The Major Works (English Library) (34 page)
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Authors: Sir Thomas Browne
While some have studied Monuments, others have studiously declined them: and some have been so vainly boisterous, that they durst not acknowledge their Graves; wherein
Alaricus
seems most subtle, who had a River turned to hide his bones at the bottome.
47
Even
Sylla
that thought himself safe in his Urne, could not prevent revenging tongues, and stones thrown at his Monument. Happy are they whom privacy makes innocent, who deal so with men in this world, that they are not afraid to meet them in the next, who when they dye, make no commotion among the dead, and are not toucht with that poeticall taunt of
Isaiah
.
48
Pyramids, Arches, Obelisks
, were but the irregularities of vain-glory, and wilde enormities of ancient magnanimity. But the most magnanimous resolution rests in the Christian Religion, which trampleth upon pride, and sets on the neck of ambition, humbly pursuing that infallible perpetuity, unto which all others must diminish their diameters, and be poorly seen in Angles of contingency.
49
Pious spirits who passed their dayes in raptures of futurity, made little more of this world, then the world that was before it, while they lay obscure in the Chaos of pre-ordination, and night of their fore-beings. And if any have been so happy as truly to understand Christian annihilation, extasis, exolution, liquefaction, transformation, the kisse of the Spouse, gustation of God, and ingression into the divine shadow, they have already had an handsome anticipation of heaven; the glory of the world is surely over, and the earth in ashes unto them.
50
To subsist in lasting Monuments, to live in their productions,
to exist in their names, and prædicament
51
of
Chymera
’s was large satisfaction unto old expectations, and made one part of their
Elyziums
. But all this is nothing in the Metaphysicks of true belief. To live indeed is to be again our selves, which being not only an hope but an evidence in noble beleevers; ’Tis all one to lye in St
Innocents
Church-yard,
52
as in the Sands of
Ægypt
: Ready to be any thing, in the extasie of being ever, and as content with six foot as the Moles of
Adrianus.
53
[
The Garden of Cyrus, or The Quincunciall, Lozenge, or Network Plantations of the Ancients, Artificially, Naturally, Mystically Considered
, was first published jointly with
Hydriotaphia
in 1658. See also the discussion above,
pp. 40
ff.; and for further bibliographical details: below,
p. 554
.]
NICHOLAS BACON
OF GILLINGHAM ESQUIRE
.
1
Had I not observed that Purblinde men have discoursed well of sight, and some without issue, excellently of Generation;
2
I that was never master of any considerable garden, had not attempted this Subject. But the Earth is the Garden of Nature, and each fruitfull Countrey a Paradise.
Dioscorides
made most of his Observations in his march about with
Antonius;
and
Theophrastus
raised his generalities chiefly from the field.
Beside we write no Herball, nor can this Volume deceive you, who have handled the massiest thereof: who know that three Folio’s are yet too little, and how New Herbals fly from
America
upon us, from persevering Enquirers, and old in those singularities, we expect such Descriptions.
3
Wherein
England
is now so exact, that ityeelds not to other Countreys.
4
We pretend not to multiply vegetable divisions by Quincuncial and Reticulate
5
plants; or erect a new Phytology.
6
The Field of knowledge hath been so traced, it is hard to spring any thing new. Of old things we write something new, If truth may receive addition, or envy will have any thing new; since the Ancients knew the late Anatomicall discoveries, and
Hippocrates
the Circulation.
7
You have been so long out of trite learning, that ’tis hard to finde a
subject proper for you; and if you have met with a Sheet upon this, we have missed our intention. In this multiplicity of writing, bye and barren Themes are best fitted for invention; Subjects so often discoursed confine the Imagination, and fix our conceptions unto the notions of fore-writers. Beside, such Discourses allow excursions, and venially admit of collaterall truths, though at some distance from their principals. Wherein if we sometimes take wide liberty, we are not single, but erre by great example.
8
He that will illustrate the excellency of this order, may easily fail upon so spruce a Subject, wherein we have not affrighted the common Reader with any other Diagramms, then of it self;
9
and have industriously declined illustrations from rare and unknown plants.
Your discerning judgement so well acquainted with that study, will expect herein no mathematicall truths, as well understanding how few generalities and
U finita’s
10
there are in nature. How
Scaliger
hath found exceptions in most Universals of
Aristotle
and
Theophrastus.
How Botanicall Maximes must have fair allowance, and are intolerably currant,
11
if not intolerably over-ballanced by exceptions.
You have wisely ordered your vegetable delights, beyond the reach of exception. The Turks who passt their dayes in Gardens here, will have Gardens also hereafter, and delighting in Flowers on earth, must have Lillies and Roses in Heaven. In Garden Delights ’tis not easie to hold a Mediocrity; that insinuatingpleasure is seldome without some extremity. The Antients venially delighted in flourishing Gardens; Many were Florists that knew not the true use of a Flower; And in
Plinies
dayes none had directly treated of that Subject. Some commendably affected Plantations of venemous Vegetables,
12
some confined their delights unto single plants, and
Cato
seemed to dote upon Cabbage; While the
Ingenuous delight of Tulipists, stands saluted with hard language, even by their own Professors.
13
That in this Garden Discourse, we range into extraneous things, and many parts of Art and Nature, we follow herein the example of old and new Plantations, wherein noble spirits contented not themselves with Trees, but by the attendance of Aviaries, Fish Ponds, and all variety of Animals, they made their gardens the Epitome of the earth, and some resemblance of the secular shows of old.
That we conjoyn these parts of different Subjects, or that this should succeed the other; Your judgement will admit without impute of incongruity; Since the delightfull World comes after death, and Paradise succeeds the Grave.
14
Since the verdant state of things is the Symbole of the Resurrection, and to flourish in the state of Glory, we must first be sown in corruption.
15
Beside the antient practise of Noble Persons, to conclude in Garden-Graves, and Urnes themselves of old, to be wrapt up in flowers and garlands.
Nullum sine venia placuisse eloquium,
16
is more sensibly understood by Writers, then by Readers; nor well apprehended by either, till works have hanged out like
Apelles
his Pictures;
17
wherein even common eyes will finde something for emendation.
To wish all Readers of your abilities, were unreasonably to multiply the number of Scholars beyond the temper of these times. But unto this ill-judging age, we charitably desire a portion of your equity, judgement, candour, and ingenuity; wherein you are so rich, as not to lose by diffusion. And being a flourishing branch of that Noble Family,
18
unto which we owe so much observance, you are not new set, but long rooted in
such perfection; whereof having had so lasting confirmation in your worthy conversation, constant amity, and expression; and knowing you a serious Student in the highest
arcana’s
of Nature; with much excuse we bring these low delights, and poor maniples
19
to your Treasure
.
Norwich
May 1.
[1658]
Your affectionate Friend
and Servant,
THOMAS BROWNE
[See
p. 320, note 9
]
OR
,
THE QUINCUNCIALL
,
LOZENGE
,
OR NET
-
WORK PLANTATIONS OF THE ANCIENTS
,
ARTIFICIALLY
,
NATURALLY
,
MYSTICALLY CONSIDERED
CHAPTER I
1
That
Vulcan
gave arrows unto
Apollo
and
Diana
the fourth day after their Nativities, according to Gentile Theology, may passe for no blinde apprehension of the Creation of the Sunne and Moon, in the work of the fourth day; When the diffused light contracted into Orbes, and shooting rayes, of those Luminaries.
2
Plainer Descriptions there are from Pagan pens, of the creatures of the fourth day; While the divine Philosopher unhappily omitteth the noblest part of the third;
3
And
Ovid
(whom many conceive to have borrowed his description from
Moses
) coldly deserting the remarkable account of the text, in three words,
4
describeth this work of the third day; the vegetable creation, and first ornamentall Scene of nature; the primitive food of animals, and first story of Physick,
5
in Dietetical conservation.
For though Physick may pleade high, from that medicall act of God, in casting so deep a sleep upon our first Parent; And Chirurgery
6
finde its whole art, in that one passage concerning
the Rib of
Adam
, yet is there no rivality with
7
Garden contrivance and Herbery. For if Paradise were planted the third day of the Creation, as wiser Divinity concludeth, the Nativity thereof was too early for Horoscopie; Gardens were before Gardiners, and but some hours after the earth.
8
Of deeper doubt is its Topography, and locall designation, yet being the primitive garden, and without much controversie seated in the East;
9
it is more then probable the first curiosity, and cultivation of plants, most flourished in those quarters. And since the Ark of
Noah
first toucht upon some mountains of
Armenia
,
10
the planting art arose again in the East, and found its revolution not far from the place of its Nativity, about the Plains of those Regions. And if
Zoroaster
were either
Cham, Chus
, or
Mizraim
, they were early proficients therein, who left (as
Pliny
delivereth) a work of Agriculture.
11
However the account of the Pensill or hanging gardens of
Babylon
, if made by
Semiramis
, the third or fourth from
Nimrod
, is of no slender antiquity; which being not framed upon ordinary levell of ground, but raised upon pillars, admitting under-passages, we cannot accept as the first
Babylonian
Gardens; But a more eminent progress and advancement in that art, then any that went before it: Somewhat answering or hinting the old Opinion concerning Paradise it self, with many conceptions
12
elevated, above the plane of the Earth.
Nebuchodonosor
whom some will have to be the famous
Syrian
King of
Diodorus
, beautifully repaired that City; and so magnificently built his hanging gardens; that from succeeding Writers he had the honour of the first.
13
From whence overlooking
Babylon
, and all the Region about it, he found no circumscription to the eye of his ambition, till over-delighted with the bravery of this Paradise; in his melancholy metamorphosis,
14
he found the folly of that delight, and a proper punishment, in the contrary habitation, in wilde plantations and wandrings of the fields.
The
Persian
Gallants who destroyed this Monarchy, maintained their Botanicall bravery. Unto whom we owe the very name of Paradise:
15
wherewith we meet not in Scripture before the time of
Solomon
, and conceived originally
Persian
. The word for that disputed Garden, expressing in the Hebrew no more then a Field enclosed, which from the same Root is content to derive a garden and a Buckler.
Cyrus
the elder brought up in Woods and Mountains, when time and power enabled, pursued the dictate of his education, and brought the treasures of the field into rule and circumscription. So nobly beautifying the hanging Gardens of
Babylon
, that he was also thought to be the authour thereof.
Ahasuerus
(whom many conceive to have been
Artaxerxes Longi-manus
) in the Countrey and City of Flowers,
16
and in an open Garden, entertained his Princes and people, while
Vasthi
more modestly treated the Ladies within the Palace thereof.
But if (as some opinion) King
Ahasuerus
were
Artaxerxes Mnemon
, that found a life and reign answerable unto his great memory, our magnified Cyrus was his second
17
Brother: who gave the occasion of that memorable work, and almost miraculous retrait of
Xenophon
.
18
A person of high spirit and honour, naturally a King, though fatally prevented by the harmlesse chance of
post
-geniture: Not only a Lord of Gardens, but a manuall planter thereof: disposing his trees like his armies in regular ordination.
19
So that while old
Laertas
hath found a
name in
Homer
for pruning hedges, and clearing away thorns and bryars;
20
while King
Attalus
lives for his poysonous plantations of
Aconites
, Henbane, Hellebore, and plants hardly admitted within the walls of Paradise;
21
While many of the Ancients do poorly live in the single names of Vegetables;
22
All stories do look upon
Cyrus
, as the splendid and regular planter.
According whereto
Xenophon
describeth his gallant plantation at
Sardis
, thus rendred by
Strebæus. Arbores pari intervallo sitas, rectos ordines, & omnia perpulchre in Quincuncem directa.
23
Which we shall take for granted as being accordingly rendred by the most elegant of the
Latines
;
24
and by no made term, but in use before by
Varro
. That is the rows and orders so handsomly disposed; or five trees so set together, that a regular angularity, and through prospect, was left on every side, Owing this name not only unto the Quintuple number of Trees, but the figure declaring that number. Which being doubled at the angle, makes up the Letter
x
, that is the Emphaticall decussation,
25
or fundamentall figure.
Now though in some ancient and modern practice the
area
or decussated plot, might be a perfect square, answerable to a
Tuscan Pedestall
,
26
and the
Quinquernio
or Cinque-point of a dye; wherein by Diagonall lines the intersection was rectangular;
27
accomodable unto Plantations of large growing Trees; and we must not deny our selves the advantage of this order; yet shall we chiefly insist upon that of
Curtius
and
Porta
,
28
in their brief
description hereof. Wherein the
decussis
is made within a longilaterall square,
29
with opposite angles, acute and obtuse at the intersection; and so upon progression making a
Rhombus
or Lozenge figuration, which seemeth very agreeable unto the Originall figure; Answerable whereunto we observe the decussated characters in many consulary Coynes, and even in those of
Constantine
and his Sons, which pretend their pattern in the Sky;
30
the crucigerous Ensigne carried this figure, not transversly or rectangularly intersected, but in a decussation, after the form of an
Andrean
or
Burgundian
cross,
31
which answereth this description.
Whereby the way we shall decline the old Theme, so traced by antiquity of crosses and crucifixion: Whereof some being right,
32
and of one single peece without traversion or transome,
33
do little advantage our subject. Nor shall we take in the mysticall
Tau
, or the Crosse of our blessed Saviour,
34
which having in some descriptions an
Empedon
35
or crossing foot-stay, made not one single transversion. And since the Learned
Lipsius
hath made some doubt even of the Crosse of St
Andrew
, since some Martyrologicall Histories deliver his death by the generall Name of a crosse, and
Hippolitus
will have him suffer by the sword; we should have enough to make out the received Crosse of that Martyr. Nor shall we urge the
labarum
, and famous Standard of
Constantine
, or make further use thereof, then as the first Letters in the Name of our Saviour Christ,
36
in use among Christians, before the dayes of
Constantine
, to be observed in Sepulchral Monuments of Martyrs,
37
in the Reign of
Adrian
,
and
Antoninus
; and to be found in the Antiquities of the Gentiles, before the advent of Christ, as in the Medall of King
Ρto-lomy
, signed with the same characters, and might be the beginning of some word or name, which Antiquaries have not hit on.
We will not revive the mysterious crosses of
Ægypt
, with circles on their heads, in the breast of
Serapis
, and the hands of their Geniall spirits, not unlike the characters of
Venus
,
38
and looked on by ancient Christians, with relation unto Christ. Since however they first began, the Ægyptians thereby expressed the processe and motion of the spirit of the world, and the diffusion thereof upon the Celestiall and Elementall nature; implyed by a circle and right-lined intersection. A secret in their Telesmes
39
and magicall Characters among them. Though he that considereth the plain crosse
40
upon the head of the Owl in the Laterane Obelisk, or the crosse erected upon a picher diffusing streams of water into two basins, with sprinkling branches in them, and all described upon a two-footed Altar, as in the Hieroglyphicks of the brazen Table of
Bembus
;
41
will hardly decline all thought of Christian signality in them.
We shall not call in the Hebrew
Tenupha
, or ceremony of their Oblations, waved by the Priest unto the four quarters of the world, after the form of a cross;
42
as in the peace-offerings. And if it were clearly made out what is remarkably delivered from the Traditions of the Rabbins, that as the Oyle was powred coronally or circularlly upon the head of Kings, so the High-Priest was anointed decussatively or in the form of a X; though it could not escape a typicall thought
43
of Christ, from mysticall considerators; yet being the conceit is Hebrew, we should rather expect its verification from Analogy in that language, then to confine the same unto the unconcerned Letters of
Greece
, or make it out by the characters of
Cadmus
or
Palamedes
.
Of this Quincunciall Ordination the Ancients practised much discoursed little; and the Moderns have nothing enlarged; which he that more nearly considereth, in the form of its square
Rhombus
, and decussation, with the severall commodities, mysteries, parallelismes, and resemblances, both in Art and Nature, shall easily discern the elegancy of this order.
That this was in some wayes of practice in diverse and distant Nations, hints or deliveries there are from no slender Antiquity. In the hanging Gardens of
Babylon
, from
Abydenus, Eusebius
, and others,
Curtius
describeth this Rule of decussation.
44
In the memorable Garden of
Alcinous
anciently conceived an originall phancy, from Paradise, mention there is of well contrived order; For so hath
Didymus
and
Eustathius
expounded the emphatical word.
45
Diomedes
describing the Rurall possessions of his father, gives account in the same Language of Trees orderly planted.
46
And
Ulysses
being a boy was promised by his Father fourty Figge-trees, and fifty rows of Vines producing all kinde of grapes.
47
That the Eastern Inhabitants of
India
, made use of such order, even in open Plantations, is deducible from
Theophrastus
; who describing the trees whereof they made their garments, plainly delivereth that they were planted
κ
’
ρχ
ονς
,
48
and in such order that at a distance men would mistake them for Vineyards. The same seems confirmed in
Greece
from a singular expression in
Aristotle
49
concerning the order of Vines, delivered by a military term representing the orders of Souldiers, which also confirmeth the antiquity of this form yet used in vineall plantations.