Ti. Pictures themselves grow old.

Eu. They do so; but yet they out-live us; and besides, whereas we are the worse for Age, they are the better for it.

Ti. That’s too true, if it could be otherwise.

Eu. In this Walk that looks toward the West, I take the Benefit of the Morning Sun; in that which looks toward the East, I take the Cool of the Evening; in that which looks toward the South, but lies open to the North, I take Sanctuary against the Heats of the Meridian Sun; but we’ll walk ’em over, if you please, and take a nearer View of them:  See how green ’tis under Foot, and you have the Beauty of painted Flowers in the very Chequers of the Pavement.  This Wood, that you see painted upon this Wall, affords me a great Variety of Prospect:  For in the first Place, as many Trees as you see, so many Sorts of Trees you see; and all express’d to the Life.  As many Birds as you see, so many Kinds you see; especially if there be any scarce Ones, and remarkable upon any Account.  For as for Geese, Hens, and Ducks, it is not worth While to draw them.  Underneath are four-footed Creatures, or such Birds as live upon the Ground, after the Manner of Quadrupedes.

Ti. The Variety indeed is wonderful, and every Thing is in Action, either doing or saying something.  There’s an Owl sits peeping through the Leaves, what says she?

Eu. She speaks Greek; she says, [Greek:  Sophronei, ou pasin hiptemi], she commands us to act advisedly; I do not fly to all; because an inconsiderate Rashness does not fall out happily to all Persons.  There is an Eagle quarrying upon a Hare, and a Beetle interceding to no Purpose; there is a Wren stands by the Beetle, and she is a mortal Enemy to the Eagle.

Ti. What has this Swallow got in her Mouth?

Eu. The Herb Celandine; don’t you know the Plant? with it, she restores Sight to her blind young Ones.

Ti. What odd Sort of Lizard is this?

Eu. It is not a Lizard, but a Chamaeleon.

Ti. Is this the Chamaeleon, there is so much Talk of?  I thought it had been a Beast twice as big as a Lion, and the Name is twice as long too.

En. This Chamaeleon is always gaping, and always hungry.  This is a wild Fig-Tree, and that is his Aversion.  He is otherwise harmless; and yet the little gaping Creature has Poison in him too, that you mayn’t contemn him.

Ti. But I don’t see him change his Colour.

Eu. True; because he does not change his Place; when he changes his Place, you will see him change his Colour too.

Ti. What’s the Meaning of that Piper?

Eu. Don’t you see a Camel there dancing hard by?

Ti. I see a very pleasant Fancy; the Ape pipes, and the Camel dances.

Eu. But it would require at least three Days to run through the Particulars one by one; it will be enough at present to take a cursory View of them.  You have in the first Spot, all Sorts of famous Plants painted to the Life:  And to increase the Wonder, here are the strongest Poisons in the World, which you may not only look upon, but handle too without Danger.