THE LADIES DELIGHT. CONTAINING, I. An Address to all _well provided_ HIBERNIANS; II. The ARBOR VITAE; or, Tree of Life. A Poem. Shewing whence it took it's _Root_, and has spread its _Leaves_ over all Christendom; being extremely useful to _Students_ in all _Branches_ of polite Literature. III. The Natural History of the ARBOR VITAE; or, The Tree of Life, in Prose; printed from the Original Manuscript. IV. RIDOTTO al' FRESCO. A Poem. Describing the Growth of this Tree in the famous _Spring Gardens_ at _Vaux-Hall_, under the Care of that ingenious _Botanist_ Doctor H----GG----R. * * * * * _RES est severa Voluptas_. * * * * * _LONDON_: Printed for _W. James_ in the _Strand_, 1732 [Price Six-pence.] * * * * * AN ADDRESS TO ALL _Well provided_ HIBERNIANS. _Gentlemen_, As Nature hath been so _very Indulgent_ to ye, as to stock your Gardens with _Trees_ of the _largest Growth_, for which Reason ye are caress'd, whilst Men of _less Parts_, tho' in _some Things_ more deserving, are laugh'd at, and excluded all Company. As all Infants, especially of the Female Sex, are much delighted with Fruit, so as their Years and other Appetites increase, no Wonder if that increases too. Both Men and Beasts have _some-thing_ or another, for which they are esteem'd; so ye being in a particular manner Happy in this _Talent_, may securely laugh, while ye daily _grow_ in the Ladies Favour, and spread your _Branches_ over all the Kingdom: Many a hopeful _Stick of Wood_ has been produc'd by this glorious Tree, who after they had _piss'd_ their Estates against the Wall (as the good Housewives term it) have by the Strength of true _Hibernian_ Prowess rais'd themselves to the Favour of some fair Virtuoso, and being by her _plac'd in a HOT-BED_, have been restor'd to their pristine Strength, and flourish'd again; and like true Heroes, not envying the busy World, have been content to _spend_ the remainder of their Days in an obscure Nook of the World. Thus, Gentlemen, and as all Poets chuse the most Worthy to patronize their Works, I humbly offer ye the following Poem, and that you may still continue as ye now are; that your Trees may ever flourish, your _Green-houses_ be secure, nor your _young Plants_ be ever nipt in the _Bud_, and that you may ever _stand_ against all _Cracks_, Storms, Tempests, and _Eruptions_, _Is the hearty Wishes of Your's_, BOTANICUS. THE Natural HISTORY OF THE TREE of LIFE. The Tree of which I fain would sing, If the kind Muse her Aid would bring, Is _Arbor Vitae_; but in brief, By vulgar Men call'd--_Tree of Life_.