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 itself: we run into sculpture, and are yet better pleafed to have our Trees in the most aukward figures of men and animals, than in the moft regular of their own.

Hinc et nexilibus videas e frondibus hortos,
Implexes late muros, et meenia circum.
Porrigere, et latas e ramis furgere turres ;
Deflexam et myrtum in puppes, atque area roftra:
In buxifque undore fretum, atque e rore rudentes.
Parte alia frendere fuis tentoria caftris;
Scutaque, fpiculaque, et jaculantia citria vallos.

I believe it is no wrong obfervation, that perfons of genius, and thofe who are most capable of art, are always moft fond of nature; as fuch are chiefly fenfible, that all art confifts in the imitation and study of nature: On the contrary, people of the common level of understanding are principally delighted with the little niceties and fantastical operations of art, and conftantly think that finest

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 Guildhall. I know an eminent Cook, who beautified his country feat with a Coronation-dinner in greens, where you fee the Champion flou

rifhing on horseback at one end of the table, and the Queen in perpetual youth at the other.

of

For the benefit of all my loving countrymen this curious taste, I fhall here publish a catalogue of Greens to be difpofed of by an eminent TownGardiner, who has lately applied to me upon this head. He reprefents, that for the advancement of a politer fort of ornament in the Villa's and Gardens adjacent to this great city, and in order to distinguish thofe places from the meer barbarous countries of grofs nature, the world flands much in need of a virtuofo Gardiner, who has a turn to sculpture, and is thereby capable of improving upon the ancients, in the imagery of Evergreens. I proceed to his catalogue.

Adam and Eve in Yew; Adam a little fhattered by the fall of the Tree of Knowledge in the great storm; Eve and the Serpent very flourifhing.

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 will be in a condition to ftick the Dragon by next April.

A green Dragon of the fame, with a tail of GroundIvy for the prefent.

N. B. Those two not to be fold feparately.

Edward the Black Prince in Cypress.

A Lauruftine Bear in Bloffom, with a Juniper Hunter in Berries.

A pair of Giants, ftunted, to be fold cheap.
A Queen Elizabeth in Phyllirea, a little inclin-
ing to the green sickness, 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. Johnfon in Laurel.

Divers eminent modern Poets in Bays, somewhat
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 Pigg, with Sage growing in his belly. A pair of Maidenheads in Firr, in great forwardness.

He alfo cutteth family pieces of men, women, and children, fo that any gentleman may have his lady's effigies 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.

PREFACE

ΤΟ

HOMER's ILIAD.

OMER is univerfally allowed to have had the greatest Invention of any writer whatever. The praise of Judgment Virgil has justly contested with him, and others may have their pretenfions as to particular excellencies; but his Invention remains yet unrival'd. Nor is it a wonder if he has ever been acknowledged the greatest of poets, who most excelled in that which is the very foundation of poetry. It is the invention that in different degrees distinguishes all great Genius's: The utmost stretch of human ftudy, 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 steward 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 reafon why common Criticks are inclined to prefer a judicious and methodical genius to a great and fruitful one, is, because they find it easier for themselves to purfue their obfervations through an uniform and bounded walk of Art, than to comprehend the vast and various extent of Nature.

Our author's work is a wild paradise, where if we cannot sce all the beauties fo diftinctly as in an ordered garden, it is only because the number of them is infinitely greater. 'Tis like a copious nurfery which contains the feeds and first productions of every kind, out of which those who followed him have but felected fome particular plants, each according to his fancy, to cultivate and beautify. If fome things are too luxuriant, it is owing to the richness of the foil; and if others are not arrived to perfection or maturity, it is only because they are over-run and oppreft by thofe of a stronger

nature.

It is to the ftrength of this amazing invention we are to attribute that unequal'd fire and rapture, which is fo forcible in Homer, that no man of a true poctical spirit is mafter of himself while he reads him. What he writes, is of the moft animated nature imaginable; every thing moves, every thing lives, and is put in action. If a coun