Chapter 3

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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_.

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.

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.

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.

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]._

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.

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.

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.

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]

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]

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.