DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50017#0135
THE GARDENS OF EPICURUS
55
Colony, upon the Cape de Buen Esperace, is admir-
able, and described to be an oblong figure, of very
large extent, and divided into four quarters by long
and cross walks, ranged with all sorts of orange-
trees, lemons, limes and citrons; each of these four
quarters is planted with the trees, fruits, flowers and
plants that are native and proper to each of the four
parts of the world ; so as in this one enclosure are
to be found the several gardens of Europe, Asia,
Africa and America. There could not be, in my
mind, a greater thought of a gardener, nor a nobler
idea of a garden, not better suited or chosen for the
climate, which is about thirty degrees, and may pass
for the Hesperides of our age, whatever or wherever
the other was. Yet this is agreed by all to have been
in the islands or continent upon the south-west of
Africa, but what their forms or their fruits were,
none, that I know, pretend to tell ; nor whether their
golden apples were for taste, or only for sight, as those
of Montezuma were in Mexico, who had large trees,
with stocks, branches, leaves and fruits, all admirably
composed and wrought of gold ; but this was only
stupendous in cost and art, and answers not at all, in
my opinion, the delicious varieties of Nature in other-
gardens.
55
Colony, upon the Cape de Buen Esperace, is admir-
able, and described to be an oblong figure, of very
large extent, and divided into four quarters by long
and cross walks, ranged with all sorts of orange-
trees, lemons, limes and citrons; each of these four
quarters is planted with the trees, fruits, flowers and
plants that are native and proper to each of the four
parts of the world ; so as in this one enclosure are
to be found the several gardens of Europe, Asia,
Africa and America. There could not be, in my
mind, a greater thought of a gardener, nor a nobler
idea of a garden, not better suited or chosen for the
climate, which is about thirty degrees, and may pass
for the Hesperides of our age, whatever or wherever
the other was. Yet this is agreed by all to have been
in the islands or continent upon the south-west of
Africa, but what their forms or their fruits were,
none, that I know, pretend to tell ; nor whether their
golden apples were for taste, or only for sight, as those
of Montezuma were in Mexico, who had large trees,
with stocks, branches, leaves and fruits, all admirably
composed and wrought of gold ; but this was only
stupendous in cost and art, and answers not at all, in
my opinion, the delicious varieties of Nature in other-
gardens.