleasures to the sense ; 

 Here health itself does live, 

 That salt of life, which does to all a relish give, 

 Its standing pleasure, and intrinsic wealth, 

 The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune, health. 



1 Matth, vi. 29. 



