confirmed from the commending pen of Varro, Quintilian, and handsome description of Virgil.[A 1]
That the first plantations not long after the flood were disposed after this manner, the generality and antiquity of this order observed in vineyards, and vine plantations, affordeth some conjecture. And since, from judicious enquiry, Saturn, who divided the world between his three sons, who beareth a sickle in his hand, who taught the plantations of vines, the setting, grafting of trees, and the best part of agriculture, is discovered to be Noah,—whether this early dispersed husbandry in vineyards had not its original in that patriarch, is no such paralogical doubt.
And if it were clear that this was used by Noah after the flood, I could easily believe it was in use before it:—not willing to fix to such ancient inventions no higher original than Noah; nor readily conceiving those aged heroes, whose diet was vegetable, and only or chiefly consisted in the fruits of the earth, were much deficient in their splendid cultivations, or (after the experience of fifteen hundred years,) left much for future discovery in botanical agriculture; nor fully persuaded that wine was the invention of Noah, that fermented liquors, which often make themselves, so long escaped their luxury or experience, that the first sin of the new world was no sin of the old; that Cain and Abel were the first that offered sacrifice; or because the Scripture is silent, that Adam or Isaac offered none at all.
Whether Abraham, brought up in the first planting country, observed not some rule hereof, when he planted a grove at Beer-sheba; or whether at least a like ordination were not in the garden of Solomon, probability may contest; answerably unto the wisdom of that eminent botanologer, and orderly disposer of all his other works. Especially since this was one piece of gallantry, wherein he pursued the specious part of felicity, according to his own description: "I made me gardens and orchards, and planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water there-
- ↑
Indulge ordinibus, nec secius omnis in unguem
Arboribus positis, secto via limite quadret. Georg. ii.
