But if (as some opinion) [SN: Plutarch _in the life of_ Artaxerxes.] King _Ahasuerus_ were _Artaxerxes Mnemon_, that found a life and reign answerable unto his great memory, our magnified _Cyrus_ was his second brother: who gave the occasion of that memorable work, and almost miraculous retrait of _Xenophon_. A person of high spirit and honour, naturally a King, though fatally prevented by the harmlesse chance of _post_-geniture: Not only a Lord of Gardens, but a manuall planter thereof: disposing his trees like his armies in regular ordination. So that while old _Laertas_ hath found a name in _Homer_ for pruning hedges, and clearing away thorns and bryars; while King _Attalus_ lives for his poysonous plantations of _Aconites_, Henbane, Hellebore, and plants hardly admitted within the walls of Paradise; While many of the Ancients do poorly live in the single names of Vegetables; All stories do look upon _Cyrus_, as the splendid and regular planter. According whereto _Xenophon_[113] describeth his gallant plantation at _Sardis_, thus rendered by _Stobæus, Arbores pari intervallo sitas, rectos ordines, et omnia perpulchrè in Quincuncem directa_.[114] Which we shall take for granted as being accordingly rendered by the most elegant of the Latines;[115] and by no made term, but in use before by _Varro_. That is, the rows and orders so handsomely disposed; or five trees so set together, that a regular angularity, and through prospect, was left on every side. Owing this name not only unto the Quintuple number of Trees, but the figure declaring that number, which being doubled at the angle, makes up the Letter Χ, that is the Emphatical decussation, or fundamental figure. [113] Xenophon in Oeconomico. [114] Καλὰ μὲν τὰ δένδρα, διʼ ἴσου δὲ τὰ πεφυτευμένα, ὀρθοὶ δὲ ὁι στίχοι τῶν δένδρον, εὐγώνεα δὲ πάντα καλῶς [115] Cicero iæ Cat. Major. Now though in some ancient and modern practice the _area_ or decussated plot, might be a perfect square, answerable to a _Tuscan Pedestal_, and the _Quinquernio_ or Cinque-point of a die; wherein by Diagonal lines the intersection was regular; accommodable unto Plantations of large growing Trees; and we must not denie our selves the advantage of this order; yet shall we chiefly insist upon that of _Curtius_[116] and _Porta_, in their brief description hereof. Wherein the _decussis_ is made within a longilateral square, with oposite angles, acute and obtuse at the intersection; and so upon progression making a _Rhombus_ or Lozenge figuration, which seemeth very agreeable unto the Original figure; Answerable whereunto we observe the decussated characters in many consulary coynes, and even in those of _Constantine_ and his Sons, which pretend their pattern in the Sky; the crucigerous Ensigne carried this figure, not transversly or rectangularly intersected, but in a decussation, after the form of an _Andrean_ or _Burgundian_ cross, which answereth this description.