_Hi. Carinus_ bites his Nails, we look for something elaborate from him.
_Ca._ I'm out of the poetical Vein.
_Cura cui est, ut niteat hortus flosculis ac foetibus,
Negligenti excolere pectus disciplinis optimis;
Hic labore, mihi ut videtur, ringitur praepostero.
Whose only Care is that his Gardens be
With Flow'rs and Fruits furnish'd most pleasantly,
But disregards his Mind with Art to grace,
Bestows his Pains and Care much like an Ass._
_Hi._ You han't bit your Nails for nothing.
_Eu._ Well, since my Turn is next, that I may do something,
_Qui studet ut variis niteat cultissimus hortus
Deliciis, patiens animum squalere, nec ullis
Artibus expoliens, huic est praepostera cura.
Who cares to have his Garden neat and rare.
And doth of Ornaments his Mind leave bare,
Acts but with a preposterous Care._
We have no Need to spur _Sbrulius_ on, for he is so fluent at Verses,
that he oftentimes tumbles 'em out, before he is aware.
Sb. _Cui vernat hortus cultus et elegans,
Nee pectus uttis artibus excolit;
Praepostera is mra laborat.
Sit ratio tibiprima mentis.
Who to make his Garden spring, much Care imparts,
And yet neglects his Mind to grace with Arts,
Acts wrong: Look chiefly to improve thy Parts._
Pa. _Quisquis accurat, variis ut hortus
Floribus vernet, neque pectus idem
Artibus sanctis colit, hunc habet praepostera cura.
Who to his Soul prefers a Flower or worse,
May well be said to set the Cart before the Horse._
_Hi._ Now let us try to which of us the Garden will afford the most
Sentences.
_Le._ How can so rich a Garden but do that? even this Rose-Bed will
furnish me with what to say. _As the Beauty of a Rose is fading, so is
Youth soon gone; you make haste to gather your Rose before it withers;
you ought more earnestly to endeavour that your Youth pass not away
without Fruit._
_Hi._ It is a Theme very fit for a Verse.
_Ca. As among Trees, every one hath its Fruits: So among Men, every one
hath his natural Gift._
_Eu. As the Earth, if it be till'd, brings forth various Things for
human Use; and being neglected, is covered with Thorns and Briars: So
the Genius of a Man, if it be accomplish'd with honest Studies, yields a
great many Virtues; but if it be neglected, is over-run with various
Vices._
_Sb. A Garden ought to be drest every Year, that it may look handsome:
The Mind being once furnish'd with good Learning, does always flourish
and spring forth._
_Pa. As the Pleasantness of Gardens does not draw the Mind off from
honest Studies, but rather invites it to them: So we ought to seek for
such Recreations and Divertisements, as are not contrary to Learning._
_Hi._ O brave! I see a whole Swarm of Sentences. Now for Verse: But
before we go upon that, I am of the Mind, it will be no improper nor
unprofitable Exercise to turn the first Sentence into _Greek_ Verse, as
often as we have turn'd it into _Latin._ And let _Leonard_ begin, that
has been an old Acquaintance of the _Greek_ Poets.
_Le._ I'll begin if you bid me.
_Hi._ I both bid and command you.
_Le._ [Greek: Hôi kêpos estin anthesin gelôn kalois,
Ho de nous mal auchmôn tois kalois muthêmasin,
Ouk esti kompsos outos, ouk orthôs phronei,
Peri pleionos poiôn ta phaul, ê kreittona].
He never entered Wisdom's Doors
Who delights himself in simple Flowers,
And his foul Soul neglects to cleanse.
This Man knows not what Virtue means.