her 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.
It imitates her Makers Power Divine,
And changes her sometimes, and sometimes does refine:
It does, like Grace, the fallen Tree restore
To its blest 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 pleas'd to give?
He bids th' ill-natur'd Crab produce
The gentle Apples Winy Juice;
The golden Fruit that worthy is
Of _Galetea_'s purple Kiss;
He does the savage Hawthorn teach
To bear the Medlar and the Pear,
He bids the rustick Plumb to rear
A noble Trunk, and be a Peach,
Ev'n _Daphnes_ Coyness he does mock,
And weds the Cherry to her stock,
Though she refus'd _Apollo_'s suit;
Ev'n she, that chast and Virgin-tree
Now wonders at her self, to see
That she's a Mother made, and blushes in her fruit.

11.

Methinks I see Great _Diocletian_ walk
In the _Salonian_ Gardens noble Shade,
Which by his own Imperial hands was made:
I see him smile, methinks, as he does talk
With the Ambassadors, who come in vain
T' 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 fight,
In Triumph to the Capitol I rod,
To thank the gods, and to be thought my self almost a god.

_Chertsea, Aug 16, 1666._
_Abraham Cowley._

DENDROLOGIA

THE FIRST BOOK

CHAPTER I.

_Of the Earth, Soil, Seed, Air, and Water._

1. It is not my intention here to speak of earth, as one of the common
reputed elements; of which I have long since publish'd an ample account,
in an express Treatise (annexed to this volume,) which I desire my
reader to peruse; since it might well commute for the total omission of
this chap