Ingrata lati fpatia detinet campi; Sed rure vero, barbaroque laetatur. There is certainly something in the amiable fimplicity of unadorned Nature, that spreads over the mind a more noble fort of tranquillity, and a loftier sensation of pleasure, than can be raised from the nicer scenes of art. This was the taste of the Ancients in their gardens, as we may difcover from the descriptions extant of them. The two most celebrated wits of the world have each of them left us a particular picture of a garden; wherein those great mafters being wholly unconfined, and painting at pleasure, may be thought to have given a full idea of what they esteemed most excellent in this way. These (one may observe) confist entirely of the ufeful part of horticulture, fruit-trees, herbs, water, &c. The pieces I am speaking of are Virgil's account of the garden of the old Corycian, and Homer's of that of Alcinous in the seventh Odyssey, to which I refer the Reader. Sir William Temple has remarked, that this garden. of Homer contains all the jufteft rules and provisions which can go toward compofing the best gardens. Its extent was four acres, which, in those times of fimplicity, was looked upon as a large one, even for a prince. It was enclosed all round for defence; and for conveniency joined close to the gates of the palace. He mentions next the trees, which were standards, and fuffered to grow to their full height. The fine defcription of the fruits that never failed, and the eternal zephyrs, is only a more noble and poetical way of expreffing the continual fucceffion of one fruit after another throughout the year. The Vineyard feems to have been a plantation diftinct from the Garden; as also the beds of greens mentioned afterwards at the extremity of the inclosure, in the ufual place of our Kitchen Gardens. The two fountains are disposed very remarkably. They rofe within the enclosure, and were brought in by conduits or ducts; one of them to water all parts of the gardens, and the other underneath the palace into the town, for the service of the publick. How contrary to this fimplicity is the modern practice of gardening? We feem to make it our study to recede from Nature, not only in the various tonfure of greens into the moft regular and formal fhapes, but even in monftrous attempts beyond the reach of the art itfelf: we run into fculpture, and are yet better pleased to have our trees in the moft awkward figures of men and animals, than in the most regular of their own. Hinc et nexilibus videas e frondibus hortos, Implexos late muros, et moenia circum Porrigere, et latas e ramis furgere turres; Deflexam et myrtum in puppes, atque aerea roftra: In buxifque undare fretum, atque e rore rudentes. Parte alia frondere fuis tentoria caftris; Scutaque, Spiculaque, et jaculantia citria vallos. I believe it is no wrong obfervation, that perfons of genius, and those who are most capable of art, are always most fond of nature; as such are chiefly fenfible, that all art confifts in the imitation and fludy of nature: On the contrary, people of the common level of underftanding are principally delighted with the little niceties and fantaftical operations of art, and conftantly think that fineft which is leaft natural. A Citizen is no fooner proprietor of a couple of Yews, but he entertains thoughts of erecting them into Giants, like thofe of VOL. IV. N Guildhall. I know an eminent Cook, who beautified his country feat with a Coronation dinner in greens, where you fee the Champion flourishing on horfeback at one end of the table, and the Queen in perpetual youth at the other. For the benefit of all my loving countrymen of this curious tafte, I fhall here publish a catalogue of Greens to be difpofed of by an eminent Town-Gardener, who has lately applied to me upon this head. He represents, that for the advancement of a politer fort of ornament in the Villas and Gardens adjacent to this great city, and in order to diftinguish those places from the mere barbarous countries of grofs nature, the world ftands much in need of a virtuofo Gardener, who has a turn to fculpture, and is thereby capable of improving upon the ancients, in the imagery of Ever-greens. I proceed to his catalogue. Adam and Eve in Yew; Adam, a little shattered by the fall of the Tree of Knowledge in the great ftorm; Eve and the Serpent very flourishing. Noah's ark in Holly, the ribs a little damaged for want of water. The Tower of Babel, not yet finished. St. George in Box; his arm fcarce long enough, but A green Dragon of the fame, with a tail of Ground- N. B. These two not to be fold separately. Edward the Black Prince in Cypress. A Laurustine Bear in Blossom, with a Juniper Hunter in Berries. 4 A pair of Giants, ftunted, to be fold cheap. A Queen Elizabeth in Phyllirea, a little inclining to the green-fickness, but of full growth. Another Queen Elizabeth in Myrtle, which was very forward, but miscarried by being too near a Savine. An old Maid of Honour in Wormwood. A topping Ben Johnson in Laurel. Divers eminent modern Poets in Bays, fomewhat blighted, to be difpofed of; a pennyworth. A quick-fet Hog fhot up into a Porcupine, by being forgot a week in rainy weather. A Lavender Pig, with Sage growing in his belly. He alfo cutteth family-pieces of men, women, and children, so that any gentleman may have his lady's effigy in Myrtle, or his own in Horn-beam. Thy Wife fhall be as the fruitful Vine, and thy Children as Olive-branches round thy table, NA PREFACE ΤΟ HOME R's ILI A D. HOMER is univerfally allowed to have had the greatest Invention of any writer whatever. The praise of Judgment Virgil has juftly contefted with him, and others may have their pretenfions as to particular excellencies; but his Invention remains yet unrivalled. Nor is it a wonder if he has ever been acknowledged the greatest of poets, who moft excelled in that which is the very foundation of poetry. It is the Invention that in different degrees diftinguishes all great Geniuses : The utmoft ftretch of human study, learning, and industry, which mafter every thing befides, can never attain to this. It furnishes Art with all her materials, and without it, Judgment itself can at best but steal wifely for Art is only like a prudent fteward that lives on managing the riches of Nature. Whatever praises may be given to works of Judgment, there is not even a fingle beauty in them, to which the Invention must not contribute. As in the most regular gardens, Art can only reduce the beauties of Nature to more regularity, and fuch a figure, which the common eye may better take in, and is therefore more entertained with. And perhaps the reason why common Critics are inclined to prefer a judicious and methodical genius to a great and fruitful one, is, because they find it easier for themselves to pursue their observations through an uniform and bounded walk of Art, than to comprehend the vast and various extent of Nature. |