Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/163

142 as it is not very easie to think of any one pleasure, in which the most eminent amongst the Nations have in all ages so willingly consented. If we turne over the sacred Volume, we shall there find that the World and Gardens were made together, which God himself bestow'd upon the first Man, as the Seat of a blessed Life: If we search into prophane Stories, Proverbs and Fables every where tell us of the Gardens of Adonis and Alcinous, Tantalus and the Hesperides: and in true and credible Histories, we meet the mention of King Cyrus his Orchards, that were planted with his own Hands: The airy and pendulous Gardens of Semiramis, and that new and celebrated Plat of Masanissa which Affrick wondred at. Amongst the ancient Greeks and Romans, how many illustrious persons am I able to name; who casting off all other cares, have betaken themselves only to this? Amongst the form- Rh