The Mower Against Gardens

The poem

Luxurious Man, to bring his Vice in use, Did after him the World seduce: And from the Fields the Flow'rs and Plants allure, Where Nature was most plain and pure. He first enclos'd within the Gardens square A dead and standing pool of Air: And a more luscious Earth for them did knead, Which stupifi'd them while it fed. The Pink grew then as double as his Mind; The nutriment did change the kind. With strange perfumes he did the Roses taint. And Flow'rs themselves were taught to paint. The Tulip, white, did for complexion seek; And learn'd to interline its cheek: Its Onion root they then so high did hold, That one was for a Meadow sold. Another World was search'd, though Oceans new, To find the Marvel Of Peru. And yet these Rarities might be allow'd, To Man, that Sov'raign thing and proud; Had he not dealt between the Bark and Tree, Forbidden mixtures there to see. No Plant now knew the Stock from which it came; He grafts upon the Wild the Tame: That the uncertain and adult'rate fruit Might put the Palate in dispute. His green Seraglio has its Eunuchs too; Lest any Tyrant him out-doe. And in the Cherry he does Nature vex, To procreate without a Sex. 'Tis all enforc'd; the Fountain and the Grot; While the sweet Fields do lye forgot: Where willing Nature does to all dispence A wild and fragrant Innocence: And Fauns and Faryes do the Meadows till, More by their presence then their skill. Their Statues polish'd by some ancient hand, May to adorn the Gardens stand: But howso'ere the Figures do excel, The Gods themselves with us do dwell.