The Parterre

piece, which the reader lazily skims as he stirs his chocolate and marmalades his white French roll; or devours, between cool sips of claret, and fragments of short biscuit!

With regard to the Parterre-hers was no obscure origin, holding forth vast promises of future improvement, to atone for incipient meanness; neither was it an ostentatious commencement, miserably falsified by the poverty she betrayed as she proceeded-a golden portico to a swineherd's cabin, a Parian frontispiece to a freebooter's cave.

She started forth at the invocation of Genius, and with modest dignity assumed the grade to which her grace and quality entitled her, on the steps of Fame's Temple. And if to impart information, or afford amusement, be an excellence that claims notice and deserves reward; if the Tale that beguiles the vacant hour, the Essay that draws from the treasure-house of Mind, things old and new, or the Poetry that strikes the true chords of the heart, be as pleasant in perusal as they were painful in composition; then, courteous Public! enter our garden. This is a gala day. Sit by the fountains, for they refresh these glowing airs; lie along the grass-plats, for they are thickly starred with daisies; go-dream in the arbours, for they are of impenetrable shade; pluck the flowers, for so shall they be most honoured.

We have a welcome for every hand, a garland for every brow! but of roses, and myrtle, and laurel, and lilies, shall his chaplet be, who will plant here a flower of his own, that shall add a new odour, a fine colour, and a fresh lustre to the Parterre! Come then, for

Here be woods as green

As any; air likewise, as fresh and sweet,

As where smooth Zephyrus plays on the fleet
Face of the curled streams, with flowers as many
As the young Spring gives, and as choice as any;
Here be all new delights, cool streams and wells,
Arbours o'ergrown with woodbines; caves and dells—
Choose where thou wilt.*

* Beaumont and Fletcher.