4 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



ripens others. Pear upon pear waxes old, and apple on apple, 

 yea, and cluster ripens upon cluster of the grape, and fig upon 

 fig. There too hath he a fruitful vineyard planted, whereof the 

 one part is being dried by the heat, a sunny plot on level ground, 

 while other grapes men are gathering, and yet others they are tread- 

 ing in the wine-press. In the foremost row are unripe grapes that 

 cast the blossom, and others there be that are growing black to 

 vintaging. There too, skirting the furthest line, are all manner of 

 garden beds, planted trimly, that are perpetually fresh, and therein 

 are two fountains of water, whereof one scatters his streams all 

 about the garden, and the other runs over against it beneath the 

 threshold of the court-yard, and issues by the lofty house, and 

 thence did the townsfolk draw water. These were the splendid 

 gifts of the gods in the palace of Alcinous. Odyssey , VII. (Done 

 into English Prose by S. H. Butcher and A. Lang.) 



XENOPHON COCRATES. But in some part of Persia there is a great 

 (B.C. 444-359). ' prince called Satrapa, who takes upon him the office both 

 of soldiery and husbandry. 



Critobulus. If the king acts as you inform me, he seems to 

 take as much delight in husbandry as he does in war. 



Soc. I have not yet done concerning him ; for in every country 

 where he resides, or passes a little time, he takes care to have 

 excellent gardens (such as are called Paradeisioi), 1 filled with 

 every kind of flower or plant that can by any means be collected, 

 and in these places are his chief delight. 



Crit. By your discourse it appears also, that he has a great 



1 ' A Paradise seems to have been a large Space Oi Ground, adorned and 

 beautified with all Sorts of Trees, both of Fruits and of Forest, either found 

 there before it was inclosed, or planted after ; either cultivated like Gardens, 

 for Shades and for Walks, with Fountains or Streams, and all Sorts of Plants 

 usual in the Climate, and pleasant to the Eye, the Smell or the Taste ; or 

 else employed like our Parks for Inclosure and Harbour of all Sorts of Wild 

 Beasts, as well as for the Pleasure of Riding and Walking : And so they 

 were of more or less extent, and of differing Entertainment, according to the 

 several Humours of the Princes that ordered and inclosed them.' (Sir William 

 Temple : Upon the Gardens of Epicurus.) 



