R. D._Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame

* * * * *

Anonymi elegia ad Lec-

_torem_.

Candide _Poliphilum_ narrantem somnia Lector

auscultes, summo somnia missa polo,

Non operam perdes, non h[ae]c audisse pigebit,

tam varijs mirum rebus abundat opus.

Si grauis & tetricus contemnis erotica, rerum

nosce precor seriem tam bene dispositam.

Abnuis? ac saltem stylus & noua lingua novusq;

sermo grauis, sophia, se rogat aspicias.

Id quoq; sirenuis, geometrica cerne vetusta

plurima milliacis disce referta notis.

Hic sunt Pyramides, therm[ae], ingentesq; Colossi,

ac Obeliscorum forma vetusta patet.

Hic diuersa basis fulget, vari[ae]que column[ae]

illarumq; arcus, Zophora, epistilia,

Et capita atq; trabes, et cum quadrante coron[ae]

symmetria, & quicquid tecta superba facit.

Hic regum cernes exculta palatia, cultus

Nympharum, fontes, egregiasque epulas.

Hinc bicolor chorea est latronum, expressaque tota

in Laberintheis vita hominum tenebris.

Hinc lege de triplici qu[ae] maiestate tonantis

dicat, & in portis egerit ipse tribus._

Polia _qua fuerit forma, quam culta, tryumphos

inde Iouis specta quatuor [ae]thereos.

H[ae]c pr[ae]ter varios affectus narrat amoris,

atque opera & quantum s[ae]uiat ille Deus._

Faultes escaped in the printing.

[Transcriber's Note:

The corrections listed here have been made in the text. In many cases

the printed form is different from that shown under "faults"; these

original forms are given in [brackets].]

+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+

| | | | | |

| 1. | 2 | 38 | I begin of the | I began the |

| 4. | 2 | 8 | member. | members. |

| 6. | 1 | 12 | troake, | trunke, |

| 6. | 2 | 3 | assured, | azur'd. |

| 7. | 1 | 33 | fiing, [fying] | flying. |

| 10 | 1 | 23 | Laborinth, | Laborinths. |

| 10 | 2 | 20 | Palia. | Polia. |

| 11 | 1 | 2 | foote, | fowre. |

| 11 | 1 | 29 | cariec, [carreic] | carrier. |

| 11 | 2 | 3 | backs, [backes] | backe. |

| 12 | 1 | 11 | pecee, [peeee] | peece. |

| 13 | 1 | 3 | adolestency, | adolescency. |

| 13 | 1 | 5 | soliature. | foliature. |

| 14 | 1 | 29 | stone, | sonne. |

| 19 | 2 | 12 | soliature, | foliature. |

| 19 | 2 | 25 | briganine, | brigandine. |

| 19 | 2 | 39 | all. | off. |

+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+

| | | | | |

| 21 | 1 | 38 | subuaging, | suruaighing |

| 21 | 2 | 2 | sardins, [Sardins] | sardius. |

| 22 | 1 | 7 | vanubraces, | vaumbraces. |

| 22 | 1 | 12 | coronie, [Coromie] | coronice. |

| 22 | 2 | 18 | Daphus, | Daphne. |

| 22 | 1 | 28 | chanifered, | chamfered. |

| 22 | 1 | 30 | contract, | contrast. |

| 22 | 2 | 29 | Aehanthis. | Achanthis. |

| 23 | 1 | 12 | hapies, [Hapies] | Harpies. |

| 23 | 1 | 15 | fishen, | fishie. |

| 23 | 2 | 4 | did Anaglipts, | did y^e Anaglipts |

| 23 | 2 | 5 | Briapis, | Briaxes. |

| 24 | 2 | 22 | Andraene, | Andracine. |

| 24 | 2 | 32 | bel flowred | bell flowre. |

| 26 | 2 | 2 | menifis, | memphis. |

| 26 | 2 | 34 | which my, | which with my |

| 28 | 2 | 8 | vastus, [vastues] | vastnes. |

+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+

[Decoration]

Poliphili hypnerotomachia,

Wherein he sheweth, that all humaine and

worldlie things are but a dreame, and but as vanitie it

_selfe. In the setting foorth whereof many things_

are figured worthie of remembrance.

_The Author beginneth his _Hypnerotomachia_, to set downe the hower

and time when in his sleepe it seemed to him that hee was in a quiet

solitarie desart, and vninhabited plaine, and from thence afterward

how he entered vnaduisedly before he was aware, with great feare,

into a darke obscure and vnfrequented wood._

The discription of the morning.

What houre as _Phoebus_[a] issuing foorth, did bewtifie with brightnesse

the forhead of _Leucothea_[b], and appearing out of the Occean waues,

not fully shewing his turning wheeles, that had beene hung vp, but

speedily with his swift horses _Pyrous_ & _Eous_[c], hastning his

course, and giuing a tincture to the Spiders webbes, among the greene

leaues and tender prickles of the Vermilion Roses, in the pursuite

whereof he shewed himselfe most swift & glistering, now vpon the neuer

resting and still moouing waues, he crysped vp his irradient heyres.

[Sidenote a: Ph[ae]bus the Sunne.]

[Sidenote b: Leucothea the morning.]

[Sidenote c: Pyr & Eo, the horses of the Sunne.]

Vppon whose vprising, euen at that instant, the vnhorned Moone

dismounted hir selfe, losing from hir Chariot hir two horses, the one

white and the other browne, and drewe to the Horrison[d] different from

the Hemisphere[e] from whence she came.

[Sidenote d: Horison a circle deuiding the halfe speare of the

firmament from the other halfe which we doe not see.]

[Sidenote e: Hemispere is halfe the compasse of the visible heauen.]

And when as the mountaines and hilles were beautifull, and the northeast

winds had left of to make barraine with the sharpnesse of their blasts,

the tender sprigs to disquiet the moouing reedes, the fenny Bulrush, and

weake Cyprus, to torment the foulding Vines, to trouble the bending

Willowe, and to breake downe the brittle Firre bowghes, vnder the hornes

of the lasciuious Bull, as they do in winter.

At that very houre, as the diuers coulered flowers and greene meades, at

the comming of the sunne of _Hypperion_[f] feare not his burning heate,

being bedued and sprinkled with the Christalline teares of the sweete

morning, when as the _Halcyons_[g] vpon the leuell waues of the stil,

calme, and quiet flowing seas, do build their nests in sight of the

sandie shore, whereas the sorrowfull _Ero_, with scalding sighes did

behold the dolorous and vngrate departure of hir swimming _Leander_[h].

[Sidenote f: Hyperion the Sunne.]

[Sidenote g: Halcyons are certaine byrds which building near the

shore vpon the waues there will be no storme vntill the young be

hatched.]

[Sidenote h: Leander a young man of Abydos, who in swimming ouer

Hellespont (a narow sea) by Byzantium, which parteth Europ from

Asia) to Sestus, was in the sight of his louer Ero of Sestus

drowned, which she seeing, threw hir self down into the sea, and

died with him.]

I lying vpon my bed, an oportune and meet freend to a wearie body, no

creature accompaning me in my chamber, besides the attender vppon my

body, and vsuall night lights, who after that she had vsed diuers

speeches, to the end shee might comfort me, hauing vnderstood before of

me, the originall cause of my hollow and deepe sighes, she indeuored hir

best to moderate, if at least she might, that, my perturbed and

pittifull estate. But when she sawe that I was desirous of sleepe, she

tooke leaue to depart.

Then I being left alone to the high cogitations of loue, hauing passed

ouer a long and tedious night without sleepe, through my barren fortune,

and aduerse constellation, altogether vncomforted and sorrowfull, by

means of my vntimely and not prosperous loue, weeping, I recounted from

point to point, what a thing vnequall loue is: and how fitly one may

loue that dooth not loue: and what defence there may bee made against

the vnaccustomed, yet dayly assaults of loue: for a naked soule

altogether vnarmed, the seditious strife, especially being intestine:

a fresh still setting vpon with vnstable and new thoughts.

In this sort brought to so miserable an estate, and for a long while

plunged in a deepe poole of bitter sorrowes, at length my wandring

sences being wearie to feede still vpon vnsauorie and fayned pleasure,

but directly and without deceit, vppon the rare diuine obiect: whose

reuerende _Idea_ is deeply imprinted within me, and liueth ingrauen in

the secret of my heart, from which proceedeth this so great and

vncessant a strife, continually renuing my cruell torments without

intermission. I began the conditions of those miserable louers, who for

their mistresses pleasures desire their owne deaths, and in their best

delights do think themselues most vnhappie, feeding their framed

passions not otherwise then with fithfull imaginations. And then as a

weary bodye after a sore labour, so I, somewhat in outward shew

qualified, in the payne of my sorrowfull thoughts, and hauing

incloystered and shut vp the course of my distilling teares: whose drops

had watered my pale cheekes, thorow amorous griefe, desired some

needfull rest.

At length my moyst eyes being closed within their bloudshotten and

reddish liddes, presently betwixt a bitter life and a sweet death, I was

in them inuaded and ouercome, with a heauie sleepe, who with my minde

and watchfull spirits, were no pertakers of so high an operation.

Me thought that I was in a large, plaine, and champion place, all greene

and diuersly spotted with many sorted flowerrs, wherby it seemed

passingly adorned. In which by reason of the milde and gentle ayre,

there was a still quyet whisht: Inso much that my attentiue eares did

heare no noyse, neither did any framed speech peirce into them, but with

the gratious beames of the sunne, the sliding time passed.

In which place with a fearefull admiration, looking about me, I sayd

thus to my selfe. Heere appeareth no humaine creature to my sight, nor

syluan beast, flying bird, countrey house, field tent, or shepheards

cote: neyther vpon the gras could I perceiue feeding eyther flock of

sheep, or heard of cattell, or rustike herdman with Oten pipe making

pastorall melodie, but onely taking the benefit of the place, and

quietnesse of the plaine, which assured mee to be without feare,

I directed my course still forward, regarding on eyther side the tender

leaues and thick grasse, which rested vnstirred, without the beholding

of any motion.

At length my ignorant sleepes, brought me into a thick wood, whereinto

being a pritty way entred, I could not tell how to get out of it.

Wherevpon, a soddaine feare inuaded my hart, and diffused it selfe into

euery ioynt, so that my couler began to waxe pale, and the rather by

reason that I was alone, and vnarmed, and could not finde any track or

path, eyther to direct me forward, or lead me back againe. But a darke

wood of thicke bushes, sharpe thornes, tall ashes haled of the Viper,

towgh Elmes beloued of the fruitfull vines, harde Ebony, strong Okes,

soft Beeche, and browne Hasils, who intertaining one anothers branches,

with a naturall goodwill opposed themselues, to resist the entrance of

the gratious sunne shine, with the greene couerture of their innumerable

leaues. And in this sort I found my selfe in a fresh shadowe, a coole

ayre, and a solytarie thicket.

VVherevpon my reason perswaded me to beleeue, that this vast wood, was

onely a receptacle for sauage and hurtfull beasts, as the tusked

Bore, the furious and bloudthirstie Beare, the hissing serpent, and

inuading VVoolfe, against which I was vnprouided to make resistance, but

rayther as a praye sent amongst them, miserablie to haue my flesh and

bones rent and gnawne in peeces.

And thus forecasting the woorst that might follow, I was resolued not to

abide there, but to seeke to get out, that I might the better eschew

such suspected occurrents, and taking my selfe to my feete, I wandred

now this way, now that way, sometime to the right hand, sometime to the

left: nowe forwarde, then backe againe, not knowing how to goe among the

thicke bowghes and tearing thornes, bearing vpon my face: rending my

clothes, and houlding me sometimes hanging in them, whereby my hast in

getting foorth was much hyndered. In this vnaccustomed labour: and

without any helpe but onely the keeping of the sunne still vpon one

side, to direct mee streight forwarde: I grewe extreamely hoate and

faynte, not knowing what to doe, but onely in a wearye body, to conteine

a minde distraught through troublesome thoughts, breathing out hollow

and deepe sighes, desiring helpe of the pittifull _Cretensian Ariadne_,

who for the destroying of hir monstrous brother the _Mynotaur_[A] gaue

vnto the deceitfull _Theseus_ a clew of thred, to conduct him foorth of

the intricate laborinth, that I also by some such meanes might be

deliuered out of this obscure wood.

[Sidenote A: Minotaurus a monster in Creete, born of Pasiphae which

being inclosed in the laborinth fed on mans flesh, whome Theseus

slew and got out of the laborinth by a clew of thred giuen by

Ariadne king Minoes daughter, after wife to Theseus, who did forsake

hir, and left hir in a disinhabited Ile, notwithstanding that she

had saued his life.]

[Decoration]

_Poliphilus being thus distempered in this daungerous and obscure wood,

at length getteth foorth, and being come to a faire Riuer, indeuoring

to rest himselfe and coole his heate, he heard a most delightful

harmonie, which made him forget to drinke, and followe after the

voice, which brought him to a woorse perplexitie._

Feare and desire of freedome thus occupying my sences, my vnderstanding

was blinded, neyther did I knowe whether it were better for mee eyther

to wishe for hated death, or in so dreadfull a place to hope for desired

life. Thus euery way discontent, I did indeuour, with all force and

diligence to get foorth, wherin the more I did striue the more I found

my selfe intangled, and so infeebled with wearinesse, that on euery side

I feared, when some cruell beast should come and deuoure me, or els

vnawares to tumble downe into some deepe pit or hollow place.

Wherefore more trembling then in mustulent _Autume_ be the yealow

coulored leaue, hauing left their moisture, being thorowlye searched

with the furious north winde, I lifted vp my hart to God, desiring as

_Achemenides_ being afraide of the horrible _Cyclops_ rather to be

slaine by the hands of _Aeneas_ his enemie, rather then to suffer so

odious a death.

And my deuoute prayer, sincerely vnited to a contrite heart, powring out

a fountaine of teares with a stedfast beliefe to be deliuered. I found

my selfe in a short space gotten at libertie, like a new day crept out

of a darke and tempestuous night. My eyes before vsed to such obumbrated

darkenes, could scarse abide to behould the light, thorow watery sadnes.

Neuerthelesse glad I was to see the light: as one set at libertie, that

had beene chayned vp in a deepe dungeon and obscure darkenesse. Verye

thirstie I was, my clothes torne, my face and hands scratched and

netteled, and withall so extreamely set on heate, as the fresh ayre

seemed to doe me more hurt then good, neither did it any waye ease my

body, desirous to keepe his new recouered scope and libertie.

And after that I had a little rowsed vp my mynde, and sommoned together

my sences in some better sort: I sought a meanes to quench my inordinate

thyrst, procured and increased through innumerable sighes, and extreame

labour of body. Thus casting my eyes with a diligent regarde about the

plaine, to finde some Fountaine whereat I might refresh my selfe: a

pleasant spring or head of water, did offer it selfe vnto me, with a

great vayne boyling vp, about the which did growe diuers sweet hearbes

and water flowers, and from the same did flowe a cleare and chrystalline

current streame, which deuided into diuers branches, ran thorow the

desart wood, with a turning and winding body, receyuing into it other

little channels, vnlading themselues.

In whose courses the stones lift vp by nature, and trunkes of trees

denyed any longer by their roots to be vpholden, did cause a stopping

hinderance to their current and whuzing fall, which still augmented by

other vndissonant torrents, from high and fertlesse mountaines in the

plaine, shewed a beautifull brightnes and soft passing course, to the

which short windedly comming, by meanes of my fearefull flight. I did

see a little obscure light, thorow the tops of the high trees, somewhat

deuiding themselues ouer the water, and with the rest of their bodyes

and branches, as it were seperating the heauens from my lifted vp eyes.

A horrible place to be in, vnaccompanyed of any creature.

And suddainly hearing the fall of trees, through the force of a

whyrlewinde, & noise of the broken bowghes, with a redoubled and hoarse

sound a farre of, and yet brought to the eccho of the water thorow the

thick wood, I grew into a new astonishment.

And at this instant thus terrified and afflycted, and yet without any

receiued hurt, being vpon my knees bowed downe, and inclosing the

hollownesse of my hand, therewith determined to make me a necessary

drinking vessel: I had no sooner put the same into the water, offring to

my mouth the long desired moysture, thereby to refrygerate and coole the

extreame heate of my burning heart, which at that time would haue beene

more acceptable vnto me, then eyther _Hypanis_ and _Ganges_ be to the

_Indians_, _Tigris_ or _Euphrates_ to the _Armenians_, or _Xeylus_ to

the _Aethiopian_ nation, or to the _Egyptians_ his innundation, inbybing

theyr burnt and rosted mould, or yet the riuer _Po_ to the _Ligurians_.

Euen then also it fell so out, that I had no sooner taken water into the

palme of my hand, offering the same to my open mouth, ready to receiue

it: I heard a doricall songe, wherewith I was as greatly delighted,

as if I had heard the Thracian _Thamiras_, which thorough my eares

presented it selfe to my vnquiet heart, with so sweete and delectable a

deliuerie, with a voyce not terrestriall, with so great a harmonie and

incredible a fayning shrilnesse, and vnusuall proportion, as is possible

to bee imagined by no tounge sufficiently to be commended. The sweetnes

whereof so greatly delighted me, as thereby I was rauished of my

remembrance, and my vnderstanding so taken from me, as I let fall my

desired water thorough the loosned ioynts of my feeble hands.

And then euen as a birde, which through the sweetnes of the call

forgetteth to remember the Fowlers deceit, so I letting slip that which

nature stood in need of, hastened my selfe back with all speed, towarde

that attractiue melodie, which the more I coasted, the further it seemed

still from me, sometime heere, sometimes there, and still as I shifted

places, so the same also chaunged with a delectable voyce and heauenly

consent. Thus vainly running vp and downe, I knew not after what, I grew

more wearie, faint, and drye, and so feeble, that my legges could but

with great paine, vphould my distempered body. And my grieued spirits

vnabled long to support the same, what with the feare that I had bin in,

what with extreame thirst, what with long and wilesome trauell, and what

with doubting the worst that might insue. Thus hote, faint, and drye:

I knew not what to do but euen to procure rest for my weary members.

I marueled first at this straunge accedent, and was amazed at this

inhumane harmonye, but most of all in that I was in a straunge contry,

and vninhabited, being onelye fertill and beawtyfull to behould, besydes

that I greatly sorrowed for the losse of the fayer ryuer which I had so

greatly labored to finde out, and now so lightly and carelesly to haue

lost the benefit thereof. In this sort I was houlden in an intrycate

minde of doubts, at length ouercome withall kinde of greefes, my whole

bodye trembling and languishinge vnder a broade and mightye Oke full of

Acornes, standing in the middest of a spatious and large green meade,

extending forth his thicke and leauie armes to make a coole shadowe,

vnder whose bodye breathing I rested my selfe vppon the deawye hearbes,

and lying vppon my left syde I drewe my breath in the freshe ayre more

shortly betwixt my drye and wrinckled lips, then the weary running

heart, pinched in the haunche and struck in the brest, not able any

longer to beare vp his weighty head, or sustaine his body vpon his

bowing knees, but dying prostrates himselfe. And lying thus in such an

agonie, I thought vpon the strifes of weake fortune, and the

inchauntments of the malicious _Cyrces_, as if I had by hir charmes and

quadranguled plaints, been bereaued of my sences. In these such so great

& exceeding doubts: O _hi me_ where might I there among so many dyuerse

and sundry sorts of hearbes, finde the _Mercurial Moli_[A] with his

blacke roote, for my helpe and remedie. Againe me thought that it was

not so with me. What then? euen a hard appoyntment to delay my desired

death. And thus remayning in these pernitious thoughts, my strength

debylitated: I looked for no other helpe, but to drawe and receiue fresh

ayre into that brest, which panted with a small remainder of vytall

warmnesse, taking into my hands halfe aliue, as my last refuge, the

moyst and bedewed leaues, preserued in the coole shadow of the greene

Oke: putting the same to my pale and drye lippes, with a greedy desire

in licking of them to satisfie my distempred mouth with theyr moisture,

wishing for such a wel as _Hypsipyle_[a] shewed the Grecians: Fearing

least that vnawares as I had russled in the wood I were bitten with the

serpent _Dipsa_[b] my thirst was so vnsupportable. Then renuing my oulde

cogitations: as _I_ lay vnder this mightie Oke: I was oppressed with

emynent sleepe ouer all my members: where againe I dreamed in this

sorte.

[Sidenote A: Moly an herb greatly commended of Homer, and thought to

be souereigne against inchauntments of moderne authors altogether

vnknowne.]

[Sidenote a: Hypsipile was daughter to Thaos king of Lemnos, who

alone when all women of that Iland had slaine their husbands &

kinsmen, saued hir father: she also shewed the Grecians the

fountaine Langia in the wood of Nemea in Achaia where Hercules slue

a lion.]

[Sidenote b: Dipsa a kind of snakes that Lucan mentioneth, whose

byting procureth extreame drynes or thirste.]

_Poliphilus sheweth, that he thought he did sleep againe, and in his

dreame thas he was in a Vallie, inuironed with mountaines and hilles,

the end whereof was shut vp in a maruellous sort, with a mightie

pyramides worthie of admiration: vpon the top whereof was a high

obeliske, which with great pleasure hee beheld, and diligently

discribeth_.

Gotten foorth of this fearefull and thick wood, and forgetting the

forementioned places by this sweete sleepe, occasioned by my wearie

members nowe layde along: mee thought that I was in a new more

delectable place, far excelling the former, which consisted not of

fertles mountaines and craggie winding rockes, contayning wide caues,

but being a delicate valley, in the which did rise a small mounting of

no great height, sprinkled heare and there with young Okes, Ashes, Palme

trees broadleaued, _Aesculies_,[a] Holme, Chestnut, Sugerchist, Poplars,

wilde Oliue, and Oppies disposed some hyer then other, according to the

mounting or fall of the place, in the plaine whereof was an other kinde

of thicket of medicinable simples like little young trees, as the

flowering _Genista_[b] enuironed with diuers green hearbs, Tetrifolie,

Sheere grasse, hunnisuckle, the musked Angelica, Crowfoot Elapium and

Rugwoort, with other profitable and vnknowne hearbes and flowers heare

and there diuerslie disposed. A little beyond in the same valley, I

founde a sandie or grauelly plaine, yet bespotted with greene tuffes, in

which place grew a faire Palme tree with his leaues like the Culter of a

plowe, and abounding with sweet and pleasant fruite, some set high, some

lowe, some in a meane, some in the very top, an elect and chosen signe

of victorie. Neither in this place was there any habitation or creature

whatsoeuer. Thus walking solitarily betwixt the trees, growing distantly

one from another, I perswaded my selfe, that to this no earthly

situation was comparable: in which thought I soddainely espied vpon my

left hand, an hungrie and carniuorous Woolfe, gaping vpon me with open

mouthe.

[Sidenote a: Aesculus is a tree bearing both greater fruite and

broder leaues then the Oke.]

[Sidenote b: Gemista beareth a cod and yellowe flower, vines are

bound therewith. Elaphium is like to Angelica, but not in smell, the

hart thereon rubbeth his head when it is veluet.]

At the sight whereof immediatly, my hayre stood right vp, and I would

haue cryed out, but could not: and presently the Woolfe ranne away:

wherevpon returning to my selfe, and casting my eyes towards the wooddie

mountaines, which seemed to ioyne themselues together, beeing looked

vnto a farre off, I sawe the forme of a tower of an incredible heygth,

with a spyre vnperfectlie appearing, all being of very auncient forme

and workemanship.

And drawing neare vnto this building, I beheld the gratious mountaines

before a farre of seeming small, by comming neerer and neerer, by little

and little, to lift vp themselues more and more, at the first seeming to

mee that they had ioyned together with the building which was an

inclosure or end of the valley betwixt mountaine and mountaine: which

thing I thought worthy the noting, and without further delay I addressed

my selfe more neerer therevnto. And by how much the more I approximated

the same, by so much the more the excellencie of the woorke shewed it

selfe, increasing my desire to behould the same. For there appeared no

longer a substance of vnknowne forme, but a rare Obelisk vpon a vast

frame and stonie foundation, the heigth whereof without comparison did

exceed the toppes of the sidelying mountaynes, although I thought that

they had beene the renowmed _Olympus_[a], the famous _Caucasus_[b], and

not inferior to _Cyllenus_[c].

[Sidenote a: Olimpus a hil in Greece between Macedonie and Thesalie,

so high, that of the Poets it is sometime taken for heauen.]

[Sidenote b: Caucasus a mightie hill in Asia which parteth India

from Scythia.]

[Sidenote c: Cillenus a hill of Arcadia, where Iupiter begat

Mercurie vpon Maia.]

To this sollitarie place thus desiredlye comming, with vnspeakeable

delight, at pleasure I behelde the straunge manner of the arte, the

hugenesse of the frame, and the woonderfull excellencie of the

woorkmanship. Maruelling and considering the compasse and largenesse of

this broken and decayed obiect, made of the pure glistering marble of

_Paros_[d]. The squared stones ioyned togither without anye cement, and

the pointed quadrangulate corner stones streightlye fitted and smoothlye

pullished, the edges whereof were of an exquisite vermellion coulour, as

is possible to bee deuised: and so iust set, as betwixt the ioynts, euen

the enemie to the woorke (if euer there were anye) could not deuise to

hide the point of the smallest spanish needle vsed of the best

workewomen. And there in this so noble a piece of worke, I found a

proportioned substance to euery shape and likenesse that can be thought

vpon and called to remembrance, partly decayed, and some still whole

remaining, with pillers small vpon great, with their excellent heads of

an exact and most perfect closing, crowned battelments, embost caruings,

bearing forth like embroderie, arched beames, mightie mettaline images,

ouerthrowne and broken in sunder, the trunke of their exact and perfect

members, appearing hollow of brasse. Skyffes, small boates and vessels

of _Numidian_ stone and _Porphyr_, and diuers couloured marble. Great

lauers condites, and other infinite fragments of notable woorkmanship,

far different and inferiour from that they were, in their perfection,

but now brought back as it were to their first vnshapelines, being

fallen and cast downe, some heere, some there, vpon the earth from the

which they were taken. Among the broken and decayed places, wherof great

sundrie wall weeds and hearbes, especially the vnshaking Anagyre, the

Lentise of both kindes, beares foote, dogges head, Gladen greene,

spotted Iuie, Centarie, and diuers suchlike. And in the myldered places

of broken walles grew Howslike, and the hanging Cymbalaria bryers, and

pricking brambles, among the which crept Swifts and Lyzarts which I sawe

crawling among the ouergrowne stones, which at the first sight in this

silent and solitarie place, made me to be warily afraid of them. On

euery side there lay fallen downe smoothe round pieces of serpent

spotted Marble, purple and red diuerse couloured. Fragments of strange

histories, _Panglyphic_ and _Hemygliphic_[E] compendiously caracterized,

shewing the excellencie thereof, vndoubtedly accusing our age, that the

perfection of such an art is forgotten.

[Sidenote d: Paros is one of the 35. Isles called Cyclades and

Sporades, in the sea Aegeum which deuideth Europ from Asia.]

[Sidenote E: Panglyphic be wholy carued from the head to the foote

in all members. Hemigliphic apeare but halfe.]

Then comming to the myddle fronture of the great and excellent woorke,

I sawe one sole large and marueylous porche worthy of great estimation,

proportioned according to the huge quantitie of the rest of the whole

work, which was placed betwixt and continued in building from the one

and the other of the mountaines hare lipped, and aboue arched, whose

space betwixt as I doe coniecture was in measure sixe furlongs, and

twelue paces. The top of which mountaines were perpendicularly equall

eyther of them touching the azur'd skey. At the sight whereof I imagined

with my selfe and deuised to thinke with what yron instruments, with

what labour of mens hands, and number of workmen, such a piece of woorke

could bee by great strength framed, with much paine layde together, and

a long time in finishing. There then this woonderfull frame willingly as

it were ioyned hands and vnited it selfe with the one and the other

mightie mountaines, by meanes whereof, the foresaid valley there had an

end, that no man could go further forward or backe againe, but to enter

in by this broade, large, and wide open porche.

Vpon this massie frame and mightie woorkmanship, which I take to be in

heigth from the roofe or top to the foote, fiue parts of a furlong, was

placed a high and woonderfull Pyramides, after the fashion of a square

poynted Diamond, and such incredible workemanship that could neuer be

deuised and erected, without inestimable charge, great helpe, and long

time. So that I thought the excellencie thereof vnthought vpon, to bee a

myrrour, the sight whereof was able to dasell any humaine eyes, and

quaile the rest of the spirituall sences. VVhat shall I say more? for so

far as the reache of my capacitie will afoorde me leaue, in this sort I

briefely describe the same.

Euery side or quarter of this foure squared frame, wherevpon the foote

of the Pyramides did stand, did extend themselues in length six

furlongs[A], which in compasse about euery side [ae]quilatered of like

bredth, dooth multiplie to 24 furlongs. Then lifting vp the lynes on

high from the foure corners, so much as euerye corner is distant in

length from another, meeting in the top, so as the Perpendicular line

may fall iust vpon the center of the Dyagon, stretching from both

corners of the plynts or square foote, iust and conueniently ioyned

together doe make a perfect pyramidall figure. VVhich immence and

woonderfull forme, with a maruelous and exquise Symmetrie and due

proportion mounting vp laboursomly foote by foote, conteyned 1410.

degrees or steppes, taking away 10. degrees to make vp the head and

gracilament of the Pyramides in whose place was set a huge Cube or foure

square stone of forme like a dye, sound and firme of a monstrous

thicknesse and incredible weight to bee carryed so high. And of the same

stone of _Paros_ as were the steps: which cube and square stone was the

Basis and foote set vnder the Obilisk, which I haue in hand to describe.

[Sidenote A: A furlong is 16. pole euery pole being 16 foote.]

This mightie big stone sharpe topt, sliding downe the extream part from

corner to corner, flat sided by the Diameter, was fower paces, at euery

equall distant corner, whereof was the foote of a harpie of moulten

mettall, their steales and clawes armed. Firmlye and stronglie set in

with led, in euery corner of the Cube, or foure square head of the

Pyramides, meeting together ouer the Diagonike line. Of proportioned

thicknesse in heigth two paces. Which thus closing and mette together,

made the socket of the great Obelisk: which Socket was beautified with

leaues, fruites and flowers, of shining cast mettall, and of conuenient

bignesse. VVherevpon the weight of the Obelisk was borne. The breadth

whereof was two paces, and seauen in heigth, artificiously sharping of

the stone of _Thebais_ called _Pyrus_. Vpon the smooth plains whereof,

pure and bright shining as a looking glasse, were moste excellently cut

_Aegiptian Hyerogliphs_.

Vpon the pointe of which Obelisk, with great arte and diligence, was

fastned a copper base, in the which also there was a turning deuise

infixed: whervpon did stand the shape of a beautifull nimph framed of

the aforesayd matter, able to amaze the continuall diligent behoulder.

Of such a proportion as the common stature might be considered and

perfectly seene, notwithstanding the exceeding heigth thereof in the

ayre. Besides the greatnesse of the figure or image: it was a woonder to

thinke how such a weight should bee carryed and set in such a place and

so high. Couered with a habite blowne abroad with the winde, and shewing

parte of the naked substance of the legges and thighes: with two wings

growing out from the shoulder blades, and spred abroad as if shee were

readye to flye, turning hir fayre face and sweete regarding countenance

towardes hir wings. The tresses of hir haire flying abroade the vpper

part or crowne naked and bare. In hir right hand she held from hir sight

a copie or horne stuft full of many good things, stopped vp, and the

mouth downewarde, hir left hand fastned and harde holden to hir naked

brest. This Image and stature was with euery blast of wind turned, and

mooued about with such a noyse and tinkling in the hollownes of the

metaline deuise: as if the mynte of the Queene of England had being

going there. And when the foote of the phane or Image in turning about,

did rub and grinde vpon the copper base, fixed vpon the pointe of the

Obeliske, it gaue such a sound, as if the tower bell of Saint Iohns

Colledge in the famous Vniuersitie of Cambridge had beene rung: or that

in the pompeous Batches of the mightie _Hadrian_: or that in the fift

Pyramides standing vpon foure. This Obeliske in my iudgement was such,

as neyther that in the _Vaticane_ in _Alexandria_ or Babilon, may bee

equally compared vnto it, but rather esteemed far inferiour. It

conteined in it such a heape of woonders, as I could not without great

astonishment looke vpon it. As also consider the hugenesse of the worke,

the excessiue sumptuousnesse, the straunge inuention, the rare

performance, and exquisite diligence of the woorkeman. With what art

inuented? with what power, humaine force, and incredible meanes, enuying

(if I may speake it) the workmanship of the heauens, such and so mightie

weights should be transported and carryed into the skyes? with what

Cranes, winding beames, Trocles, round pullies, Capres bearing out

deuices, and Poliplasies, and drawing frames, and roped tryces, therein

being vnskilfull, I slip it ouer with silence.

_And heere on the other side followeth the figure._

[Illustration]

Let vs returne then to the huge Pyramides, standing vpon a strong and

sound plynth or foure square foote, fourteene paces in heigth, and in

length sixe furlongs, which was the foundation and bottom of the

weightie pyramides, which I perswaded my selfe was not brought from any

other place, but euen with plaine labour and workemanship hewen out of

the selfe same mountaines, and reduced to this figure and proportion in

his owne proper place.

Which great quadrant and square woorke, ioyned not fast to the

collaterate and sidelying rockes, but was betwixt spaced and seperated

on eyther sides tenne paces. Vpon the right hand as I went of the

aforesaid plynth or square sheame, there was most perfectly carued the

vyperous head of the fearefull _Medusa_, in a most furious and rigorous

forme to looke vpon, and as it were yelling out: with terrible eyes

cauernate, and hollow skowling vnder ther ouerhanging browes with a

wrympled and forrowed forehead and gaping wide open mouth, which being

hollowed with a dyrect waye from the Catill, and vppon stone by a

mediane lyne perpendicular to the center of the far shewing Pyramides,

made a large enterance and comming vnto it, at which opening mouth,

compassed with fowlded haires of vnrepartable curiousnes artificiall

cunning and costly woorkmanshyppe the assending the turning stayers

shewed them selues, and instead of tresses of haire platted with laces,

I saw fearefull vypers and winding serpents growing out from the scalpe

of the monstrous head confusedly twysting together and hissing, so

liuely portrayed and set foorth, that they made me afrayde to behould

them. In their eyes were placed most shining stones, in such sort, as if

I had not beene perswaded and knowne that they were stones indeed,

I durst not haue drawne neere them.

And the aforesayde entrie cut out of the firme stone, led to the scale

and compassing passage in the center, with winding steps tending to the

highest parte of the stately Pyramides, and opening vpon the outside of

the catill or cube: vpon the which the shining obeliske was founded. And

among the rest of such notable partes that I beheld, me thought that

this deuise was woorth the noting, because the artifitious and most

cunning architect with an exquisite and perspicuous inuention, had made

to the stayres certaine loopes or small windowes, imbracing the

bountifull beames of the sunne correspondently on three parts, the

lower, the middle, and supreame: The lower taking light from the higher,

and the higher from the catabasse or lower with their opposite

reflexions shewing a maruellous faire light, they were so fitly disposed

by the calculate rule of the artificious Mathematrician, to the

Orientall Meridionall and Occidentall partes of the ayre, that euery

houre of the day the sunne shined in, and gaue light to the whole scale,

the same loopes or windolets in diuerse places symmetrially and

definitely dispersed and set.

To the aforesaid entrance thorow the open mouth of _Medusa_, I came by a

long gallorie to a salying scale or downe going staire opening at the

foot and pauement of the building vpon my right hand against one of the

collaterall and side-lying mountaines, betwixt which there was out of

the stone and open space cut out of tenne paces vp, into the which I

ascended boldely without resistance, and being come to the beginning of

the staire in the aforesaid mouth by innumerable steppes and degrees,

not without great wearines and disinesse of head, by often turning

about, I came to so incredible a height, that my eies would not suffer

me to looke downe to the ground insomuch, that me thought that euery

thing below vpon the plaine had lost his shape, and seemed vnperfect. In

the opening and comming out of this circulate and turning assence many

pillars of fused and molten mettall were aptly disposed and surely

fixed: the inter-space betwixt euery one and other one foote, and in

height halfe a pase, railed and ioyned togither aboue with a battelled

coronet al along the said pillar, and of the same metall compassing

about the opening of the staire, lest that any comming foorth vnawares

should fall downe headlong, For the immesurable height thereof woulde

cause a giddines in the head, and bring a staggering to the feete: vpon

the plaine of the obeliske there was infixed a table of brasse fastened

and soldered in about the height of a man, with an ancient inscription

in Latine, Greeke, and Arabike, by the which I plainely vnderstoode that

the same was dedicated to the Sunne, and the measure of the work wholy

set downe and described, the name of the Architector noted on the

obeliske in Greek letters.

+LICHA SOLIBIKOS LIOODOMOS O:RTHOSEN ME+

_Lichas Libiicus architectus me erexit_.

Lichas a Libian architector set me vp.

Let vs returne and come backe to the consideration of the But and

tessell or square, subiect and vphoulder of the Pyramides in the fronte

and foreside whereof I beheld ingrauen a _Gigantomachie_ and combate

betwixt Giauntes, the onely enemie to vitall breath, surpassinglie well

cut, with the quick motions and liuelie agilities of their large and

tall bodyes, vnpossible to be rightlye described, the artificiall

handling thereof, as it were enuying the woorke of nature itselfe, as if

theyr eyes and feete had mooued together, and coasted from one part to

an other, with an expedite passage and swift course. In such sorte

seemed they vpon theyr strong and mightie horsses, some being cast

downe, other stumbling and falling: many wounded and hurt, yeelding vp

their desired liues: some troden downe and mischieued vnder the feete of

the fierce and vnrestrained horsses. Other casting off their armour

wrastling and togging one with another: some headlong with their heeles

vpwarde, falling and not come to the ground from off their horsses.

Other some lying vpon the earth, houlding vp their sheilds and Targets,

offended with the one hand, and defended with the other. Many with their

shimitaries and curtilaxes, some with long swordes two handed after the

auncient Persian manner, others with diuers deadly and strange fashioned

mortall weapons: some wearing habergions and helmets, with diuers

deuises vpon their crests: others naked and vnarmed, leaping and rushing

in among the thickest, thereby shewing theyr haughtie, inuincible, and

vndaunted courages, resolute for death. Some with fearefull countenances

crying out, other shewing obstinate and furious visages, although they

were assured to dye, strongly abiding the proofe of their paine, and the

cutting in sunder of their fatall thread, others slaine before them,

with diuers vncothe and straunge warlike and deadly instruments. Shewing

their strong members, their swelling muskels standing out, offering to

the sight and eyes of tbe behoulder, the dutie of theyr bones, and the

hollownesse in the places, where theyr strong sinewes be strayned. Their

conflict and combate seemed so fearefull, bloudie, deadly, cruell, and

horrible: as if _Mars_ himselfe had beene fighting with _Porphirion_ and

_Alcion_ who made a noyse lyke the braying of Asses.

This catagliphic imagerie, did exceed a naturall and common

stature and proportion of men, carued in priuie white marble, the ground

thereof as black as iet, a perfect foile to beautifie and set forth with

pale Christaline and siluer crolley, of innumerable huge bodyes, their

last indeuours, their present actions, the fashion of their armor, the

diuersitie of their deaths, & vncertaine & doubtful victorie. The

discharge of my vndertaken discription whereof, prooueth maymed and

lame, by reason that my vnderstanding is wearie, my memorie confused

with varietie, and my sight dimmed with continuall gasing, that my

senses will not aford me rightly, and as their dewe, fitly to manifest

part, much lesse to describe at large the whole manner of their curious

_Lythoglyphi_.

After this I became to cast with my selfe, what should mooue and cause

such a pride & burning desire in any man, to fetch from far, and gather

together so mightie stones with so great trauell: With what carriage,

who were the conueyers and porters, with what manner of wheeles, and

rowling deuises, and vpholding supporters, so great large and

innumerable a sort of stones should be brought thither, and of what

matter theyr cement that ioyned and held them together, was made the

heygth of the Obelisk and statelinesse of the Pyramides, exceeding the

imagined conceit of _Dimocrates_ proposed to _Alexander_ the great,

about a worke to be performed vpon the hill _Athos_. For the strangenes

of the Egiptian building might giue place to this. The famous laborinths

were far inferior, _Lemnos_ is not to be rehearsed the Theaters of old

time were in comparison but warriners lodges, ney ther did the famous

_Nausoley_ come any thing neere. Which certainly maketh me absolutely

perswaded, that he which wrote the seauen woonders of the world, neuer

heard of this: neyther in any age hath their been seene or imagined the

like, no not the sepulcher of _Ninus_.

Lastly I woondered what foundation and arches were able to vphold so

monstrous a weight, whether the pyllars were hexagons or tetragons, and

what varietie of columnes, and what number might serue, and after what

sorte proportionately disposed and set. For the better vnderstanding and

more perfect knowledge wherof, I conueyghed my selfe in at the open &

spacious porche and enterance, within the which was an obscure and vast

hollownes: which porche, together with the proud and stately buylding

(things worthy of memorie) shall in some sorte be descrybed as

followeth.

_Poliphilus, after the discription of the huge Pyramides and Obeliske,

discourseth of maruelous woorkes in this Chapter, namely of a horsse

of Colos. of an Oliphant, but especially of a most rare

and straunge Porche._

Rightlye and lawfullye may I haue leaue to write, that in the whole

world there was neuer such an other, so pompeous, glorious, and

magnificent a peece of worke, by mans eyes seene or crediblie reported.

The woonderfull excellencie and rare straungenesse whereof, as I beheld

what with delight, and what with admiration, my sences were so

captiuated and tyed therevnto, that no other solace or pleasure, did

eyther occurre or take place in my swift flying thought.

But that when I applyed my sences to consider, and addressed my eyes

with diligent obseruation, curiouslie to ouerlooke euerie perticular

part of this sweete composed obiect, and most rare and goodly imagerie

and virgin like bodyes, without cracke or flawe, with a long drawne

breath, and somewhat opening my mouth, I set a deepe sighe. In so much

as my amorous and sounding breathing, by reason of the thicknesse of the

ayre in this solytarie and lone place, gaue an eccho, and did put me in

minde of my Angelike and extreame desired _Polia_.

O hi me that so small or anye intermission should cause that hir louely

and celestiall Idea and shape was not still imprinted in my minde, and

continued a dayly companion, in whose brest my life is resolued to

abide, and rest as vnder the protection of a most sure and approoued

shield and safe defence.

And by this way I was brought to a place where were diuers and sundrie

excellent sorts of auncient deuises and woorkemanships: first of all,

I beheld a most fayre porche, past all sence to describe (for the

incredible curiousnes thereof, as euer was built or deuised) and the

rather for that our mother toung and vulgar speeche, may not afford apt

and peculiar words, for such a piece of artificall worke.

Before this gorgeous and glorious porche, you shall vnderstand that in

the open ayre there was a fowre square court of thirtie paces by his

Diameter, paued with pure fine marble, poynted fowre square, wrought

checkerwise of diuers fashions, and sundrie best fitting coulours: but

in many places, by meanes of the ruine of the auncient walke, and olde

pillers, broken in peeces and ouergrowne.

And in the vtmost partes of the aforesaide court, to the right hand, and

the left, towards the mountaines, there was two straight rowes of

pillars, with a space betwixt for the interiect _Areostile_,[A] as the

quantities of both columnes required, the first course or order of

setting the pyllars, beginning on both sides equall to the Lymbus or

extreame part of the fronte of the porche, the space betwixt pyllars

and pillars XV. paces. Of which collumnes or great pillars, some

and the greatest parte or number were whole. With their capitels or

heads, wrought with a waued shell worke, and cyllerie or draperie, their

corners bearing out and inanulated or turned in like a curled locke of

hayre, or the vpper head of a base Viall aboue the pinnes, which straine

the stringes of the instrument to a musicall concord; with their subiect

Astragals, writhing and hanging heere and there, making the capitall

thrise so big as the bottom thereof of the columne, wherevpon was placed

the Epistile or streight beame, the greatest part decayed, and many

columnes widowed and depriued of their Capitels, buryed in ruine both

Astragals and shafts of the columnes and their bases or feete.

[Sidenote A: A columne consisteth of his Capitell that is the head.

Astragalus that is the subiect of the capitell next the columne.

Hypotrachelie the shaft of the columne. And Hypothesis, that is the

foote whereon the Columne standeth, exceeding the bignes of the

columne.]

Fast ioyning to which order or set rowes of pillars, there grew ould

plaine trees, wylde Oliues, Pine apple, and pricking brambles. I

coniectured that it was made for to ride horses in, to trot and gallop,

the ring, to manage, carrier, and coruet in, or els some open gallerie,

couered close ouer head, vnder propt with pillers, and of a large

widenesse to walke drie in, and to take a temperate ayre in, not too

subtile.

Aboue in this great Court paued as aforesayd, in the passage towardes

the Porche, some tenne paces, I beheld a prodigious winged vaughting

horse, of moulten brasse, of an exceeding bignesse, his wings fanning

out. His hooues standing vpon a smooth plaine base or frame, fiue foote

brode, and nine feete in length, in heigth proportionable to the bredth

and length: with his head at libertie and vnbrideled: hauing his two

small eares, the one standing forward, and the other drawne back, with a

long waued maine, falling from his crest on the contrarye side: vpon

whose backe diuers young youthes assayed to ride, but not one was able

to sit stedfast, by reason of his swiftnesse and high bounding, from

whom some were fallen downe, lying wide open to the ayre, some

groueling, other falling headlong, betwixt the horsse and the earth, the

rest in vaine houlding by the hayre of his maine, some forceing to get

vp vpon him, and others indeuoring to recouer themselues from vnder his

feete.

[Illustration]

Vpon the vpper part of the frame and base, there was infixed and fastned

with lead, a footing or thick crust, of the same mettall that the horse

was, and vpon the which he stoode, and those that were ouerthrowne did

lye, somewhat shorter and narrower then the base or subiect frame, the

whole masse or composition cast of a peece and of the same mettall,

maruelouslie founded. Lastlye you could not perceiue that any were

contented with his rowghnes, as appeared by their framed countenances,

shewing a discontent which they could not vtter being sencelesse images,

not differing otherwayes thorough the excellent conning of the

craftisman from liuing creatures, and by his surpassing imitation of

nature.

_Peryllus_ there might go put vp his pypes, and blush with his deuised

Bull, and _Hiram_ the Iewe must heere giue place, or what founders els

soeuer.

The _P[ae]gma_ base or subiect for this metaline machine to stand vpon,

was of one solyde peece of marble (of fit and conuenient breadth,

heighth, and length, for that purpose accordinglye proportioned) full

of streaming vaines, sondry coulered, and diuerslye spotted, maruelous

pleasant to the eye, in infinite commixtures, confusedly disposed.

Vpon the brest or formost part, and end of the marble base, that was

opposite against the porch, there was a garland of greene marble, like

the leaues of bitter _Alisander_, commixt with dead leaues of

Maydenweede, of a hayre coulour, within the which there was a smoothe

round, pure, white stone, wherein was ingrauen these capitall Romaine

letters.

[Illustration:

: D :

AMBIG

: D : D : EQVVS

INFOELI/CI/TATIS]

At the hinder end in like sort was a garland of deadly Woolfwoort,

with this inscription, _Equus inf[ae]licitatis_. And vpon the right side

there was ingrauen certaine figures, shapes, and representments of men

and women dauncing together, byformed or faced, the formost smiling,

the hynmost weeping:[A] and dauncing in a ring, with theyr armes spred

abrode, and hanfasted man, with man and woman with woman. One arme of

the man vnder that of the woman, and the other aboue, and thus closing

together, and houlding by the hands, they floung about one after another,

that alwayes still in one place, a smyling countenance incountered a

foregoing sad. Their number was seauen and seauen, so perfectly and

sweetely counterfeited with liuelie motions, their vestures whisking

vp and flying abroad, that the workman could not be accused of any

imperfection, but that one had not a liuely voyce to expresse their

mirth, and the other brinish teares to manifest their sorrow: the said

daunce was in fashion of two Semicircles, with a seperating partition

put betwixt.

[Sidenote A: None liue in this world in that pleasure, but they haue

also their sorowes in time.]

[Illustration]

Vnder which Hemiall figure, there was inscript this worde TEMPVS. On the

contrary side I beheld many of greene adolescency of like proportion to

the former, and in suchlike compasse or space, the grounds of both

beautified and set foorth with an exquisite foliature or woorke of

leaues and flowers, this companie was plucking and gathering of the

flowers of sundrye hearbes, and tender bushing stalkes and braunches;

and with them diuers faire Nimphes pleasantly deuising, and sportinglie

snatching away their gathered flowers,[A] and in such sort as abouesaid

vnder the figure were ingrauen certaine capitall letters, to shew this

one word AMISSIO, conteyning the ninth part to the Diameter or the

quadrature.

[Sidenote A: Gift vainely bestowed, in time wantonlie spent, is a

great losse, & breedeth repentance.]

[Illustration]

At the first sight hereof I was amased and astonished, but with better

regard & great delight curiously reouerlooking the huge founded Machine

the shape and forme of a horse made by humane industry and skill most

commendable, for that euery member without defect had his perfect

harmonie, and euery limme his desired proportion, I straight called to

remembrance the vnfortunate horse of _Scian_.

And thus helde still to beholde the same artificiall mysterie, an other

spectacle and obiect no lesse worthy to be looked vpon than the former,

offered it selfe to my sight, which was a mighty Elephant, whereunto

with a desirous intent I speedely hyed me to approch and come neere.

In which meane while on an other side I heard a mournefull noise and

humane groaning, as proceeding from a sicke body euen vnto death:

whereat I stoode still at the first, my haires standing right vp, but

presently without further stay, I addressed my steppes towards the place

from whence I heard this wofull noyse and dolefull lament, forcing my

selfe vp vppon a heape of ruinated, broken and downe-fallen marbles.

Thus willingly going forward, I came to a vast and wonderfull large

Colose, the feete thereof bare, and their soles hollowe, and the legges

as if their flesh had beene wasted, consumed and fallen away. From

thence with horror I came to looke vpon the head, where _I_ did

coniecture and imagine, that the ayre and winde getting in and comming

foorth of his wide open mouth, and the hollow pipes of his throat, by a

diuine inuention did cause this moderated noise and timed groanes: it

lay with the face vpward all of molten mettal, like a man of middle age,

and his head lifted vp as with a pillowe, with a resemblance of one that

were sicke, breathing out at his mouth, sighes and groanes gaping, his

length was three score paces. By the haires of his beard you might mount

vp to his breast, and by the rent and torne peeces of the same to his

stil lamenting mouth, which groningly remained wide open and empty, by

the which, prouoked by the spurre of curious desire, I went downe by

diuers degrees into his throat, from thence to his stomacke, and so

foorth by secret wayes, and by little and little to all the seuerall

partes of his inward bowelles, Oh wonderfull conceit. And euery part of

mans body hauing vpon it written his proper appellation in three ideomes

Chaldee, Greeke and Latine, that you might know the intrailes, sinews,

bones, veines, muscles and the inclosed flesh, and what disease is bred

there: the cause thereof, the cure and remedy, Vnto which inglomerated

and winding heape of bowelles, there was a conuenient comming vnto and

entrance in: with small loope-holes and wickets in sundry places

diuersly disposed, yeelding thorough them a sufficient light to beholde

the seuerall partes of the artificiall anothomie, not wanting any member

that is found in a naturall body.

When I came to the heart, did see and reade how Loue at his first

entrance begetteth sorow, and in continuaunce sendeth out sighes, and

where Loue doth most greeuously offend: wherewithall _I_ was mooued to

renew my passion, sending out from the botome of my heart deepe set and

groaning sighs inuocating and calling out vpon _Polia_, in such sort as

that the whole Colose and Machine of brasse did resound, striking me

into a horrible feare: an exquisite Arte beyond all capacity, for a man

to frame his like not being an Anotomy indeede.

Oh the excellency of passed wittes, and perfect golden age when Vertue

did striue with Fortune, leauing onely behind him for an heritage to

this our world, blinde, ignorant, and grudging desire of worldly pelfe.

Vpon the other side I perceiued of like bignes to the former Colose, the

vpper part of a womans head some deale bare, and the rest buried with

the decayed ruines, as I thought, of such like workmanship as the other,

and being forbidden by incomposite and disordered heapes of decayed and

fallen downe stones, to view the same I returned to another former

obiect, which was (and not farre distant from the horse straight

forward) a huge Elephant of more blacke stone than the Obsidium,

powdered ouer with small spottes of golde and glimces of siluer, as

thicke as dust glistering in the sonne. The extreame hardnes whereof the

better did shew his cleere shining brightnes, so as euery proper obiect

therein did represent it selfe, excepte in that parte where the mettall

did beare a contrary colour. Vpon his large backe was set a saddle or

furniture of brasse, with two gyrthes going vnder his large belly,

betwixt the which two being streight buckled vp with buckles of the same

stone, there was inter-set a quadrangle correspondent to the breadth of

the Obeliske placed vpon the saddle, and so iustly set, as no

perpendicular line would fall on either side the diameter. Vpon three

parts or sides of the foure square Obelisk, were ingrauen Egiptian

caracters. The beast so exactly and cunningly proportioned, as inuention

could deuise, and art performe. The aforesaid saddle and furniture set

foorth and beautified with studdes hanging iewels, stories, and deuises,

and houlding vp as it were a mightie Obeliske of greene couloured stone

of Lacedemonia, vpon the euen square, two paces broad, and seauen in

height, to the sharpe pointe thereof, waxing smaller and smaller, vpon

which pointe there was fixte a Trigon or rounde Ball of a shinyng and

glystering substance.

This huge beast stood streight vpon all foure, of an exquisite

woorkmanship vpon the plaine leuell, and vpper part of the base, hewen

and cunningly fashioned, beeing of _Porphyr_ stone. With two large and

long teeth, of puer white stone, and cleare appact, and fastned. And to

the fore gyrth on eyther side was buckled a riche and gorgeous

poiterell, beautified with diuers ornaments and varietie of Iewels, the

subiect whereof was of the same substance of the saddle: vppon the

middest whereof was grauen in Latine _Cerebrum est in capite_. And in

like manner brought about the out sides of his neck to the foretop of

his large and big head, it was there fastned together with an

artificiall knot: from the which a curious ornament and verie notable,

of Gouldsmithes worke, hung downe, ouer spredding his spacious face: the

same ornament being twise so long as broade, bordered about, in the

table whereof I beheld certaine letters, _Ionic_ and _Arabic_, in this

sorte.

[Illustration:

+PONOS / KAI / EUPHUIA+

[Arabic: ....] ]

His deuouring trunke rested not vpon the leuel of the base, but some

deale hanging downe, turned vppe againe towardes his face. His rigged

large ears like a Fox-hounde flappingly pendent, whose vast stature was

little lesse, then a verye naturall Olyphant. And in the about compasse,

and long sides of the base, were ingrauen certaine _Hierogliphs_, or

Egiptian caracters. Being decently and orderlye pullished, with a

requisite rebatement, _Lataster gule thore orbicle, Astragals_ or

_Neptrules_, with a turned down _Syme_ at the foote of the base, and

turned vp aloft with writhin trachils and denticles, agreeable and fit

to the due proportion of so large a substance, in length 12. paces, in

breadth fiue, and in heigth three, the superficiall and outward part,

whereof was hewen in forme of a hemicycle.

In the hynder parte of which base and stone, wherevpon this mightie

beast did stande, I founde an assending place of seauen steps, to mount

vp to the plaine superficies of the base wherevpon the _O_lyphant did

stand. And in the reserued quadrangle perpendicularly streight vnder the

aforesaid brasen saddle, there was cut out and made a little doore and

hollowed entrance, a woonderfull woorke in so hard a substance, with

certaine steppes of brasse, in manner of stayres, by the which a

conuenient going vp into the body of the Olephant was offered me.

[Illustration]

At the sight whereof I extreamely desired to see the whole deuise & so

going in, I assended vp to the heigth of the base wherevppon the

cauernate, hollow, vast, large and predigious monster did stand, except

that same part of the Obelisk, which was conteyned within the voyde body

of the beast, and so passing to the base. Leauing towards both sides of

the Olyphant so much space as might serue for any man to passe, eyther

towarde the head or hynder haunches.

And within from the bending downe of the chine or backe of the beast,

there hunge by chaynes of copper an euerlasting lampe and incalcerate

light, thorough the which in this hinder parte I sawe an auncient

sepulcher of the same stone, with the perfect shape of a man naked, of

all natural parts. Hauing vpon his head a crowne of black stone as iet:

his teeth eyes and nayles siluered and standing vpon a sepulcher couered

like an arke, of scale woorke, and other exquisite lyneaments, poynting

with a goulden scepter, and holding forward his arme to giue direction

to the former part.

On his left side he held a shield in fashion like to the keele of a

ship, or the bone of a horse head, wherevppon was inscript in Hebrew,

Attic, and Latine letters, this sentence that is placed on the other

side with the figure.

[Illustration:

#Im lo ki habehema kista et besari

ani hayiti erom chapes vetimtza hanicheni#

+GUMNOS E:N. EI ME: AN THE:RI-

ON EMEKALUPSEN. ZE:TEI. HEU-

RE:SE:DE. EASON ME.+

NVDVSESSEM, BES-

TIA NIME TEXIS-

SET, QVAERE, ET

INVE NIES. MESI-

NITO.]

At which vncoth and straunge sight I stood not a little amased and

somewhat doubtfull what to imagine, turning my eyes to the contrarie

part, I sawe in like sorte an other, as before burning light, and

passing thorough betwixt the side of the beast, and the therein inclosed

part of the Obelisk, I came towards the forepart of the Olyphant, where

in like manner I found such an other fashioned sepulcher as the former,

with a stature or image standing therevpon as the other, sauing that it

was a Queene, who lyfting vp hir right arme with hir formost finger,

poynted towards that part behinde hir shoulders, and with the other shee

helde a little table fast in hir hand, in which was written in three

languages this epygram.

[Illustration:

#Heye me shetihiye kach min ha'otzar ze ka'avat nafshecha

aval azhir otcha haser harosh ve'al tiga begufo#

+HOSTIS EI. ALBEEK TOU DE TOU

THE:SAUROU, OSNON ANA RESKOI.

PARAINO: DE HO:S LABE:IS TE:N

KEPHALE:N, ME: HAPTOU EO:MATOS.+

QVISQVIS ES,

QVANTVNCVN-

QUE LIBVERIT

HVIVS THESAVRI

SVME AD MONEO.

AVFER CAPVT,

CORPVS NE TAN-

GITO.]

This noueltie worthie to be manifested, and secret riddle often to be

read ouer, was not knowen to me, so as I rested doubtfull what the

interpretation of this sophisme should signify, not daring to trie the

conclusion. But stricken with feare in this dark vnlightsome place,

notwithstanding the dimme burning lampe, I was more desirous to beholde

and peruse that triumphant porch and gate as more lawfull to remaine

there than other-where. Whereupon without more adoe, I determined to

leaue this place vntill another time, that I might more quietly at

lesure looke vpon the same, and to prepare my selfe to beholde the

woonderfull worke of the gate: and thus descending downe I issued foorth

of the vnbowelled monster, an inuention past imagination, and an

excessiue labour and bolde attempt to euacuate such a hard substance

ouer that other stones be, the workemanship within as curious as that

without. Lastly, returned cleane downe, I beheld in the Porphire laste

along the sides notably insculpt and grauen these hierogliphies.

First, the horned scalpe of an oxe, with two tooles of husbandry fastned

to the hornes.

An altar standing vpon goates feete, with a burning fire aloft, on the

foreside whereof there was also an eie, and a vulture.

After that a bason and an ewre.

A spindle ful of twind, an old vessel fashioned with the mouth stopped

and tied fast.

A sole and an eye in the bale thereof and two branches trauersed one of

Oliue, an other of Palme tree.

An Anchor and a Goose.

An olde lampe, and a hand holding of it.

An ore of ancient forme with a fruitefull Oliue branch fastned to the

handle.

Two grapling yrons or hookes.

A Dolphin and an Arke close shut.

These hierogliphies were passing well cut on this manner.

[Illustration]

Which ancient maner of writing, as I take it, is thus to be vnderstoode.

_Ex labore Deo natur[ae] sacrifica liberaliter paulatim reduces

animum Deo subiectum. Firmam custodiam vit[ae] tu[ae], misericorditer

gubernando tenebit, incolumemque seruabit._

Letting passe this most excellent rare, strange, and secret deuise and

worke: _L_et vs returne againe to the prodigious horse, whose head was

leane and little, of a small proportion and yet fitting the body, which

seemed continually staring, fieerce and impatient, the flesh in his

muscles trembling and quaking, in such sort as that hee seemed rather

aliue than a fained imitation, with this Greeke worde in his face

+GENEA+. There were also other great peeces and fragments of diuers and

sundry lineaments among the broken and decayed ruines, which I looked

not on, still running and sliding, time giuing me onely leaue to

consider and peruse these foure rare wonders, the porch or gate, the

horse, the Colose, and the Elephant.

Oh reuerend arthists of times past, what despite hath gotten the vpper

hand of your cunning that the same is buried with you, and none left for

vs to inherite in this age,

At length being come to this ancient porch, a worke woorthie the looking

vpon maruellously composed by exquisite rules, and by art notably

beautified, with diuers and sundry sorts of cuttings, which did inflame

a desire in me to vnderstand and finde out the lineaments and practise

of the architect. I beganne after this maner, making a square from the

two collumnes on either side in a perfect sort, in the which I tooke the

due proportion of the whole porch.

A tetragon figure A. B. C. D. diuided by three lines straight, and three

ouerthwart equally distant one from an other will make sixeteene

quadrats, then adde to the figure halfe as much more in like proportion,

diuiding the adiunct you shall finde foure and twenty squares. This

figure shall serue of credycels to make the inlepturgie and briefe

demonstration that followeth.

Draw then in the first fygure A. B. C. D. two diagons, make also in the

same two lines, and straight downe, and the other ouerthwart, which make

foure quadrats mutually intersect,

Then in the voide ouer the Isopleures make foure mediane prickes,

drawing lines from one to another, and they wil make the Rhombas.

When I had drawne this figure after this manner I straightway mused with

my selfe, what reason should mooue many of our woorkemen in these dayes

eyther to thinke well of themselues, or take the art of building in

hand, not knowing what it is? Making such grosse faults in churches and

great mens houses, defaming arte, and so ignorant, that they seeme as

though they could not consider what nature hir selfe dooth teach vs in

behoulding of hir woorkes.

And what parte soeuer is not agreeable with his principle, is foule and

naught. For take away order and rule, and what thing can any man make,

eyther beautifull to the eye, or of commendable proportion and durable:

then it must needes follow, that the cause of such inconuenient errors

doth proceed from ignorance, and hath his beginning from illiterature.

And this notwithstanding, that although the perfection of this arte

dooth not varie, & fall from his rectitude, yet the discreet and cunning

architect to grace the obiect, to the behoulders: may lawfullye eyther

with adiection or deminution, beautifie his worke, keeping whole the

sollid part, with his vniuersall composition.

I call that solid which is the bodye of the frame, which is the

principall intent, inuention, fore setting downe, and symmetrie, or dew

proportion of the building without any additions, rightlye examined, and

perfectly composed, which will manifest the skill of the workeman, and

the same afterwardes to adorne and beautifie, which adiuncts is an easie

matter. Wherein is also to be considered, the dew ordering and placing

of euery thing, and not to set a crowne vpon the feete, but vpon the

head, and so oualing and denticulating, and other cuttings of sundrye

sorts in their seuerall and best fitting places, the chiefe inuention

and disposing whereof, resteth in the rare and cunning architect, but

the labour and woorking therof to the vulgar and common sort of

mannalistsand seruants to the architect, who if he will do well, he must

in no wise be subiect to auarice.

And besides his skil he must be honest, no pratler full of words, but

courteous, gentle, bening, tractable, patient, mery & pleasant, full of

new deuises, a curious searcher into all artes, and well aduised in his

proceeding, least with rashnes he comit a fault or absurditie in his

worke, and heereof thus much shall suffice.

_After that _Poliphylus_ had at large made a demonstration of the dew

proportion of the Gate, hee proceedeth to describe the ornaments

thereof, and their excellencie._

I hauing beene somewhat prolix and tedious in my former purpose, it may

be that it hath bred some offence, to such as dayly indeuour to occupie

theyr sences in the pleasaunt discourses of loue. But it wyll also

prooue no whit displeasant, if with a lyttle patience, they restraine to

glutte themselues with the walowish sweetnes of deceyueable delightes,

and trye the taste of a contrarye vyand.

And for as much as the affections of men are naturally variable and

different one from an other: vpon this occasion I may bee excused. For

although that bread sometime denyed and kept backe from the hungrie

body, may cause a hard conceit, yet when it is eftsoones offered vnto

him, the mallice is forgotten, and the gift very gratefully receyued.

Nowe hauing in some sorte spoken of the right vse of architecturie, and

the direct waye and meanes by order and rule, to finde out, the set

downe deuise, and solyde bodye or grounde of the woorke, with facilitie

that beeing found out, the architector may vse sundrye deuisions in

diuerse perfections, not vnlike vnto a cunning Musition, who hauing

deuised his plaine grounde in right measure, with full strokes,

afterwarde wyll proportion the same into deuisions, by cromatycall and

delyghtfull minims crotchets, and quauers, curiously reporting vpon his

plaine song. Euen so after inuention, the principall and speciall rule,

for an Architector is a quadrature, the same deuided into smales the

harmonie and sweete consent of the building, setteth foorth it selfe,

and the conuenient adiunctes, agreeable to theyr principall.

In all which this porche was most excellent, both for the rare inuention

and woonderfull composition thereof, and the strange additions to

beautifie the same, in such sorte so exquysite, so fitly placed, and so

curiouslie cut and ingrauen, as the smallest part thereof could not bee

accused of anye fault, but the woorkman commended for the perfection of

his skill.

First vpon my right hande belowe, I beheld a stilypode or square stone,

like an aulter vnder the bases of the columnes, which hauing vpon the

vpper parte a conuenient and meet coronice, and accordingly imbowed, the

bottome and lowest part in like manner was fashioned, so as the quadrate

and aforesayd stilypode, was no broder then long, but a right

quadrangule. Which aulter (as I may tearme it) sidelong about, wrought

with leaues, hollowed vnder with a gulaterie, and wrapt ouer wirh the

same foliature and leafe worke, hemming in the smooth face or table of

the Stilypode of shining white alliblaster, polished and plaine, the

outward part of the quadrangule, equilaterally compassing about the

same, wherevpon with a woonderfull curiousnes was ingrauen a man neere

his myddle-age, of a churlish and swarffie countenance, with an vnshaply

beard, thick, and turning into his chyn, by the towghnesse of the hard

skinne, and vneasie growing out of the hayre.

He sat vpon a stone with an aporne of a Goates skinne, the hinder parts

compassing his waste, and tyed behynde with a knotte, and the neck part,

with the hayrie side next him, hung downe betwixt his legges. Before him

in the interstice of these grose and tumorus calfes, there was an anuill

fastned vpon a knottie peece of a tree, wherevpon he was fashoning of a

brigandine or habergion of burning mettall, houlding vp his Hammer, and

as it were striking vpon his worke.

And there before him was a most noble woman, hauing two fethered wings

set vpon hir delicate and tender shoulders, houlding hir sonne an

infante naked, which sate with his little hyppes vpon the large and

goodly proportioned thighes of the faire goddesse his mother, and

playing with hir, as she held him vp, and putting his feete vpon a

stone, as it had beene a little hill, with a fornace in a hollow hole,

wherin was an extreame whote burning fire.

This Ladye had hir fayre tresses curiouslie dressed vpon hyr broad and

highe forhead, and in like sorte compassing about with abundance, hir

head in so rare and delicate a sort, that I marueyled why the

Blacksmithes that were there busie at theyr worke, left not off to looke

still vpon so beautifull an obiect. There was also fast by, of like

excellent woorkemanship, a knight of fierce countenance,[A] hauing vpon

hym an armour of brasse, with the head of _Medusa_ vpon the curate or

brest plate, and all the rest exquisitely wrought and beautified, with a

bandilier ouerthwart his broad and strong brest, houlding with hys

brawny arme a halfe Pike, and raysing vp the poynte thereof, and bearing

vpon his head a high crested helmet, the other arme shadowed and not

seene by reason of the former figure: There was also a young man in

silke clothing, behynde the Smith, whome I could not perceiue but from

the brest vpwarde, ouer the declyning head of the forenamed Smith. Thys

rehearsed hystorie, for the better and sweeter pleasing to the eye, the

workeman had graced in this sort. The playne grounde that was hollowe

and smoothe in euery cutting out of a limme or body, vpon the table of

the stylipode, was like vnto red coroll and shyning, which made such a

reflection vpon the naked bodyes, and theyr members betwixt them, and

compassing them about, that they seemed lyke a Carnation Rose couler.

[Sidenote A: Mars.]

Vpon the left side of the doore in the like aulter or stylipode vpon the

table thereof, there was ingrauen a yoong man of seemly countenance,[A]

wherein appeared great celerity: he sate vpon a square seate adorned

with an ancient manner of caruing, hauing vpon his legge a paire of half

buskens, open from the calfe of the legge to the ancle, from whence grew

out on either ancle a wing, and to whome the aforesaide goddes with a

heauenlye shape, her brests touching together and growne out round and

firme without shaking, with her large flankes conformable to the rest of

hir proportion before mentioned with a sweet countenance offered yoong

and tender sonne ready to be taught: the yong man bowing himselfe

curteously downe to the childe, who stoode before him vppon his pretty

little feete, receiuing from his tutor three arrowes, which in such sort

were deliuered as one might easelye coniecture and gather after what

manner they were to be vsed: the goddesse his mother holding the empty

quiuer and bowe vnbent, and at the feete of this instructor lay his

vypered caduce.

[Sidenote A: Mercurie.]

There also I saw a squier or armour-bearer and a woman with a helmet

vpon her head carying a troph[ae] or signe of victorie vpon a speare

after this manner.[A] An ancient coate-armor hung vp, and vpon the top

thereof or creast, a spheare vpon two wings, and betwixt both wings this

note or saying, _Nihil firmum_, Nothing permanent: she was apparelled in

a thin garment carried abroad with the wind, and her breasts bare.

[Sidenote A: Amor mi troua di tutto disarmato.]

The two straight pillars of Porphyre of seuen diameters vpon either of

the aforenamed stilipodes and square aultars did stretch vpward of a

pumish or tawnie colour, the out sides shining cleere and smoothly

pollished, chamfered, and chanelled with foure and twenty rebaternents

or channels in euery collumne betwixt the nextruls or cordels.

Of these the third part was round, and the reason of their cutting in

such sort (that is two parts chamfered, & the third round) as I thought

was this: the frame or temple was dedicated to both sexes, that is, to a

god and a goddesse, or to the mother and the son, or to the husband and

the wife, or the father and the daughter, and such like. And therefore

the expert and cunning workemen in elder time for the feminine sex, did

vse more chamfering and channelling and double varietie then for the

masculine, because of their slippery and vnconstant nature.

The cause of so much rebating was to shew that this was the temple of a

goddesse, for chamfering dooth set foorth the plytes of feminine

apparell, vpon the which they placed a chapter with prependent folding,

like vnto plyted and curled haire, and feminine dressing, and sometimes

in stead of a chapter a woman's head with crisped haire.

These notable and faire collumnes aforesaide did rise vp in length vpon

their vnderset bases of brasse with their _Thores_ and _Cymbies_[A]

wrought with a foliature of oke leaues and acornes winding about their

chapters standing vpon their subiect _Plynths_.

[Sidenote A: Thores and Cymbies be the outward parts of a chapter or

head of a pillar sticking out further than the pillar wrything and

turning in, wrought with leaues, the worke is called of caruers &

painters draperie and celerie.]

The Chapters of the same substance of their bases, with requisite meete

and conuenient proportion aunswerable to the harmonie of the whole

worke. Such as _Callimachus_ the chiefe caruer to _Calathus_ the sonne

of _Iupiter_ did neuer performe or come neere in the erected sepulcher

of the _Corinthian_ Virgin, beautified with draperie of double

_Achanthis_.

The Plynthes whereon the chapters did stand wrought with winding and

turning workes, and in the middest, decorated with a Lillie, the bowle

garnished with two rowes of viii. leaues of Achanthus, after the Romaine

and Corinthian maner, out of which leaues came little small stalkes,

closing together in the middest of the boule, shewing foorth a fayre and

sweet composed Lyllie in the hollowing of the Abac or Plynth, from the

which the tender stalkes did turne round together, vnder the compasse of

the square Abac, much after the woorke that _Agrippa_ caused to bee

made, in the porche of his woonderfull Pantheon.

Let vs come now to the lymet and lowest parte of the doore, for

entrance, which was of a great large and harde stone, powdered with

sundry sorted spottes, white, black, and of a clay couler, and diuers

other mixtures: vppon this stood the streight cheekes and sides of the

doore, with an interstitious aspect, inwardly carued with as great

cunning as the rest. Without any signe of eyther hookes or hinges, below

or aboue.

The arche of which doore compassing like a halfe cyrcle, was wrought

curiouslye and imbowed, and as it were bounde about with laces like

beads of brasse, some round, and some like Eglantine berries of a

reddish couler, hanging downe after an auncient manner, and foulded and

turned in among the tender stalkes.

The closing together and bracing of which hemicycle or arch, worthie of

admiration, of a rare and subtile deuise, and exquisite polyture, did

thus obiect and present it selfe to my sight.

There I beheld in a hard and most black stone, an eagle displayed, and

bearing out of the bignesse of a naturall eagle, which had louingly

seazed and taken in hir foote a sweete babe in the swadling cloutes,[A]

nicely, carefully, and gently houlding the same, least that hir strong,

sharpe, and hooking pounces, should by anye meanes pierce thorough the

tender skynne of the young infant.

[Sidenote A: The Eagle of Iupiter that carryed Ganimed.]

Hir feete were fixed about the rising vp chist of the childe, whome she

had made bare from the nauell vpwarde and downeward so as the naked

hippes might be seene betwixt the fethered thighes of the Eagle. This

little infant and most beautifull babe (worthie and meete for him that

he was seazed for) by his countenance shewed as if he had beene afraide

of his fortune.

And thus lying in the foote of the Eagle, he stretched both his armes

abroade, and with his little fat hands tooke fast hould vpon the

remigiall bones[A] of the Eagles pinions displayed, as aforesaid. And

clasping his swelling prittie legges and feete, about hir suruaighing

spreding traine, which laye behinde the rising vppe of the arche.

[Sidenote A: The bones next the qack in the wing, whiche in a hawke

excelleth all proportions of other birds.]

This little childe was cut of the white vayne of Achates[A] or Onix, and

the Eagle of the other vaine of the same stone called sardius which is

of black couler of some called Cordeoll, ioyning both in one selfe same

stone. Whereat I stood musing and commending to my selfe the ingenious

and apt inuention of the Arthist, in the vse of such a stone, which of

his owne nature to contrarie proportions affoorded contrarie coulers,

and in such sort as by the raysing vp of hir small plummage aboue hir

seare, hir beack halfe open, and hir toung appearing in the middest

thereof, as if she had beene resolutely intended, and eagerly bent to

haue gorged hir selfe vpon it.

[Sidenote A: Achates is a pretious stone wherein are represented

the figures of the nine Muses, of Venus and such like beautiful

personages.]

The hemicicle or arche rising rownd from the vpper part of the streight

cheeke of the entrance, according to the thicknes thereof was disposed

into losenges or squares, wherein were carued Roses, theyr leaues and

branches hanging in a curious and delightfull order to behoulde, ouer

the entry of the Gate.

In the two Triangles occasioned by the bow of the arche there were two

fayre Nymphes of excellent proportions and shapes, theyr clothes which

couered theyr Virgins bodyes, giuing place for theyr legges, brests, and

armes to be bare, theyr hayre loose and flying abroad, and towardes the

brace, and knitting together of the arche aboue, they held a victorious

troph[ae].

The ground of which tryangle was of black stone, the better to shew

the perfection and truthe of the mettals in the troph[ae]s, and the

beautifull bodyes of the delycate virgins.

Aboue these mentioned partes, was the Zophor,[A] in the myddest whereof,

I beheld a table of goulde, wherein was this Epigram in Cappitall Greeke

Letters of Syluer. In thys sorte reporting.

+THEOIS APHRODITIKAI TO: O: EROTI DIONISOS YKAI

DE: ME:TRA EK TO:N IDIO:N MYTRI

SUMPATHESTATE:+

_Diis veneri filio amori, Bacchus, & Ceres de propriis,

S. substantiis matri pientissim[ae]._

[Sidenote A: Zophor is a border wherin diuers things are grauen.]

Eyther sides of which table was reteind and held vp with two babes or

wynged spyrits of perfect and liuelye shapes, as if they had beene

celestiall bodyes, vppon a ground of Iasul or blew Saphyrs to grace the

mettals and imagerie.

Vpon the face of the Zophor extending and stretching along ouer the

columnes of porphir stone were ingrauen certain spoiles or curates,

gorgets of mayle, vaumbraces, gauntlets, shields, Targets, head-peeces,

maces, battell Axes, spurres, quiuers, arrowes, dartes, broken launces,

curtilaxes, and other auncient instruments of warre. As well ayerie and

marine, as for the field singularly well cut, and manifesting to the

behoulder both victories, force, and triumphes, after a mortall effusion

of bloud.

Vpon this in order stood the coronice, wrought with such lyneaments as

decently concurred, and were aunswerable to the excellencie of the rest

of the worke: for other wise, as in a mans body one qualitie being

contrarie to another, sicknesse dooth follow, the humors oppressing one

an other in abundance: so in building if the adiuncts be vnaptly

disposed, and vndecently distributed there will fall out a fowle

deformitie.

For a frame and building growes weake and vnseemely wherin cannot be

found a sweete harmonie and commodulate order and concent.

Which thing many moderne ideots doe confound, being ignorant in Locall

distribution. For a cunning crafts master will in his worke shewe an

allusion or resemblance to a humaine shape and proportion beautifully

adorned in apparrell.

Aboue ouer the coronice, by an inuers gradation there were fowre

Quadratures or square Tables, two right ouer the chamfered columnes, and

channelled pyllars, and two within them. In an other deuision, betwixt

the said two contrast and inwarde tables, there stood a Nimph in hir

Anagliph[A] most rare and excellent of Orichalke or yealow Latin,

houlding in eyther hand a Torche, one of them reuersed and turned

downeward, beieng extinct and put out, and the other burning towardes

the Sunne. The burning Torche in hyr righte hande, and the extincte in

hyr left.

[Sidenote A: Anagliph smothly chased out with the hammer and not

carued.]

In the quadriture vppon the right side, I behelde the iealous

_Climene_,[A] with her haire trans-formed into an hearbe called _Venus_

maid, or Lady hearbe, & _Phoebus_ in a cruell indignation & wrathfull

displeasure, she following of him weeping, from whom he fled hastening

on forward hys swift horses, as one that flyeth from hys mortall and

deadly enemie.

[Sidenote A: Clymene the mother of Phaeton.]

Vppon the Table ouer the Columnes on the left side in a curious and rare

vnusuall caruing, there was the resemblance historyed of the

vncomfortable and still mourning _Cyparissus_ holding vp hys handes and

armes toward the Sunne, and making his mone to _Apollo_ for the wounded

_Cerua_.

In the third Table nexte the last mencioned, in a worke answerable to

the presedent and former, I behelde _Leucothoe_, wickedly slayne of hyr

own Father, chaunging and transforming her fayre yong and tender flesh

into smooth barke, shaking leaues and bending wandes.

In the fourth Table, was represented the discontented & displeasant

_Daphne_, at the burning desires of the curled headed _Delius_, rendring

vp by little and little her virgins body vndefiled, towards the hote

heauens, beeing metamorphised most pyttifully into a greene Laurell.

Nowe successiuely in order ouer the afore-mencioned Tables and

quadratures in the _Zophor_, wherein these Histories were represented in

shapes, there was extended and laide ouer a Coronice denticuled & oualld

with interset stralets, betwixt the iates of the Oualls, and leafeworke

and the Imbrices with the rest that appertayneth to the setting forth of

the same (past my skill to report) without any fault or defect: and

lastly, the syme was adorned heere and there with the leaues of

_Achanthis_.

And to return to the view of the whole frame, in the disposing thereof

as aforesaide,[A] the Coronices by a perpendycular lyne were

corrospondentand agreeing with the faling out of the whol worke, the

Stilliced or Perimeter, or vtterpart of the vppermost Coronice onely

except.

[Sidenote A: A petiment in corrupt English.]

It followeth to shew and speake of the _T_able or inward part of the

_T_rigonall: within the which, according as the extreames of the same

triangle would permit, there was presented to my view, a Crowne or

Garland of diuers leaues, fruites, and stalkes, foulded vppe and wrapte

together of a greene stone knitte in foure partes, the byndings of the

selfe same stalkes, holden by two Mermaydes, the vpper parts of them of

a humayne shape, and that vnder the nauell like a Fyshe, their one hande

vp, and the other belowe on the Garlande, their scalye tayles extending

to the nethermost corners of the Triangle, vppon the top of the Coronice

hauing at theyr extreeme partes theyr fishy winges or finnes. Theyr

faces like vyrgines, theyr tresses of haire, partly curling vppe vppon

their forheades, some turned about their heads and rowled vp, some

depending downe vppon theyr temples, and crisping and inanulating by

their eares. From betwixt their shoulders grewe their winges like

Harpies, stretching downe and extending to the foulding and turnings of

theyr tayles, vpon their monstrous flankes grew out their fynnes to

swimme withall, their beginning, their fishie and scalye substance, and

from thenceso continuing theyr nether parts downewarde.

Within the saide Garland I beheld a rough Milche Gote,[A] which a little

child did suck, sitting vnder hir side vpon his fleshie young legges one

streight foorth, and the other retract and bowed vnder him. With his

little armes houlding himselfe by the hearie and rough locks, his

countenance and eyes vpon the byg and full vdder thus sucking. And a

certaine Nimphe, as it were speaking woords, and giuing voyces of

contentment, to the Goat and bowing downe hir selfe with the left hand,

held vp one of the feete, and with the right hand putting the pappe to

the smacking kissings of the sucking infant, and vnder hir were these

letters _Amalthea_.[B]

[Sidenote A: Iupiter.]

[Sidenote B: Iupiters nursse.]

Another Nimphe stood against the head of the Goate, with one arme

carefully compassing the neck, and with the other shee held hir by the

horne.

In the middest stood the third Nimphe with greene bowgh leaues in one

hand, and in the other an oulde fashioned drinking bowle, more long then

broad, like a boate by a little handle. Vnder hir feete was written,

_Melissa_.[A]

[Sidenote A: The daughter of Melissus and Iupiters nursse.]

Betwixt one and other of the three fore specified Nymphes, there were

two other hauing Cymbals in theyr handes, as it were playing and

dauncing, euery one apparrelled according to the perfection of theyr

beauties, with an artificiall performance of workmanship in the

vndertaken proportions, that they rather seemed the substances

themselues then a Lythoglyph an Imagerie, either by _Policletus_,

_Phidias_ or _Lysippus_, neyther did y^e _Anaglipts_[A] to _Artemisia_

the Queene of _Caria_, _Scaphes_, _Briaxes_, _Timotheus_, _Leocaris_ and

_Theon_, come any thing neare for the workemanship heereof seemed to

excell the cunning of any humaine Lapicidarie, caruer grauer, or cutter

whatsoeuer.

[Sidenote A: Anaglipts are cunning carues and grauers.]

Aboue this foresayde Triangle, and vnder the vpper coronice in a

smooth plaine were these two Attic wordes in capitall Letters, +DIOS

AIGIOCHION+.

This conspitious porche and gate, most woorthye to be behelde, thus

stoode of a maruelous composition, excellently disposed. If I had not

explaned the commodulation and harmonie heereof particularly, I might

haue beene blamed for my prolixitie and tediousnesse, and for wanting of

fit words, in the discription. And thus for this time heereof so much.

[Illustration:

{Archway with words}

+DIOS AIGIOCHION+]

It must needes follow, that all the rest of the aforesaide court on

euery side was beautifull to behold, and of stately workemanship by that

which still remained standing: as in the inward parte the naues and

columnes carrieng and bearing vp an immesurable and monstrous weight,

and Corinthies of a lesser sort, a diuine and vnknowen work abounding in

variety of perfections as proportion required and needfullnes did desire

to beare vp the burthen that was laide vppon them. Their ornature and

decking with woorkes, and deuises imitating the apparreling of princely

bodies indewed as it were with an artificiall reason. For as to a large

big and corpulent body strong legges, and broad feete, are necessarie to

beare and carry the same: so in a modulate and well composed building,

to sustaine great weights, Naues are appointed, and for beautie,

columnes, Corinthies, and slender Ionices, are set vpon them. And this

whole woorke euen after such sorte as was requisite for the harmonie

thereof, euen so it stood in an approoued excellencie.

With diuersitie of coulers, sweetlye set, and aptlye disposed, the

reflexion of one beautifing another, and all together making a gratious

obiect. Of _Porphyrit_, _Ophit_, _Numidian_, _Alabastrit_, _Pyropecil_,

_Lacedemonian_ greene, and white marble, diuerslie watered, and of

_Andracine_ with white spottes, and many others of strange sorts and

diuers commixtures.

I found one rare forme of a base, in fashion like a cushion vpon the

plynthe whereof stood two trochils or torrules, with an interposition of

Hypotracles or shaftes, and Astragals, with a supreame Thore.

Diuers places were hidden and couered ouer with winding, felted and

spreding Iuie, full of black berries, and greene soft leaues heare and

there growing vp, and hindering the inwarde obiect of the auncient

worke, with other Murall and wall weeds comming out of the chinkes and

clifts, as the bell flowre. Venus Nauill, & Erogennet, of some called

Loue, to whome he is gratefull, bushing downe againe toward the ground,

in other ryfts grew Mowse-eare, Polypodie, Adientus or Lady hayre, the

iagged and curled Cithracus the knotted Lunarie minor, Prickmaddam,

Polytricon, or goulden lockes and such like, which vse to grow in

decayed buildings, and ould stone wales, so that many woorthie peeces

were inuested and hydden from me, with such like weedes and greene

Olyues the garnishers of ruines.

There was in diuers places inestimable huge downe falles of many

columnes or rather confused piles of broken stones, and vnshapely

Culpins mounting vp from the earth.

Among which downefallen peeces I might see the remaynders of diuers

shapes of men of sundrie sortes, many naked, other some hauing their

members couered with folded and plited induments, fast sticking to their

naked proportions. Some standing vpon the left foote, others vpon the

right in a streight sort, with their heads perpendicularly, euer the

center betwixt their heeles, and some looking sidewaies in height, foure

Cubites of sixe foote.