_Qui studet ut variis niteat cultissimus hortus
Deliciis, patiens animum squalere, nec ullis
Artibus expoliens, huic est praepostera cura.
Who cares to have his Garden neat and rare.
And doth of Ornaments his Mind leave bare,
Acts but with a preposterous Care._
We have no Need to spur Sbrulius on, for he is so fluent at Verses, that he oftentimes tumbles 'em out, before he is aware.
Sb. _Cui vernat hortus cultus et elegans,
Nee pectus uttis artibus excolit;
Praepostera is mra laborat.
Sit ratio tibiprima mentis.
Who to make his Garden spring, much Care imparts,
And yet neglects his Mind to grace with Arts,
Acts wrong: Look chiefly to improve thy Parts._
Pa. _Quisquis accurat, variis ut hortus
Floribus vernet, neque pectus idem
Artibus sanctis colit, hunc habet praepostera cura.
Who to his Soul prefers a Flower or worse,
May well be said to set the Cart before the Horse._
Hi. Now let us try to which of us the Garden will afford the most Sentences.
Le. How can so rich a Garden but do that? even this Rose-Bed will furnish me with what to say. As the Beauty of a Rose is fading, so is Youth soon gone; you make haste to gather your Rose before it withers; you ought more earnestly to endeavour that your Youth pass not away without Fruit.
Hi. It is a Theme very fit for a Verse.