Delightful scientific shade,
For knowledge, as for pleasure, made!______
'Twas generous Danby first inclos'd
The waste, and in parterres dispos'd;
Transform'd the fashion of the ground,
And fenc'd it with a rocky mound;
The figure disproportion'd chang'd,
Trees, shrubs, and plants, in order rang'd;
Stock'd it with such excessive store,
Only the spacious earth had more:
At his command the plat was chose,
And Eden from the chaos rose:
Confusion in a moment fled,
And roses blush'd where thistles bred.
The Portico, next, high he rear'd,
By builders now so much rever'd,
Which like some rustic beauty shews, 7%
Who all her charms to Nature owes ;
Yet fires the heart, and warms the head,
No less than those in cities bred;
Our wonder equally does raise
With them, as well deserves our praise.
With perfect symmetry design'd;
Consummate, like the donor's mind.
Illustrious Danby! splendid peer! Look downward from thy radiant sphere, The Muses' thanks propitious hear. When, Albion, will thy Nobles
Such bounty to Minerva shew?
There, where old Cherwell gently leads His humid train along the meads;
And courts fair Isis, but in vain,
Who laughs at all his amorous pain; 290 Away the scornful Naiad turns,
For younger Tamus Isis burns.
Close to those towers, so much renown'd For slavery lost and freedom found: Where thy brave sons, in hapless days, Wainfleet, to thy immortal praise, Their rights municipal maintain'd Submiss, not their allegiance stain'd;
To loyalty and conscience true;
Gave Caesar and Themselves their due ;_300 Close to those towers, by Jove's command,
The gardens of Minerva stand.
There 'tis we see thee, Bobart, tend Thy favorite greens; from harms defend Exotic plants, which, finely bred
In softer soils, thy succour need;
Whose birth far-distant countries claim,
Sent here in honor to thy name.
To thee the strangers trembling fly,
For shelter from our barbarous sky,
And murdering winds, that frequent blow,
With cruel drifts of rain or snow;
And dreadful ills, both Fall and Spring,
On alien vegetables bring.
Nor art thou less inclin'd to save,
Than they thy generous aid to crave:
But, with like pleasure and respect,
Thy darling tribe thou dost protect :
Lessen their fears, their hopes dilate,
And save their fragrant souls from fate: 32
While they, secure in health and peace,
Their covert and their guardian bless.
This makes thee rouze at prime of day, fing
Thy doubtful nursery to survey:
At noon to count thy flock with care,
And in their joys and sorrows share,
By each extreme unhappy made,
Of too much sun, or too much shade;
Be ready to attend their cry,
And all their little wants supply;
By day severest sentry keep,
By night sit by them as they sleep;
With endless pain and endless pleasure,
As misers guard their hoarded treasure.
Till soft Favonius fans the flowers,
Breathes balmy dews, drops fruitful showers ;
Favonius soft, that sweetly blows,
The Tulip paints, perfumes the Rose :
And, with the gentle Twins at play,
Brings in th' Elysian month of May. 34
Then boldly from their lodge you bring
Your guests, to deck our gloomy Spring.
Thrice happy Foreigners! to find
From Islanders such treatment kind:
Not only undisturb❜d to live,
But, by thy goodness, Bobart, thrive:
Grow strong, increase, their verdure hold,
As dwelling in their native mold.
The rest, who will no culture know,
But ceaseless curse our rains and snow; 350
A sickly, sullen, fretful race;
The gardener's and his art's disgrace;
Whom Bobart's self in vain does strive,
With all his skill to keep alive :
Which from beneath th' Æquator come,
In India's sultry forests bloom.
Of these, at least, since nature more
Denies t'encrease thy living store,
Their barks, or roots, their flowers, or leaves,
And now, methinks, my Genius sees
My Friend, amidst his plants and trees;
Full in the center there he stands.
Encircled with his verdant bands;
Who all around obsequious wait,
To know his pleasure, and their fate :
His royal orders to receive,
To grow, decay, to die, or live:
That not the proudest kings can boast
A greater, or more duteous, host.
Thou all that power dost truly know,
Which they but dream of here below;
Thy absolute despotic reign
Inviolably dost maintain,
Nor with ill-govern'd wrath affright
Thy people, or insult their right:
But, as thy might in greatness grows,
Thy mercy in proportion flows:
Nor they undutiful deny
What's due to lawful majesty ;
Safe in thy court from all the cares,
Domestic treasons, foreign wars
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