INTRODUCTION. XVll" 



kindle pleasure in the breast of the youthful 

 maiden, who rises early, perambulates the 

 garden, and feasts the eye and sense upon 

 the varied beauty and refreshing fragrance of 

 flowers, so enchantingly displayed in the gay 

 parterre of art and nature. This early exer- 

 cise paints the rose of health upon her cheek, 

 and the innocency of the recreation imparts 

 the odour and the purity of the lily to her 

 mind : this is a pleasure unknown to those 

 who live in crowded cities, and listless lie in 

 bed till noon. 



' Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, 

 With charm of earliest birds ; pleasant the Sun, 

 When first on this delightful land he spreads 

 His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, 

 Glitt'ring with dew.' MILTON. 



The garden is likewise the private sanctuary 

 of the pious man's devotions, and the scene 

 of his meditations : the flower is to him at 

 once a text and a sermon, which in the morn- 



