Ca. I’m out of the poetical Vein.

Cura cui est, ut niteat hortus flosculis ac foetibus,
Negligenti excolere pectus disciplinis optimis;
Hic labore, mihi ut videtur, ringitur praepostero.

Whose only Care is that his Gardens be
With Flow’rs and Fruits furnish’d most pleasantly,
But disregards his Mind with Art to grace,
Bestows his Pains and Care much like an Ass._

Hi. You han’t bit your Nails for nothing.

Eu. Well, since my Turn is next, that I may do something,

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.

Ca.  As among Trees, every one hath its Fruits:  So among Men, every one hath his natural Gift.

Eu.  As the Earth, if it be till’d, brings forth various Things for human Use; and being neglected, is covered with Thorns and Briars:  So the Genius of a Man, if it be accomplish’d with honest Studies, yields a great many Virtues; but if it be neglected, is over-run with various Vices.

Sb.  A Garden ought to be drest every Year, that it may look handsome:  The Mind being once furnish’d with good Learning, does always flourish and spring forth.

Pa.  As the Pleasantness of Gardens does not draw the Mind off from honest Studies, but rather invites it to them:  So we ought to seek for such Recreations and Divertisements, as are not contrary to Learning.

Hi. O brave!  I see a whole Swarm of Sentences.  Now for Verse:  But before we go upon that, I am of the Mind, it will be no improper nor unprofitable Exercise to turn the first Sentence into Greek Verse, as often as we have turn’d it into Latin. And let Leonard begin, that has been an old Acquaintance of the Greek Poets.