3^ The H I S T o R Y Chap. i. 



of then}, even in this newer State of Rome.') 

 'Twas there, according to the Cuftom of the 

 Grecian Orators and Philofophers, that he 

 composed his learned Orations 5 and 'twas 

 from them he drew his Plans ^ and, perhaps, 

 from that of the great Epicurus himfelf, 

 whofe Life has already had a Place in this 

 Hiftory. 



As for the Philofophical Part, the miftaken 

 and fuperftitious Opinions of the Antients, 

 and which appear every- where in Pliny ^ are 

 of late very much exploded, or at leaft little 

 regarded, as is the Defcenfion of the Sap, the 

 alternate Government and Motion of Lunar 

 Afpeds, &c. 



The Praftice, indeed, as to the Tilling, 

 Manuring, and Drefling of Lands, Raifing 

 of Trees, &c. was by them much farther 

 advanced than any other Part 5 and 'tis with 

 a great deal of Pleafure that one reads the 

 Works of Cato^ Varro^ Cohmella^ Palladium 

 and PHny^ be fides the incomparable Virgil:^ 

 in them is contained as brief a Method as pof- 

 fible, the greateft part of the Rules now in 

 ufe, and fuch as have not till this Age been 

 much improved : But this will more appear 

 in the Series of the following Hiftory, which 

 I now purfue again. 



Several fucceeding Emperors are related to 

 TheEmt>e- have fpent their Time in their Gardens : The 

 rori Hadri- Difcourfe between Hadrian and Eliiis Verm 

 verif" ca- ^'^f'^^ i" ^''^^ir Gardens, is fomething remark- 

 f.r. able : The great Love ( even to Excefs ) 



that 



