The tree of life, when it in Eden stood,
Did its immortal head to heaven rear;
It lasted a tall cedar, till the flood;
Now a small thorny shrub it does appear;
Nor will it thrive too every where:
It always here is freshest seen;
'Tis only here an ever-green.

If, through the strong and beauteous fence
Of temperance and innocence,

And wholesome labours, and a quiet mind,
Any diseases passage find,

They must not think here to assail

A land unarmed, or without a guard;
They must fight for it, and dispute it hard,
Before they can prevail :

Scarce any plant is growing here,

Which against death some weapon does not bear. Let cities boast, that they provide

For life the ornaments of pride;

But 'tis the country and the field,
That furnish it with staff and shield.*

IX.

Where does the wisdom and the power divine
In a more bright and sweet reflection shine?
Where do we finer strokes and colours see
Of the Creator's real poetry,

Than when we with attention look
Upon the third day's volume of the book?

-staff and shield.] i. e. bread and physic; the former, to sustain man's life, and the latter, to guard it against disease and sickness.

If we could open and intend our eye,
We all, like Moses, should espy
Ev'n in a bush the radiant Deity.
But we despise these his inferior ways
(Though no less full of miracle and praise) :
Upon the flowers of heaven we gaze;
The stars of earth * no wonder in us raise,
Though these perhaps do more than they
The life of mankind sway,

Although no part of mighty nature be
More stored with beauty, power, and mystery.
Yet, to encourage human industry,

God has so ordered, that no other part
Such space and such dominion leaves for art.

X.

We no where art do so triumphant see,
As when it grafts or buds the tree:
In other things we count it to excel,
If it a docile scholar can appear
To nature, and but imitate her well:
It over-rules, and is her master here.

-flowers of heaven-stars of earth.] A poetical conversion, much to the taste of Mr. Cowley; but the prettier and easier, because many plants and flowers are of a radiate form, and are called stars, not in the poet's vocabulary only, but in that of the botanist and florist: as, on the other hand, the stars of heaven

"Blushing in bright diversities of day"

as the poet says of the garden's "bloomy bed,” very naturally present themselves under the idea, and take the name of flowers.-Hurd.

It imitates her Maker's power divine,

And changes her sometimes, and sometimes does refine:

It does, like grace, the fallen tree restore
To its bless'd state of Paradise before.

Who would not joy to see his conquering hand
O'er all the vegetable world command;
And the wild giants of the wood receive
What law he's pleased to give?
He bids the ill-natured crab produce
The gentler apple's winy juice;
The golden fruit, that worthy is
Of Galatea's purple kiss ;*
He does the savage hawthorn teach
To bear the medlar and the pear;
He bids the rustic plum to rear
A noble trunk, and be a peach.
Ev'n Daphne's coyness he does mock,
And weds the cherry to her stock,
Though she refused Apollo's suit.

Ev'n she, that chaste and virgin tree,
Now wonders at herself, to see

That she's a mother made, and blushes in her fruit.

XI.

Methinks, I see great Dioclesian walk

In the Salonian garden's noble shade,

Which by his own imperial hands was made:
I see him smile, methinks, as he does talk

-that worthy is of Galatea's purple kiss.] An idea conceived and expressed in the best manner of Shakspeare.-Hurd.

With the ambassadors, who come in vain,
To entice him to a throne again.

"If I, my friends (said he) should to you show
All the delights, which in these gardens grow;
'Tis likelier much, that you should with me stay,
Than 'tis that you should carry me away:
And trust me not, my friends, if every day
I walk not here with more delight,
Than ever, after the most happy sight,
In triumph, to the Capitol, I rode,

To thank the gods, and to be thought, myself, almost a god.

VI. OF GREATNESS.

"SINCE we cannot attain to greatness," says the Sieur de Montagne,* "let us have our revenge by railing at it:" this he spoke but in jest. I believe he desired it no more than I do, and had less reason; for he enjoyed so plentiful and honourable a fortune in a most excellent country, as allowed him all the real conveniences of it, separated and purged from the incommodities. If I were but in his condition, I should think it hard measure, with

The Sieur de Montagne and Mr. Cowley are our two great models of essay-writing. Both have this merit; that they paint themselves, their own characters and humours: and thus far the resemblance holds. But the French essayist drew his own picture out of vanity, and a preposterous one too, as the likeness does him no honour; our amiable countryman gave us his, out of the abundance of a good heart, which overflowed with all the sentiments of probity, and virtue.Hurd.

out being convinced of any crime, to be sequestered from it, and made one of the principal officers of state. But the reader may think that what I now say is of small authority, because I never was, nor ever shall be, put to the trial: I can therefore only make my protestation,

If ever I more riches did desire

Than cleanliness and quiet do require :
If e'er ambition did my fancy cheat*
With any wish so mean as to be great,
Continue, Heaven, still from me to remove
The humble blessings of that life I love."

I know very many men will despise, and some pity me, for this humour, as a poor-spirited fellow : but I am content; and, like Horace, thank God for being so.

"Dî bene fecerunt, inopis me quodque pusilli

Finxerunt animi."t

I confess, I love littleness almost in all things. A little convenient estate, a little cheerful house, a little company, and a very little feast; and, if I were ever to fall in love again (which is a great passion, and therefore I hope I have done with it,)

* If e'er ambition, &c.] Why are these verses in every one's mouth, but because they are the language of the heart? If writers would consult their invention less, and their honest affections more, they would be longer lived than they generally are. What a great poet said, dotingly, to his mistress, should have been addressed to one of his own profession :

"Ah, friend, to dazzle let the vain design;

To raise the thought, and touch the heart, be thine."