She odorous herbs and flowers beneath him spread, As the most soft and sweetest bed; Not her own lap would more have charm'd his head. And all the' uncleanness which does drown, When Epicurus to the world had taught, (And was, perhaps, i' the' right, if rightly under- As many creatures as the ark of old; Help'd with a little art and industry, The wanton taste no fish or fowl can choose, Yet still the fruits of earth we see Placed the third story high in all her luxury. But with no sense the garden does comply, Though she on silver floors did tread, With bright Assyrian carpets on them spread, Though she look'd up to roofs of gold, And Babylonish tapestry, And wealthy Hiram's princely dye; [eye; Though Ophir's starry stones met every where her Though she herself and her gay host were dress'd With all the shining glories of the East; When lavish art her costly work had done, The honour and the prize of bravery Was by the garden from the palace won; And every rose and lily there did stand Better attired by nature's hand+. The case thus judged against the king we see, By one that would not be so rich, though wiser far than he. Nor does this happy place only dispense That salt of life, which does to all a relish give, The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune, The tree of life, when it in Eden stood, [health. Did its immortal head to heaven rear; It lasted a tall cedar, till the flood; 4 Matth. vi. 29. appear; Now a small thorny shrub it does If, through the strong and beauteous fence And wholesome labours, and a quiet mind, They must not think here to assail A land unarmed, or without a guard; Scarce any plant is growing here, Which against death some weapon does not bear. For life the ornaments of pride; Where does the wisdom and the power divine In a more bright and sweet reflection shine? Of the Creator's real poetry, Than when we with attention look Upon the third day's volume of the book? open We all, like Moses, should espy Even in a bush the radiant Deity. 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 We e no where Art do so triumphant see, [refine: And changes her sometimes, and sometimes does Who would not joy to see his conquering hand He bids the' ill-natured crab produce The golden fruit, that worthy is He does the savage hawthorn teach Now wonders at herself, to see That she's a mother made, and blushes in her fruit. Methinks, I see great Dioclesian walk If I, my friends (said he), should to you show Than ever, after the most happy fight, 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 Montaigne), 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, without being convinced of any crime, to be sequestered from it, and made one of the principal officers of state. But the reader may |