9.

Where does the wifdom and the power divine
In a more bright and fweet reflection fhine?
Where do we finer ftrokes and colours fee
Of the Creator's real poetry,

Than when we with attention look
Upon the third day's volume of the book?
If we could open and intend our eye,
We all, like Mofes, fhould efpy

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 [6] no wonder in us raise,
Though these perhaps do more, than they,
The life of mankind fway,

[b]-flowers of heaven-ftars of carth] A poetical converfion, 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 ftars, not in the poet's vocabulary only, but in that of the botanist and florist: as, on the other hand, the flars of heaven

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Blushing in bright diverfitics of day"

as the poet fays of the garden's bloomy bed, very naturally present themselves under the idea, and take the name,

of flowers.

Although no part of mighty nature be
More ftor'd with beauty, power, and mystery;
Yet, to encourage human induftry,

God has fo order'd, that no other part
Such space and fuch dominion leaves for art,

10.

We no where art do so triumphant see,
As wlien it grafts or buds the tree
In other things we count it to excell,
If it a docile fcholar can appear"
To nature, and but imitate her well

It over-rules, and is her mafter here.
It imitates her Maker's power divine,

And changes her fometimes, and fometimes does refine:

It does, like grace, the fallen tree reftore

To its bleft ftate of Paradife before:

Who would not joy to fee' his conquering hand
O'er all the vegetable world command?
And the wild giants of the wood receive
What law he's pleas'd to give?

He bids th' ill-natur'd crab produce
The gentler apple's winy juice 5

7

The

The golden fruit, that worthy is
Of Galatea's purple kifs [c];
He does the favage hawthorn teach
To bear the medlar and the pear;
He bids the ruftic plum to rear
A noble trunk, and be a peach.
Even Daphne's coynefs he does mock,
And weds the cherry to her ftock,
Though the refus'd Apollo's fuit;
Even fhe, that chaste and virgin tree,
Now wonders at herself, to fee

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

II.

Methinks, I fee great Dioclefian walk
In the Salonian garden's noble fhade,
Which by his own imperial hands was made:
I fee him fimile (methinks) as he does talk
With the ambaffadors, who come in vain,
T'entice him to a throne again.

If I, my friends (faid he) fhould to you show
All the delights, which in thefe gardens grow ;
'Tis likelier much, that you should with me ftay,

Of Galatea's purple kiss] An idea, conceived, and expreffed, in the best manner of Shakespeare.

Than 'tis, that you fhould carry me away:
And truft me not, my friends, if every day,
I walk not here with more delight,

Than ever, after the most happy fight,
In triumph, to the capitol, I rod,

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

VI.

OF GREATNESS.

"SINCE

INCE we cannot attain to greatness (fays the Sieur de Montagne [d]), let us have our revenge by railing at it :" this he fpoke but in jeft. I believe he defired it no more than I do, and had lefs reafon; for he enjoyed fo plentiful and honoura

[d] The Sicur de Montagne and Mr. Cowley, are our two great models of effry-writing. Poth have this merit, that they paint themfelves, their own characters and humours: and thus far the refemblance holds. But the French effayift drew his own picture, out of vanity; and a preposterous ore, 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 fentiments of probity and virtue.

ble

ble a fortune in a moft excellent country, as allowed him all the real conveniences of it, feparated and purged from the incommodities. If I were but in his con dition, I should think it hard measure, without being convinced of any crime, to be fequeftered from it, and made one of the principal officers of ftate.

But the reader

may think that what I now fay is of fmall authority, because I never was, nor ever fhall be, put to the trial: I can therefore only make my proteftation,

If ever I more riches did defire

Than cleanliness and quiet do require:
If e'er ambition did my fancy cheat [e],
With any wish, fo mean as to be great,

[e] 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 confult their invention lefs, and their hopet affections more, they would be longer-lived, than they generally are. What a great

poet faid, dotingly, to his mistress, fhould have been

addreffed to one of his own profeffion

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

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

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