A Dialogue upon the Gardens of the Right Honorouble the Lord Viscount Cobham at Stow in BuckinghamshireGilpin, William
Philosophy
A Dialogue upon the Gardens of the Right Honorouble the Lord Viscount Cobham at Stow in Buckinghamshire
Gilpin, William
Cobham, Richard Temple, Viscount, 1669?-1749; Landscape gardening -- Early works to 1800
_Polypth._ Yes; but I am apt to attribute this rather to the Imagination
of their Sculptors, than their Priests. To _shew Art_, rather than to
_express Religion_, was the Point aimed at in these enchanting Pieces of
Workmanship.----But when Superstition acted without Controul; when the
fantastic Notions of Priests were put into the Hands of ordinary
Workmen, even amongst the polite _Greeks_ and _Romans_ themselves, Lord!
what misshapen Monsters crouded into Temples, and reared themselves
aloft above Altars! Search other Countries likewise, _Egypt_ and
_Africa_, _China_ and _Japan_, or any Place either ancient or modern,
where Superstition prevails, and I dare engage in the whole Catalogue of
their Deities you will scarce meet with one that bears any thing like
the human Shape.
_Calloph._ Why their Demi-Gods, or canonized Heroes, of which all pagan
Nations had Abundance, were generally I fancy represented in the human
Form. And these _Saxon_ Divinities, I suppose, pretend not to any
superior Rank----But however, as no Degree of Veneration is exacted
from you, you may I think let them rest quietly upon their Pedestals,
without any farther Molestation.----We have a good View into the
Country from hence. Those Woods are extremely elegant in their kind; we
must certainly contrive to take a Ride thither some Evening. They are
laid out in a very fine Manner, and cut into very beautiful Ridings.
_Polypth._ Ay, that is the kind of Improvement that takes most with me
(let us step in here a Moment, we are caught I see in a Shower). I am
altogether of the Poet's Opinion, that
_'Tis _Use_ alone that sanctifies Expence._
Were I a Nobleman, I should endeavour to turn my Estate into a Garden,
and make my Tenants my Gardiners: Instead of useless Temples, I would
build Farm-houses; and instead of cutting out unmeaning Vistas, I would
beautify and mend Highways: The Country should smile upon my Labours,
and the Public should partake in my Pleasures. What signifies all this
ostentatious Work? Is any Man the better for it? Is it not Money most
vilely squandered away?
_Calloph._ So far from it, that I assure you, considered even in a
public Light, I look upon it as an Expence that may very properly be
said to be sanctified by _Use_.
_Polypth._ I suppose you are going to tell me that it feeds two or
three poor Labourers; and when you have said this, I know not what more
you can say to defend it. But how is it possible for a Man to throw away
his Money without doing some Service in the World?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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