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Show The Epiftle Dedicatory. the wife Imprefs of Balzac, and of Plutarch before him ; You giveit /uftre and interpretation : I {wear to You, Sir, it is what in the World I moft inwardly breathafter, and purfue, notto fay that Ienvy Your felicity, deliver'd from the guilded impertinences oflife, to enjoy the moments of afolid and pure Contentment ; fince thofe whe know how ufefully You employthis glorious Recefs,muft needs be forc’d either to imitate, or, as I do, to celebrate elas Example. Si IN “y R K A L EK N ID x : t Zs Paradife (though of Gods own Planting) mas no lon. Gen.2. 1%, AYANZS ger Paradife, than the Man was put intoit, to deets N24 j EVELYN. 7. + O D U & T I O NX TO THE icandtokeepit 5 fo wor will our Gardens (as neer as @ we can contrive them tothe refemblance ofthat bleffed Abode) remain long in their perfeion, are alfo continuallyly cultivated. cultivated unlefs the 2 weWe have fo :much celebrai Ane But when ted the life andfelicity of an excellent Gard’ner, as to think it pre- ferable to all other diverfions whatfoever 5 it is not becaufe ofthe lei- fure which he enjoys above other mens cafe and opportunity which minifters to vain and infignificant delights Such as Fools derive fromfenfual objects « We dare boldly pronounceit there is not amongft Men a more laborious life than is that of agoodGard’ners 3 but be- canfe a labourfull of tranquility and fatisfaction ; Natural and Inftructive, andfuch as (if any) contributes to Picty and Contempla- tion, Experience, Health, avd Longevity, munera nondum intel- le&a Detim: Infumt, aconditionit is, furnifh'd with the moff in- nocent, laudable, and pureft of earthly felicities, and fach as does certainly make the neerefi approaches to that Blcfled tate, where only they enjoy all things without pains 5 foas thofe whowere led only by the light of Nature, becauje they conld phanfie none more glorious, thought it worthy of entertaining the Souls of their departed Heroes, and moft illuftrious of Mortals. But to return tothe Labour, becaufe there is nothing excellent whichis to be attain'd without it: AGard’ners work is never at an end; It begins with the Year, and continues tothe next: He preparesthe Ground, and then be Sows it; after that he Plants, and then he gathers the Fruits; but in all the inter medial [paces heis careful to dreft it 5 fo as Columella, (peaking ofthis continual alfiduity, tells ws, AGard’ner is mot only to reckon upon the lofs of bare frareois. twelvehours, bat ofax whole Year, unlefs he perform what is at the railed pt prefent requifite in its due period, & therefore is {uch a Monethly No- perilswif faa tice ofbis Task as depends upon the Sig ns & Seafons,highly neceBary.farcfecerit 2uare,necesjzvia eff Menftrui cujufq; officii monitio ea, que pendet ex ratione Syderum Celi, Yee. Col.R.R. |. ix. Gardners had need each Star as well to know, tan fins Ar Buri Sydera nobis The Kid, the Dragon, and Ar@urw too, dics fervandi, & lucid: Hedorima; is As Sea-men, whothrough difmal ftorms are Wort Quam qusbus in patriam ventofa per a- To pafs the Oy{ter-breeding Hellefpont- Piathi oe UbHea denise pistiasa quors vcdis Abdi. Geer, 2. AN |