2 THE PRAISE OT SECt. Jjk 



The great Lord Bacon s opinion of gardening, given 

 in the motto of the title page, is certainly both juft and 

 honourable. The agreeable Cowley fpeaks of his darling 

 nature as enjoyed in a garden^ thus : 



When God did man to his own likenefs make, 

 , As much as clay, tho 5 of the pureft kind, 



{By the great potter's art refin'd) 



Could the divine imprefiion take, 

 - He thought it fit to place him, where 



A kind of heaven too did appear, 

 As faT as earth could fuch a likenefs bear ; 



Th2t man no happinefs might want, 

 Which earth to her firft mailer could afford ; 



He did a garden for him plant, 

 By the quick hand of his omnipotent word | 

 As the chief help and joy of human life, 

 He gave him the firft gift, — even before a wife* 



And well he knew, what place would befl agree^ 

 With innocence and with felicity. 



And we elfewhere Hill feek for them in vain, 

 If any part of either yet remain, 



. If any part of either we expect 



This may our judgment in the fearch direct ; 



God the firft garden made, and the firft city>—CttM* 



When Epicurus to the world had taught 



That pleafure was the chiefeft good, 

 {And was perhaps i'th'right, if rightly underflood) 



His life he to his dodrine brought, 

 And in a garden's made, that fovereign pleafure 

 fought. 



Whoever a true epicure would be, 

 May there find cheap and virtuous luxury* 



Nor does this happy place only difpenfe 



Such various pleafures to the fenfe, 



Here health itfelf does live, 

 That fait of life, which does to all a relifh give, 



Its 



