The Garden Ambition Quotes

Right off the bat, we see that Marvell thinks people's attempt to earn recognition in the public sphere is "vain" and misguided

In classical times, crowns of palm, oak, and laurel were symbols of public recognition and respect

It sounds like our speaker may have been striving for some recognition in the public sphere once a upon a time, too. Perhaps he's come to these realizations the hard way.