DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50017#0113
THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS
33
common, if at all known in Italy, at that time, or long
after, though the fruit be now so frequent there in
fields (at least in some parts) and make so common and
delicious a part of gardening, even in these northern
climates.
’Tis certain those noble fruits, the citron, the orange
and the lemon, are the native product of those noble
regions, Assyria, Media and Persia ; and though they
have been from thence transplanted and propagated in
many parts of Europe, yet they have not arrived at
such perfection in beauty, taste or virtue as in their
native soil and climate. This made it generally
observed among the Greeks and Romans, that the
fruits of the East far excelled those of the West. And
several writers had trifled away their time in deducing
the reasons of this difference, from the more benign
or powerful influences of the rising sun. But there is
nothing more evident to any man that has the least
knowledge of the globe, and gives himself leave to
think, than the folly of such wise reasons, since the
regions that are east to us, are west to some others ;
and the sun rises alike to all that lie in the same latitude,
with the same heat and virtue upon its first approaches,
as well as in its progress. Besides, if the eastern fruits
were the better only for that position of climate, then
D
33
common, if at all known in Italy, at that time, or long
after, though the fruit be now so frequent there in
fields (at least in some parts) and make so common and
delicious a part of gardening, even in these northern
climates.
’Tis certain those noble fruits, the citron, the orange
and the lemon, are the native product of those noble
regions, Assyria, Media and Persia ; and though they
have been from thence transplanted and propagated in
many parts of Europe, yet they have not arrived at
such perfection in beauty, taste or virtue as in their
native soil and climate. This made it generally
observed among the Greeks and Romans, that the
fruits of the East far excelled those of the West. And
several writers had trifled away their time in deducing
the reasons of this difference, from the more benign
or powerful influences of the rising sun. But there is
nothing more evident to any man that has the least
knowledge of the globe, and gives himself leave to
think, than the folly of such wise reasons, since the
regions that are east to us, are west to some others ;
and the sun rises alike to all that lie in the same latitude,
with the same heat and virtue upon its first approaches,
as well as in its progress. Besides, if the eastern fruits
were the better only for that position of climate, then
D