The Garden
How vainly[1] men themselves amaze
To win the Palm, the Oke, or Bayes;[2]
And their uncessant Labours see
Crown'd from some single Herb or Tree,
Whose short and narrow verged Shade
Does prudently their Toyles upbraid;
While all Flow'rs and all Trees do close
To weave the Garlands of repose.[3]
Fair quiet, have I found thee here,
And Innocence thy Sister dear!
Mistaken long, I sought you then
In busie Companies of Men.
Your sacred Plants, if here below,
Only among the Plants will grow.[4]
Society is all but rude,
To this delicious Solitude:
No white nor red was ever seen
So am'rous as this lovely green.
Fond Lovers, cruel as their Flame,
Cut in these Trees their Mistress name.
Little, Alas, they know or heed,
How far these Beauties Hers exceed!
Fair trees! where s'eer your barkes I wound,
No Name shall but your own be found.
When we have run our Passion' heat,
Love hither makes his best retreat.
The Gods, that mortal Beauty chase,
Still in a Tree did end their race.Apollo hunted Daphne[5] so,
Only that She might Laurel grow;
And Pan did after Syrinx[6] speed,
Not as a Nymph, but for a Reed.
What wond'rous life in this I lead![7]
Ripe Apples drop about my head;
The Luscious Clusters of the Vine
Upon my Mouth do crush their Wine;
The Nectaren, and curious Peach,
Into my hands themselves do reach;
Stumbling on Melons, as I pass,
Insnared with Flow'rs, I fall on Grass.[8]
Meanwhile[9] the Mind, from pleasure less,
Withdraws into its happiness:
The Mind, that Ocean where each kind
Does streight its own resemblance find;[10]
Yet it creates, transcending these,
Far other Worlds, and other Seas;
Annihilating all that's made
To a green Thought[11] in a green Shade.[12]
Here at the Fountains sliding foot,
Or at some Fruit-trees mossy root,
Casting the Bodies Vest aside,
My Soul into the boughs does glide;
There like a Bird it sits, and sings,
Then whets, and combs its silver Wings;
And, till prepar'd for longer flight,
Waves in its Plumes the various Light.[13]
Such was that happy Garden-state,
While Man there walked without a Mate:
After a place, so pure and sweet,
What other Help could yet be meet!
But 'twas beyond a Mortal's share
To wander solitary there:
Two Paradises 'twere in one
To live in Paradise alone.[14]
How well the skilful Gardner drew
Of flow'rs and herbs this dial new;[15]
Where from above the milder Sun
Does through a fragrant Zodiack run;[16]
And, as it works, th' industrious Bee
Computes its time as well as we.
How could such sweet and wholsome Hours
Be reckon'd but with herbs and flow'rs![17]Andrew Marvell @1600's
How vainly[1] men themselves amazeTo win the Palm, the Oke, or Bayes;[2]
And their uncessant Labours see
Crown'd from some single Herb or Tree,
Whose short and narrow verged Shade
Does prudently their Toyles upbraid;
While all Flow'rs and all Trees do close
To weave the Garlands of repose.[3]
Fair quiet, have I found thee here,
And Innocence thy Sister dear!
Mistaken long, I sought you then
In busie Companies of Men.
Your sacred Plants, if here below,
Only among the Plants will grow.[4]
Society is all but rude,
To this delicious Solitude:
No white nor red was ever seen
So am'rous as this lovely green.
Fond Lovers, cruel as their Flame,
Cut in these Trees their Mistress name.
Little, Alas, they know or heed,
How far these Beauties Hers exceed!
Fair trees! where s'eer your barkes I wound,
No Name shall but your own be found.
When we have run our Passion' heat,
Love hither makes his best retreat.
The Gods, that mortal Beauty chase,
Still in a Tree did end their race.Apollo hunted Daphne[5] so,
Only that She might Laurel grow;
And Pan did after Syrinx[6] speed,
Not as a Nymph, but for a Reed.
What wond'rous life in this I lead![7]
Ripe Apples drop about my head;
The Luscious Clusters of the Vine
Upon my Mouth do crush their Wine;
The Nectaren, and curious Peach,
Into my hands themselves do reach;
Stumbling on Melons, as I pass,
Insnared with Flow'rs, I fall on Grass.[8]
Meanwhile[9] the Mind, from pleasure less,
Withdraws into its happiness:
The Mind, that Ocean where each kind
Does streight its own resemblance find;[10]
Yet it creates, transcending these,
Far other Worlds, and other Seas;
Annihilating all that's made
To a green Thought[11] in a green Shade.[12]
Here at the Fountains sliding foot,
Or at some Fruit-trees mossy root,
Casting the Bodies Vest aside,
My Soul into the boughs does glide;
There like a Bird it sits, and sings,
Then whets, and combs its silver Wings;
And, till prepar'd for longer flight,
Waves in its Plumes the various Light.[13]
Such was that happy Garden-state,
While Man there walked without a Mate:
After a place, so pure and sweet,
What other Help could yet be meet!
But 'twas beyond a Mortal's share
To wander solitary there:
Two Paradises 'twere in one
To live in Paradise alone.[14]
How well the skilful Gardner drew
Of flow'rs and herbs this dial new;[15]
Where from above the milder Sun
Does through a fragrant Zodiack run;[16]
And, as it works, th' industrious Bee
Computes its time as well as we.
How could such sweet and wholsome Hours
Be reckon'd but with herbs and flow'rs![17]Andrew Marvell @1600's
As we have the Sun on the increase we begin our planting for the Spring. We are in the South and are starting our peppers and eggplants inside. The tomatos will be started inside in the next week or two. Larkspur and Bachelor Buttons are also in along with Poppies.
The winter garden is in high gear. This year ,it looks like I might be able to winter over my peppers from the summer! The chocolate bells are still giving fruit and the Ho Chi Mihn are flowering!
A child can learn more from a garden than from any classroom.
Plant something. Look at the wasted yard space and make a commitment to your family and your Creator to give back in the most important way. Begin this NEW YEAR with life!
Beautiful Perfect fodder for thought as the new year spins into being. Thank you!
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