fion to the illuftrious Duke of Somerfet. I dare not attempt your Grace's character, which would have been a proportioned task for the mighty genius of Cowley himself : I will only prefume to say, (and have all mankind to abet me) that your Grace is accomplished with all those noble qualifications which his elevated Mufe would have chofen to celebrate. Virtue and honour were the themes he delighted in, and would have been transported to have seen, in his own age and climate, an example that might compare with the most noble of the ancient Romans. Besides the advantages of birth and quality, your Grace is en dowed with fuch greatnefs of foul, fuch piety of mind, fuch generofity of temper, with all those charms of condescending goodness and courtesy, as have, even in your blooming years, procured you an universal love and admiration: it is upon these accounts that the Muses claim a share in your favour; it has in all times, been the province of the moft worthy to patronize wit and learning.

Carmen amat quifquis carmine dignus. It is from thence I am encouraged (at least in behalf of my fellow-undertakers) to entitle your Grace to the version of this Latin volume, which we hope is not fo much difpirited by the Transfufion, but that a modeft cenfure may in a manner allow it to be Cowley's ftill. Could we have done him that right which

he performed to the best of the Latin poets, it might confidently take fanctuary under your Grace's name. However, I may conclude myfelf fafer in this Tranflation than in any original which I was capable of defigning. I fuppofe, in setting forward this Work, that every Englishman, as far as was poffible, should be master of their beloved Cowley entire, and hope your Grace will approve my zeal, if not the performance; at least I will have recourfe to that indulgence you never fail of extending to your petitioners, and beg the honour of subscribing myself, with all fincerity,

Your Grace's

moft devoted humble fervant,

N. TATE.

TO HIS TWO FIRST BOOKS

OF PLANTS:

PUBLISHED BEFORE THE REST.

CONSIDERING the incredible veneration which the beft poets always had for gardens, fields, and woods, infomuch that in all other fubjects they seemed to be banished from the Mufes' territories, I wondered what evil planet was fo malicious to the breed of Plants, as to permit none of the inspired tribe to celebrate their beauty and admirable virtues; certainly a copious field of matter, and what would yield them a plentiful return of fruit, where each particular, besides its pleasant history, (the extent whereof every body, or, to speak more truly, no body, can fufficiently understand) contains the whole fabrick of human frame, and a complete body of phyfick : from whence I am induced to believe, that those great men did not fo much think them improper fubjects of poetry, as difcouraged by the greatness and almost inexplicable variety of the matter, and that they were unwilling to begin a work which they despaired of finishing. I, therefore, who am but a pigmy in learning, and scarce fufficient to exprefs the virtues of the vile fea-weed, attempt that work which those giants declined! Yet wherefore should I not attempt? forafmuch as they

difdained to take up with lefs then comprehending the whole, and I am proud of conquering fome part. I fhall think it reputation enough for me to have my name carved on the barks of fome Trees, or (what is reckoned a royal prerogative) infcribed upon a few Flowers. You must not, therefore, expect to find fo many Herbs collected for this fardel as fometimes go to the compounding of one fingle medicine; thele two little Books are therefore offered as small pills made up of fundry Herbs, and gilt with a certain brightness of ftyle; in the choice whereof I have not much laboured, but took them as they came to hand, there being none amongst them which contained not plenty of juice, if it were drawn out according to art; none fo infipid that would not afford matter for a whole book, if well contracted. The method which 1 judged most genuine and proper for this Work, was not to prefs out their liquor crude, in a fimple enumeration, but as it were in a limbeck, by the gentle heat of poetry, to diftil and extract their fpirits: nor have I chofen to put them together which had affinity in nature, that might create a difguft for want of variety; rather connected thofe of the most different qualities, that their contrary colours, being mixed, might the better fet off each other.

I have added fhort Notes, not for oftentation of learning, (whereof there is no occafion here offered; for what is more eafy than to turn over one or tw Volume III.

B

herbalifts?) but because that, befide physicians, (whom I pretend not to instruct, but divert) there are few so well versed in the history of Plants as to be acquainted with the names of them all: it is a part of philofophy that lies out of the common road of learning. To fuch perfons I was to fupply the place of a lexicon. But for the fake of the very Plants themselves, left the treating of them in a poetical way might derogate from their real merit, and that should seem not to attribute to them thofe faculties wherewith Nature has endued them, (who studies what is best to be done, not what is moft capable of verbal ornaments) but to have feigned thofe qualities which would afford the greatest matter for pomp and empty pleasure: for, because poets are fometimes allowed to make fictions, and fome have too exceffively abufed that liberty, truft is fo wholly denied to us, that we may not without hesitation be believed when we fay,

O Laertiate, quicquid dicam, aut erit, aut non.

Hor. Serm. 25.

I wastherefore willing to cite proper witnesses, that is, fuch as wrote in loofe and free profe, which, compared with verfe, bears the authority of an oath. I have yet contented myfelf with two of those, (which is the number required by law) Pliny and Fernelius I have chiefly made choice of, the first being an author of unquestioned Latin, and the latter amongst the Moderns of the trueft fentiments, and no ill mafer of expreffion. If any except against the former,