Chapter 1

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* * * *
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Number 87

THE ENGLISH
EXPERIENCE

Its Record in Early Printed Books
Published in Facsimile

(FRANCESCO COLONNA)

HYPNEROTOMACHIA

London 1592

Da Capo Press
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd.
Amsterdam 1969 New York

* * * * *

The publishers acknowledge their gratitude
to the Curators of the Bodleian Library, Oxford,
for their permission to reproduce
the Library's copy.

S.T.C. No.5577
Collation: A-Z (4o.), Aa-Cc (4o.)

Published in 1969 by
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd.,
O. Z. Voorburgwal 85, Amsterdam
&
Da Capo Press
: a division of Plenum Publishing Corporation :

* * * * *

HYPNEROTOMA-
_CHIA_.

The
Strife of Loue in a
_Dreame_.

At London,
Printed for Simon Waterson, and are
to be sold at his shop, in S. Paules Church-
_yard, at Cheape-gate_.

_1592._

TO THE THRISE HO-
NOVRABLE AND EVER LY-
VING VERTVES OF SYR _PHILLIP_
_SYDNEY_ KNIGHT; AND TO THE
RIGHT HONORABLE AND OTHERS WHAT-
SOEVER, WHO LIVING LOVED HIM,
_AND BEING DEAD GIVE HIM_
_HIS DVE_.

To the Right Honourable Robert
Deuorax, Earle of Essex and Ewe, Viscount
Hereford, and Bourghchier, Lorde Ferrers of Chartley,
Bourghchier and Louaine, Maister of the Queenes Maie-
_sties Horse, and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter:_
Is wished, the perfection of all happinesse, and tryumphant
felicitie in this life, and in the worlde
to come.

When I had determined (Right honorable) to dedicate this Booke, to the
euerlyuing vertues of that matchlesse Knight Syr _Phillip Sydney_; me
thought that I could not finde out a more Noble personage then your
selfe, and more fit, to patronize, shield, and defende my dutie to the
deade, then your Honour, whose greatnes is such, and vertues of that
power, as who so commendeth them, deserueth not to be accounted a
flatterer, but he that doth not the same, may be thought an euill
willer. Hovv your Honor vvill accept hereof, I make no doubt, because
that curtesie attendeth vpon true nobilitie; but my humble request is,
that your Honor may not thinke of me (by the tytle of the Booke, and
some part of the discourse) as if I vvere amorous, and did speake
according to my ovvne passions, for I beeing restrained of my liberty,
and helde in the graue of obliuion, where I still as yet remaine,
oppressed with Melancholie, and wearied vvith deeper studies, I vvas
glad to beguile the time with these conceits, anothomising in them,
the vanitie of this life, and vncertaintie of the delights therof, in
the Dreame of _Poliphilus_; Which if it shall please your Honor at
conuenient leysure to looke ouer, pardoning what you finde amisse,
and weighing my good will, I shall thinke my selfe most happy.

And thus I humbly take my leaue, vntill that I may present your Honour,
with a matter more fitting the same.

_Your Honors deuoted,_

R. D.

* * * * *

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.

+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+
| Fol. | page. | line. | faults. | correction. |
| | | | | |
| 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. |
| | | | [laborinth] | |
| 10 | 2 | 20 | Palia. | Polia. |
| 11 | 1 | 2 | foote, | fowre. |
| 11 | 1 | 29 | cariec, [carreic] | carrier. |
| | | | [carreic] | |
| 11 | 2 | 3 | backs, [backes] | backe. |
| 12 | 1 | 11 | pecee, [peeee] | peece. |
| 13 | 1 | 3 | adolestency, | adolescency. |
| | | | [adolestencie] | |
| 13 | 1 | 5 | soliature. | foliature. |
| 14 | 1 | 29 | stone, | sonne. |
| 19 | 2 | 12 | soliature, | foliature. |
| 19 | 2 | 25 | briganine, | brigandine. |
| | | | [bryganine] | |
| 19 | 2 | 39 | all. | off. |
+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+

+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+
| Fol. | page. | line. | faultes. | correction. |
| | | | | |
| 21 | 1 | 38 | subuaging, | suruaighing |
| | | | [sub-/vaging | |
| | | | at line break] | |
| 21 | 2 | 2 | sardins, [Sardins] | sardius. |
| 22 | 1 | 7 | vanubraces, | vaumbraces. |
| | | | [Vanubraces] | |
| 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. |
| | | | [Aehanthus] | |
| 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. |
| | | | [Andraeme] | |
| 24 | 2 | 32 | bel flowred | bell flowre. |
| | | | fox gloue, | |
| | | | [bell flowered | |
| | | | Foxgloue] | |
| 26 | 2 | 2 | menifis, | memphis. |
| | | | [Meniphis] | |
| 26 | 2 | 34 | which my, | which with my |
| 28 | 2 | 8 | vastus, [vastues] | vastnes. |
+------+-------+-------+--------------------+---------------------+

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.

bus 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.

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].

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.

_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.

_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.

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].

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.

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.