n6 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



But since I am far from presuming myself able to say anything 

 new, that may at all enhance the Esteem which is due to Gardens, 

 or to the Art that teaches their Construction, and therefore 

 cannot but think it very impertinent to go about to persuade 

 any one to study it ; when I observe the most part of Men 

 possess'd with a natural passion for so sweet and profitable an 

 Occupation, I shall wave those Complements, and fall down 

 right upon the pursuit of my Design, which is to instruct, 

 in case I can show myself really master enough of the Art, 

 worthily to perform it. 



And further, the affectation of Men to gratifie the Pleasures 

 of their Eyes, inciting them to push on things to more and 

 more Perfection ; there came first into the minds of Noble 

 Persons, some conceits of ranging those Flowers with a little 

 more agreeableness and Symmetry than was practised by the 

 first Curiosfs, which gave the first beginnings to Parterres, or 

 Flower-Pots among Florisfs, the first of which, in all probability, 

 were but cut pieces (decoupez) shaped after but a plain and 

 gross manner. But afterwards there were some made of 

 another fashion, called Embroidery Fashion which were better 

 contrived and more delightful than the other, with which two 

 sorts the World contented themselves for several Ages, so that 

 Gardens were not accompanied with any other Beauties than 

 those, till in these last times Curiosity, Good Judgment, and 

 Fancy, and Magnificence itself being grown by little and little, 

 to an extraordinary heighth, our Age, which excells in all that 

 Humane industry is able to invent, has given in particular 

 by the ingenious skill of the famous Mr Le Nostre the best 

 perfection to this part of Gardening, which appears by so many 

 Canals, Water- Works, Cascades, Spouting- Fountains, Labyrinths, 

 Bowling Greens, Terraces, etc., ornaments indeed that are new, 

 but such as in earnest do wonderfully set off the natural Beauty 

 of a Garden. Preface to the Compleat Gardner, translated by 

 John Evelyn (or his son). 



