The garden, which[note]The garden, which] A Garden is, 1653[/note] some Paradise do call,
Is placed just under[note]Is placed just under] The place is alwayes 1653[/note] th’equinoctial.
Echoes there are most artificial made,
And cooling grottoes, from the heat to shade.
The azure sky is always bright and clear; 5
No gross thick vapors in the clouds appear.
There many stars do comfort the sad night;
The fixed do twinkl’and[note]do twinkl’and] with twinckling, 1653[/note] with the rest give light.
No noise is heard, but what the ear delights;
No fruits are there, but what the taste invites. 10
Up through the nose bruised flowers fume[note]Up through the nose bruised flowers fume] Bruis’d Flowers through the Nose Fume to 1664; Bruis’d Flowers, through the Nose, fume to 1668[/note] the brain,
As honeydew in balmy showers[note]As honeydew in balmy showers] And Honey Dew doth fall like Showr’s of 1664; And Honey-Dew doth fall like Showrs of 1668[/note] rain.
Various colors, by Nature intermixed,
Divert the eyes so, as none can be fixed.[note]Divert the eyes so, as none can be fixed.] Direct the eyes, as no one thing can fix. 1653[/note]
Here atoms small on sunbeams dance all day, 15
While Zephyrus sweet doth on the air[note]While Zephyrus sweet doth on the air] Whilst the sweet Zephyrus on th’ Air doth 1664; Whilst the sweet Zephyrus on th’ Air doth 1668[/note] play,
Which music from Apollo bears the praise,
And Orpheus at its[note]its] the 1653[/note] sound his harp down lays.
Apollo yields, and not contends with spite,
Presenting Zephyrus with twelve hours[note]hours] houres of 1653[/note] light. 20
The[note]The] And 1653[/note] night, though sad, in quiet pleasure takes,
With silence listens[note]With silence listens] Listening with Silence 1664; Listning, with silence, 1668[/note] when he music makes,
And when the day doth come, she’s grievèd so,[note]the day doth come, she’s grievèd so,] day comes, with griefe descends down low, 1653[/note]
That she cannot hear Zeph’rus longer[note]cannot hear Zeph’rus longer] no longer must heare Zephyrus 1653[/note] blow,
And with her mantle black herself enshrouds, 25
Which is embroidered all of stars in clouds.
Here are intermixing walks[note]Here are intermixing walks] Fine intermixing Walks there are 1664; Fine intermixing Walks there are, 1668[/note] of pleasure,
Of grass, and sand, broad, short, and of all[note]Of grass, and sand, broad, short, and of all] Grasse, Sand, short, broad, and all sorts of 1653[/note] measure,
Some shaded for a[note]for a] fit for 1653[/note] lover’s musing thought,
When his mind is with love’s idea[note]When his mind is with love’s idea] Of Loves Idea, when the mind’s full 1653[/note] fraught. 30
The walks all[note]all] are 1653[/note] firm and hard as marble are,
Yet soft as down by grass that groweth there,
Where daisies grow as mushrooms in a night,
Mixed yellow, white, and[note]Mixed yellow, white, and] Mix’d white, and yellow, 1653[/note] green to please the sight.
At dawning day, the dew all overspreads[note]At dawning day, the dew all overspreads] When it begins to Dawn, those Daisie’s Heads 1664; When it begins to dawn, those Daisie’s Heads, 1668[/note] 35
In little drops upon those daisies’ heads;[note]In little drops upon those daisies’ heads;] The Dew with little Drops all Over-spreads; 1664; The Dew, with little Drops, all over-spreads: 1668[/note]
As thick as stars are set in heaven high,[note]set in heaven high,] placed in the Sky, 1664; placed in the Sky; 1668[/note]
So daisies on the earth as close do lie.
Here emerald banks are,[note]are] from 1653[/note] whence fine flowers spring,
Whose scents and colors various pleasures[note]pleasures] pleasure 1653[/note] bring: 40
Primroses, cowslips, violets, daffodillies,[note]daffodillies,] Daffadils, 1653[/note]
Roses, honeysuckles,[note]honeysuckles,] and Honey-suckles, 1664; and Honey-suckles, 1668[/note] and white lillies,
Wall-flowers, pinks, and marigolds besides,[note]besides,] beside, 1664, 1668[/note]
Grow on the banks[note]Grow on the banks] Sit on the bank, 1653[/note] enriched with Nature’s pride.
On other banks grow simples, which are good 45
For med’cines,[note]med’cines,] Medicines, 1653[/note] well applied and understood.
There trees do grow, that[note]that] which 1664, 1668[/note] proper are, and tall,
Whose bark is[note]Whose bark is] Their bark is 1653; Whose Barks are 1664, 1668[/note] smooth, and bodies sound withal,
Whose spreading tops are full, and ever green,
As Nazarites’ heads, where razors have[note]razors have] Rasor hath 1653[/note] not been, 50
And curlèd leaves, which bowing branches bear,
By warmth are fed, for winter ne’er comes there.
There fruits so pleasing[note]so pleasing] delicious 1653[/note] to the taste do grow
That[note]That] Where 1653[/note] with delight the sense they[note]they] doth 1653[/note] overflow,
And archèd arbors, where sweet birds do sing, 55
Whose hollow rooves do make each echo ring.
Prospects, which trees and clouds by mixing show,[note]show,] shewes, 1653[/note]
Joined by the eye, one perfect piece do grow.[note]do grow.] it grows. 1653[/note]
Here fountains are, where trilling[note]trilling] Drilling 1664; drilling 1668[/note] drops down run,
Which twinkle as the stars, or as the[note]twinkle as the stars, or as the] sparkes do twinckle like fixt Stars, or 1653[/note] sun, 60
And through each several spout such noise it makes,[note]it makes,] they make, 1664, 1668[/note]
As bird in spring when he his pleasure takes:[note]bird in spring when he his pleasure takes:] Birds i’th’ Spring, when they their Pleasure take; 1664; Birds i’th’ Spring, when they their pleasure take. 1668[/note]
Some chirping sparrow, and the singing lark,
Or quavering nightingale in evening dark,
The[note]The] And 1653[/note] whistling blackbird, with the pleasant thrush, 65
Linnet, bullfinch, which sing in every bush.
No weeds are here, nor withered leaves, and dry,
But ever green and pleasant to the eye;
No frost to nip the tender buds in birth,[note]in birth,] i’th’ Birth, 1664; i’th’ birth; 1668[/note]
Nor winter snow to fall on this sweet earth. 70
The beauty of the spring here ne’er doth waste,[note]The beauty of the spring here ne’er doth waste,] For here the Spring is alwayes in her prime, 1653[/note]
Because ’tis just under th’equator placed.[note]’tis just under th’equator placed.] this place is underneath the Line: 1653[/note]
The day and night by turns keep equal[note]by turns keep equal] equall, by turnes keep 1653[/note] watch,
That thievish time should nothing from them catch.
And every Muse a several walk enjoys, 75
The sad delights in[note]delights in] in 1653[/note] shades; the light employs[note]employs] with sports imployes.[/note]
Her time in sports; satyrs[note]Her time in sports; satyrs] Censuring Satyrs, they 1653[/note] in corners lurk,
And as their gard’ners with great pains[note]And as their gard’ners with great pains] Yet, as their Gard’ners, they with Art 1653[/note] do work:
They cut, graft, set, and sow, all with much skill,[note]They cut, graft, set, and sow, all with much skill,] To cut and prune, to sow, ingraft, and set, 1653[/note]
And gather fruits and flow’rs when th’Muses will,[note]And gather fruits and flow’rs when th’Muses will,] Gather fruits, flowers, what each Muse thinkes fit: 1653[/note] 80
And nymphs, as handmaids, their attendance give,
For which, by fame the Muses make them[note]For which, by fame the Muses make them] Which, for reward, their fames by Muses 1653[/note] live.