Two of the principal fronts of Sion House command very beautiful scenery; for even the Thames itself appears to belong to the gardens, which are separated into two parts by a serpentine river that communicates with the Thames. The gardens were principally laid out by Brown: they have, however, been lately improved and re-arranged; and the kitchen-garden is almost unequalled by any thing in the kingdom. Here is a range of hothouses upwards of 400 feet in length, constructed of metal, even to the wall-plates, the doors, and framing of the sashes; the whole being glazed with plate-glass. It is impossible for us to describe the extent and completeness of these improvements, connected with which, Mr. Loudon observes--"nothing can be more gratifying than to see a nobleman employing a part of his income in so judicious and spirited a manner."[1] [1] Mr Loudon promises an account of these improvements for the next number of his valuable _Gardener's Magazine_. * * * * * RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS. * * * * * MONKISH VERSES. (For the _Mirror_.) MIRROR, vol. xii. pp. 98, 165. The following is said to have been the epitaph on the tomb of Fair Rosamond, at Godstow:-- _Hic jacet in tomba, Rosamundae non Rosamundi, Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet_. TRANSLATED. Within this tomb lies the world's fairest rose; Whose scent now charms not, but offends the nose. MIRROR, vol. xiii. p. 98. The couplet on York Minster, translated. As of all flowers the rose is still the sweetest, So of all churches this is the completest. On the stone in the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. _Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque loquitur, Inveniant lapidem, regnare teneter ibidem_. TRANSLATED. Unless old proverbs fail, and wizard's wits be blind, The Scots shall surely reign, where'er this stone they find. Luther sent a glass to Dr. Justus Jonas, with the following verses:-- _Dat vitrum vitro, Jonae, vitro ipse Lutherus, Se similem ut fragili noscat uterque vitro_. TRANSLATED. Luther a glass, to Jonas Glass, a glass doth send, That both may know ourselves to be but glass, my friend. PRIOR. MIRROR, vol. xii. p. 184. Prior's epitaph on himself was parodied as follows:-- Hold Mathew Prior, by your leave, Your epitaph is very odd: Bourbon and you are sons of Eve, Nassau the offspring of a God. Which being shewn to Swift he wrote the following:-- Hold, Mathew Prior, by your leave, Your epitaph is barely civil; Bourbon and you are sons of Eve, Nassau the offspring of the devil. In the "Spectator," is part of an epitaph by Ben Jonson, on Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, and sister of Sir Philip Sidney. The following is the whole, taken from the first edition of Jonson's works, collected as they were published:--