Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

MEMORIALS OF MARY 129
in the aid of a friendly gardener. Among all changes
the Maze has survived. A curious instance of its
fame is to be found in the British Magazine, July
1749, where a Latin poem is devoted to its honour.
This is probably a schoolboy's exercise, but it is worth
quoting: l—
" Hamptoniæ quisquis regales viseret hortos
Hie labyrinthæos novet inesse dolos.
Quos simul ingreditur cStus juvenilisin ipso
Introitu,inprimo limine fallititer.
Deceptipergunt errare, retexere, si qua
Ancipitem possintprogrediendo viam.
Si regredistatuunt eademest fortuna regressis
Implicitos idemdevius error habet.
Compellunt alios alii,ridentque vicissim;
Sedpropequid prodest, et simul esse procul ?
Nec captos tamen illudi cursu atque recursu
Tædet, nec toties est remearelabor.
Scilicet est omnis comiteshabuisse voluptas,
Fallicum soeiis tam patienteramant.
Dulce genus lusus!idemgratissimus error
Decipit,et fessos decipiendo juvat."
A memorial of Queen Mary is still present in
the exotic plants which survive from her collection.
She took considerable interest in botany, employed a
scientist of distinction, and grew many curious specimens.
The Agave americana variegata may still be
seen, which probably was placed in the greenhouse by
the Queen;and the orange trees which are ranged
1 British Magazine,July 1749, P* 299- Mr* Ernest Law's "Guide
to the Palace" refers to the British Magazine for 1747,but this is a
mistake.
I