drie as that which will not thicken at all Also which is the grossest bloud and heauiest which the lightest and thinnest and last of all what creatures liuing haue no bloud at all THose that haue much bloud and the same fat and grosse are angrie and chollericke The bloud of males is commonly blacker than that of females yea and more in youth than in old age and the same in the bottome and lower part setleth fatter and grosser than aboue In bloud consists a great portion and treasure of life When it is let out it caries with it much vitall spirit howbeit sencelesse it is and hath no feeling The strongest creatures bee they which haue the thickest bloud but the wisest those that haue thinnest the more fearefull that haue least but dull and blockish altogether which haue none at all Buls bloud of all other soonest congealeth and waxeth hard and therefore poison it is to be drunke especially The bloud of Bores red and fallow Deere Roe-buckes and all Buffles will not thicken Asses bloud is most fatty and grosse and contrarily mans bloud is thinnest finest Those beasts which haue more than 4 feet are bloudlesse Those that be fat haue small store of bloud because it is spent in fatnesse Man only bleeds at the nose some at one nosthrill alone others at both and some againe void bloud downward by the Hemorrhoids Many there be that cast vp bloud at certaine times ordinarie by the mouth as not long since Macrinus Viscus late pretor of Rome and vsually euerie yeare Volusius Saturninus Prouost of the citie who notwithstanding liued vntill hee was aboue fourescore and ten yeres old Bloud is the only thing in the body that increases presently For so we see that beasts killed for sacrifice wil bleed most freshly in greater abundance if they dranke a little before Those creatures that lie hidden in the earth at certaine times as we haue said before haue no bloud in all that while vnlesse it be some few and those very smal drops gathered about their hearts A wonderfull worke of Nature that it should be so as also that in a man it should alter and change euer and anon so as it doth vpon euery small occasion and the force and strength thereof varie not only for defect and want of matter to disperse abroad but also for euery little motion and passion of the minde as shame anger and feare For one while it sheweth pale another whiles red more or lesse in much varietie of degrees In case of anger it wil shew one color of shame and bashfulnesse appearing in another In feare doubtlesse it retires and flies backe in such sort as a man knowes not what is become of it so as many in that fit haue ben stabbed and run thorough and yet bleed not at all one drop but this suddaine change of colour happens to men only For in other creatures which as we haue said do alter their hue it is an outward colour that they take from the reflection of certain places neer vnto them man alone hath this change from within himselfe To conclude all maladies and death especially consume the bloud CHAP. XXXIX ¶ Whether in Bloud resteth the soueraignetie or no Also of the nature of Skin of Haires and the Paps SOmâ—… measure not the finenesse of spirit and wit by the puritie of bloud but suppose that creatures are brutish more or lesse according as their Skin is thicker or thinner and as the other couertures of their bodie be either grosse and hard or thin and tender as we see for example in Oisters and Tortoises They affirme moreouer that the thick hide in Kine Oxen and the hard bristles in Swine impeach the entrance of subtile aire and fine spirit into their bodies in such wise that nothing can pierce and passe through which is pure and fine as it should be And hereto they bring men also as a proofe who are thicke skinned and more brawnie for to be more grosse of sence and vnderstanding as who would say that Crocodiles were not very wittie and industrious yet their skin is hard enough And as for the Riuer-horse his hide is so thicke that thereof jauelines and speares are turned and yet so industrious is that beast that in some case he is his owne Physician and he hath taught vs to open a veine and let bloud The Elephants skin is so tough and hard that therof be made targuets and shields of so good proofe that is is impossible to pierce them thorough and yet they are thought to be of all four-footed beasts most ingenious and wittie Wherefore conclude we may that the skin it selfe is sencelesse and hath no fellowship at all with the vnderstanding and especially that of the head and whersoeuer it is of it selfe naked and without flesh be sure if it be wounded impossible it is to consolidate the wound and namely in the eie lids and bals of the cheekes All creatures that bring forth their young quicke are hairie those that lay egs haue either feathers as birds skales as fishes or else be couered with shels as Tortoises or last of all haue a plaine skin and no more as Serpents The quils of all feathers be hollow Cut them they will grow no more plucke them they will come againe Insects flie with thin and brittle pellicles or membranes The sea Swallowes haue them euermore moist and drenched in the sea As for the Bat he is afraid to wet them and therfore flies about housen his wings besides are diuided into joints The haires that grow forth of a thick skin are commonly hard grosse but euermore thinner and finer in the females In horses and mares they grow at length vpon their mains Lions also haue them long about their shoulders and foreparts Connies haue long haires about their checkes yea and within-forth as also in the soles of their feet and so hath the Hares according to the opinion of Trogus who thereby collecteth that hairy men likewise are more letcherous than other The hairiest creature of all other is the Hare In mankind only there grows haire about the priuy parts and whosoeuer wants it man or woman is holden for barren not apt for generation Haires in men and women are not all of one sort for some they bring with them into the world others come vp and grow afterwards Those they haue from their mothers womb do not lightly fall and shed and least of all in women Yet shal ye haue some women to shed the haire of the head by occasion of sicklinesse as also other women to haue a kinde of down vpon their face namely when their monethly fleurs do stay vpon them In some men the later kind of haires to wit of the beard c. wil not come of their own accord without the help of Art Four-footed beasts shed their haire yerely and haue it grow again Mens haire of their heads groweth most and next to it that
docilitie and gentlenesse of some fish where they will come to hand and take meat at a mans hand in what countries fishes serue in stead of oracles 3. Of those fishes that liue both on land and water the medicines and obseruations as touching Castoreum 4. Of the sea Tortoise many vertues medicinable obserued in sundry fishes 5. Receits of medicins taken from water creatures digested and set in order according to sundry diseases first against poyson and venomous beasts 6. Of Oisters Purple shell-fishes sea-weeds called Reits their vertues medicinable 7. Medicins against the shedding of the haire how to fetch haire againe also against the infirmities of eies ears teeth and to amend the vseemely spots in the face ly 8. Many medicins set down together vnorder 9. Remedies for the diseases of the liuer and sides stomacke and bellie others also disorderly put downe 10. Against feuers and agues of all sorts and many other infirmities 11. A rehearsall of all creatures liuing in the sea to the number of 122. In summe ye hauehere medicines stories and obseruations 928. Latine Authors Licinius Macer Trebius Niger Sexitius Niger who wrote in Greeke Ovid the Poet Cassius Hemina Mecanas and L. Atteius Forreine Writers K. Iuba Andreas Salpe Pelops Apelles of Thasos Thrasillus and Nicander ¶ THE XXXIII BOOKE DECLARETH the natures of Mettals Chap. 1. In what estimation were the mines of gold at the first in the old world the beginning of gold rings the proportion of gold that our ancestors had in their treasure the degree of knights or gentlemen at Rome the priuiledge to weare gold rings and who only might so do 2. The courts and chambers of judges or justices at Rome how often the gentlemen of Rome and men of armes changed their title the presents giuen to valiant souldiours for their braue seruice in the wars the first crowns of gold that were seene 3. The ancient vse of gold besides both in men women of the golden coine when copper and brasse money was first stamped when gold and siluer was put into coine before mony was coined how they vsed brasse for exchange in old time At the first taxation and leuie made of Tribute what was thought to be the greatest wealth and at what rate were the best men sessed How often and at what time gold grew into credit and estimation 4. The mines of gold and how naturally it is found when the statue or image of gold was first seene medicinable vertues in gold 5. Of Borras and six properties of Borras in matters of Physicke the wonderfull nature that it hath to soder all mettals and giue them their perfection 6. Of Siluer Quick-siluer Antimonie or Alabaster the drosse or refuse of siluer also the scum or some of siluer called Litharge 7. Or Vermilion in what account it was in old time among the Romanes the inuention thereof of Cinnabaris or Sangdragon vsed in painting and Physick diuers sorts of vermillion and how painters vse it 8. Of Quicksiluer artificiall the maner of gilding siluer of touchstones diuers experiments to trie siluer the sundry kinds therof 9. Of mirroirs or looking-glasses of the siluer in Aegypt 10. Of the excessiue wealth of some men in money who were reputed for the richest men when it was that at Rome they began to make largesse and scatter money abroad to the commons 11. Of the superfluitie of coine and the frugalitie of others as touching siluer plate beds and tables of siluer when began fitst the making of excessiue great and massiue platters and chargers of siluer 12. Of siluer statues the grauing and chasing in siluer other workmanship in that mettall 13. Of Sil of Azur of superfice Azur named Nestorianum also of the Azur called Coelum that euery yere these kinds be not sold at one price This booke hath in it of medicines stories and obseruations 1215. Latine Authors alledged L. Piso Antius Verrius M. Varro Cor. Nepos Messula Rufus Marsus the Poet Buthus Iulius Bassus and Sextius Niger who wrote both of Physicke in Greeke and Fabius Vestalis Forreine Writers Democritus Metrodorus Sceptius Menaechmus Xenocrates and Antigonus who wrate all three of the feat and skill of grauing chasing and embossing in mettall Heliodorus who wrote a booke of the rich ornaments and oblations of the Athenians Pasiteles who wrote of wonderfull pieces of worke Nymphodorus Timaeus who wrate of Alchymie or minerall Physicke Iolla Apollodorus Andreas Heraclydes Diagoras Botryensus Archimedes Dionysius Aristogenes Democritus Mnesicles Attalus the Physician Xenocrates the sonne of Zeno and Theomnestes ¶ THE XXXIIII BOOKE TREATETH of other Mettals Chap. 1. Mines of Brasse Copper Iron Lead Tin 2. Sundry kinds of Brasse namely Corinthian Deliacke and Aegineticke 3. Of goodly candlesticks other ornaments of temples 4. The first images made at Rome the originall of statues the honour done to men by statues sundry sorts and diuers forms of them 5. Of statues pourtraied in long Robes and of many others who first erected images vpon columnes and pillars at Rome when they were allowed first at the cities charges also what maner of statues the first wer at Rome 6. Of statues without gowne or cassocke and some other the first statue pourtraied on horsebacke at Rome when the time was that all Images as well in publike places as priuat houses were abolished at Rome and put downe what women at Rome were allowed to haue their statues and which were the first erected in publike place by forrein nations 7. The famous workemen in making casting Images the excessiue price of Images of the most famous and notable colosses or gyant-like images in the citie of Rome 8. Three hundred sixtie and six peeces of work wrought in brasse by most curious and excellent artificers 9. What difference there is in Brasse the diuers mixtures with other mettals how to keepe brasse 10. Of Brasse ore called Cadmia and for what it is good in Physicke 11. The refuse or scum of Brasse Verdegris the skales of brasse and copper steele copper rust or Spanish greene of the collyrie or eye-salue called Hieracium 12. Of a kinde of Verdegris named Scolecia of Chalcitis i. red Vitrioll Mysy Sory and Copporose or Vitrioll i. blacke Nil 13. Of the foile of Brasse named white Nil or Tutia of Spodium Antispodium of Diphryges and the Trient of Servilius 14. Of Iron and mines of Iron the difference also of Iron 15. Of the temperature of Iron the medicinable vertues of Iron and the rust of Brasse and Iron the skales of Iron and the liquid plastre named of the Greekes Hygemplastrum 16. The mines of Lead of white and blacke Lead 17. Of Tin Of Argentine Tin and some other minerals 18. Medicins made of Lead refuse of Lead of Lead ore of Ceruse or Spanish white of Sandaricha of red Orpiment In summe here are contained natable matters stories and obseruations 815. Latine Authours cited L. Piso Antias Verrius M. Varro Messala Rufus Marsus the
these stars be seen in euery place both those that vnto the next Sailers are supposed to be higher the same seeme to them afarre off drowned in the sea And like as this North pole seemeth to be aloft vnto those that are scituate directly vnder it so to them that be gone so far as the other deuexitie or fall of the earth those aboue said starres rise vp aloft there whiles they decline downeward which here were mounted on high Which thing could not possibly fall out but in the figure of a ball And hereupon it is that the inhabitants of the East perceiue not the eclipses of Sun or Moone in the euening no more than those that dwell West in the morning but those that be at noone in the South they see very oft At what time Alexander the great won that famous victorie at Arbela the Moone by report was eclipsed at the second houre of the night but at the very same time in Sicily she arose The eclipse of the Sun which chanced before the Calends of May when as Vipsanus and Fonteius were Consuls being not many yeares past was seene in Campania betweene the 7 and 8 houres of the day but Corbulo a General Commander then in Armenia made report that it was seene there betweene the tenth and 11 houres of the same day by reason that the compasse of the globe discouereth and hides some things to some and other to others But if the earth were plaine and leuell all things should appeare at once to all men for neither should one night be longer than another ne yet should the day of 12 houres appeare euen and equall to any but to those that are seated in the mids of the earth which now in all parts agree and accord together alike CHAP. LXXj ¶ What is the reason of the day light vpon earth ANd hence it commeth that it is neither night nor day at one time in all parts of the world by reason that the opposition of the globe brings night and the round compasse or circuit thereof discouereth the day This is knowne by many experiments In Africk and Spaine there were raised by Hanibal high watch-towers and in Asia for the same feare of rouers and pyrats the like helpe of beacons was erected wherein it was noted oft times that the fires giuing warning afore-hand which were kindled at the sixt houre of the day were descried by them that were farthest off in Asia at the third houre of the night Philonides the curror or Post of the same Alexander aboue named dispatched in 9 houres of the day 1200 stadia euen as far as from Sicyone to Elis and from thence againe albeit he went downe hill all the way he returned oftentimes but not before the third houre of the night The cause was for that he had the Sun with him in his first setting out to Elis and in his returne backe to Sicyone he went full against it met with it and ere he came home ouerpassed it leauing it in the West behind going from him Which is the reason also that they who by day light saile westward in the shortest day of the yeare rid more way than those who saile all night long at the same time for that the other do accompany the Sun CHAP. LXXij ¶ The Gnomonicke art of the same matter as also of the first Diall ALso the instruments seruing for the houres as Quadrants and Dials will not serue for all places but in euery 300 stadia or 500 at the farthest the shadowes that the Sun casteth change and therefore the shadow of the style in the Dial called the Gnomon in Egypt at noone tide in the Aequinoctial day is little more in length than halfe the Gnomon But in the city of Rome the shadow wanteth the ninth part of the Gnomon In the towne Ancona it is longer than it in a 35 part But in Venice at the same time and houre the shadow and the Gnomon be all one CHAP. LXXiij ¶ Where and when there be no shadowes at all IN like manner they say that in the towne Syene which is aboue Alexandria 50 stadia at noone tide in the midst of Sommer there is no shadow at all and for further experiment thereof let a pit be sunke in the ground and it will be light all ouer in euery corner Wherby it appeareth that the Sun then is iust and directly ouer that place as the very Zenith thereof Which also at the same time hapneth in India aboue the riuer Hypasis as Onesicratus hath set downe in writing Yea and it is for certaine knowne that in Berenice a city of the Troglodites and from thence 4820 stadia in the same countrey at the towne of Ptolemais which was built at the first vpon the very banke of the Red sea for the pleasure of chasing and hunting of Elephants the selfe same is to be seen 45 daies before the Summer Sunsted and as long after and that for 90 daies space all shadowes are cast into the South Again in the Isle Meroe the capitall place of the Aethiopian nation inhabited 5000 stadia from Syene vpon the Riuer Nilus twice in the yeare the shadowes are gon and none at all seen to wit when the Sun is in the 18 degree of Taurus and the 14 of Leo. In the country of the Oretes within India there is a mountaine named Maleus neere which the shadowes in Summer are cast into the South and in Winter into the North. There for 15 nights and no more is the star Charles-wain neere the pole to be seen In the same India at Patales a most famous and frequented port the Sun ariseth on the right hand and all shadowes fall to the South Whiles Alexander made abode there Onesicritus a captaine of his wrot that it was obserued there that the North star was seen the first part only of the night also in what places of India there were no shadowes there the North star appeared not and that those quarters were called Ascia i. without shadow neither keepe they any reckoning of houres there CHAP. LXXIV ¶ Where twice in the yeare the shadowes go contrarie waies BVt throughout all Trogliditine Cratosthenes hath written that the shadowes two times in the yeare for 45 daies fall contrarie waies CHAP. LXXV ¶ Where the day is longest and where shortest IT comes thus to passe that by the variable increment of the day light the longest day in Meroe doth comprehend 12 Equinoctiai houres and 8 parts of one houre aboue but in Alexandria 14 in Italy 15 in Britaine 17 where in Sommer time the nights being light and short by infallible experience shew that which reason forceth to beleeue namely that at Mid summer time as the Sun maketh his approch neere vnto the pole of the world the places of the earth lying vnderneath hath day continually for six moneths and contrariwise night when the Sun is remote as far as Bruma The which Pythias of Massiles hath written of Thule an
onely in the Spring The lake Sinnaus in Asia is infected with the wormewood growing about it and there of it tasteth At Colophon in the vault or caue of Apollo Clarius there is a gutter or trench standing full of water they that drinke of it shall prophesie and foretell strange things like Oracles but they liue the shorter time for it Riuers running backward euen our age hath seen in the later yeres of Prince Nero as we haue related in the acts of his life Now that all Springs are colder in Summer than Winter who knoweth not as also these wonderous workes of Nature That brasse and lead in the masse or lumpe sinke downe and are drowned but if they be driuen out into thin plates they flote and swim aloft and let the weight be all one yet some things settle to the bottome others againe glide aboue Moreouer that heauie burdens and lodes be stirred and remoued with more ease in water Likewise that the stone Thyrreus be it neuer so big doth swim whole and intire breake it once into pieces and it sinketh As also that bodies newly dead fall downe to the bottome of the water but if they be swollen once they rise vp againe Ouer and besides that empty vessels are not so easily drawne forth of the water as those that be full that raine water for salt pits is better and more profitable than all other and that salt cannot be made vnlesse fresh water be mingled withall that sea-water is longer before it congeale but sooner made hot and set a seething That in Winter the sea is hoter and in Autumne more brackish and salt And that all seas are made calme and still with oile and therefore the Diuers vnder the water doe spirt and sprinkle it abroad with their mouthes because it dulceth and allaieth the vnpleasant nature thereof and carrieth a light with it That no snowes fall where the sea is deep And whereas all water runneth downeward by nature yet Springs leape vp euen at the very foot of Aetna which burneth of a light fire so farre forth as that for fiftie yea and an hundred miles the waulming round bals and flakes of fire cast out sand and ashes CHAP. CIIII. ¶ The maruailes of fire and water iointly together and of Maltha NOw let vs relate some strange wonders of fire also which is the fourth element of Nature But first out of waters In a citie of Comagene named Samosatis there is a pond yeelding forth a kinde of slimie mud called Maltha which will burne cleare When it meeteth with any thing solide and hard it sticketh to it like glew also if it be touched it followeth them that free from it By this meanes the townesmen defended their walls when Lucullus gaue the assault and his souldiers fried and burned in their owne armours Cast water vpon it and yet it will burne Experience hath taught That earth onely will quench it CHAP. CV ¶ Of Naphtha OF the like nature is Naphtha for so is it called about Babylonia and in the Austacenes countrey in Parthia and it runneth in manner of liquid Bitumen Great affinitie there is betweene the fire and it for fire is ready to leap vnto it immediatly if it be any thing neere it Thus they say Media burnt her husbands concubine by reason that her guirland annointed therewith was caught by the fire after she approched neere to the altars with purpose to sacrifice CHAP. CVI. ¶ Of places continually burning BVt amongst the wonderfull mountaines the hill Aetna burneth alwaies in the nights and for so long continuance of time yeeldeth sufficient matter to maintaine those fires in winter it is full of snow and couereth the ashes cast vp with frosts Neither in it alone doth Nature tyranize and shew her cruelty threatning as she doth a general consuming of the whole earth by fire For in Phoselis the hil Chimaera likewise burneth and that with a continuall fire night and day Ctesias of Gnidos writeth that the fire therof is inflamed and set a burning with water but quenched with earth In the same Lycia the mountaines Hephaestij being once touched and kindled with a flaming torch do so burne out that the very stones of the riuers yea and the sand in waters are on fire withall and the same fire is maintained with raine They report also that if a man make a furrow with a staffe that is set on fire by them there follow gutters as it were of fire In the Bactrians countrey the top of the hill Cophantus burneth euery night Amongst the Medians also and the Caestian nation the same mountaines burneth but principally in the very confines of Persis At Susis verily in a place called the white tower out of fifteene chimnies or tunnels the fire issueth and the greatest of them euen in the day time carrieth fire There is a plaine about Babylonia in manner of a fish poole which for the quantity of an acre of ground burneth likewise In like sort neere the mountaine Hesperius in Aethyopia the fields in the night time do glitter and shine like stars The like is to be seene in the territorie of the Megapolitanes although the field there within-forth be pleasant and not burning the boughes and leaues of the thicke groue aboue it And neere vnto a warme Spring the hollow burning furnace called Crater Nymphaei alwaies portendeth some fearefull misfortunes to the Apolloniates the neighbours thereby as Theoponpus hath reported It increaseth with showers of raine and casteth out Bitumen to be compared with that fountaine or water of Styx that is not to be tasted otherwise weaker than all Bitumen besides But who would maruell at these things in the mids of the sea Hiera one of the Aetolian Islands neere to Italy burned together with the sea for certaine daies together during the time of the allies war vntill a solemne embassage of the Senat made expiation therefore But that which burneth with the greatest fire of all other is a certaine hill of the Aethyopians Thoeet Ochema and sendeth out most parching flames in the hottest Sun-shine daies Lo in how many places with sundry fires Nature burneth the earth CHAP. CVII ¶ Wonders of fires by themselues MOreouer since the Nature of this onely element of fire is to be so fruitfull to breed it selfe to grow infinitely of the least sparks what may be thought will be the end of so many funerall fires of the earth what a nature is that which feedeth the most greedy voracitie in the whole world without losse of it selfe Put thereto the infinit number of stars the mighty great Sun moreouer the fires in mens bodies those that are inbred in some stones the attrition also of certain woods one against another yea and those within clouds the verie original of lightnings Surely it exceedeth all miracles that any one day should passe not al the world be set on a light burning fire since that the hollow firy glasses also set opposit against the
riuer Calycadnus The cape Sarpedon the townes Olme and Mylae the Cape and towne both of Venus the very next harbor from whence men passe into the Isle Cypres But in the maine land you shall finde these townes Myanda Anemurium Coracesium and the riuer Melas the antient bound that limiteth Cilicia Farther within-forth are to be spoken of the Anazarbenes at this day Caesar Augustani Castabla Epiphania before-time Eniandos Eleusa and Iconium Seleucia vpon the riuer Calicadmus sirnamed also Trachiotis a city remoued backward from the sea where it was called Hormia Furthermore within the country the riuers Liparis Bombos and Paradisus Last of all the mountaine Iubarus All Cosmographers haue ioyned Pamphylia to Cilicia and neuer regarded the Nation of Isaurica being a country by it selfe hauing within it these towns Isaura Clibanus Lalassis And it shoots down to the sea side full vpon the frontiers of the country Anemurium aboue-said In like sort as many as haue set forth maps and descriptions of the world had no knowledge at all of the Nation Homonades confining vpon it notwithstanding they haue a good towne within it called Homona Indeed the other fortresses viz. 44 lie hidden close among the hollow vallies hils of that country There inhabit the mountainers ouer their heads the Pisidians somtime called Sobymi whose chiefe colony is Caesaria the same that Antiochia Their townes be Oroanda and Sagalessos This nation is inclosed as it were within Lycaonia lying within the iurisdiction of the lesse Asia and euen so together with it the Philomelians Timbrians Leucolithi Pelteni and Hyrienses resort thither for law and iustice There is a gouernment or Tetrarchy also out of the quarter of Lycaonia on that side that bordereth vpon Galatia vnto which belong 14 States or cities the chiefe whereof is called Iconium As for the nations of Lyconia those of any note be Tembasa vpon Taurus Sinda in the confines of Galatia and Cappadocia But on the side thereof aboue Pamphilia ye meet with Myliae discended in old time from Thrace who haue for their head city Aricanda As for Pamphilia it was in antient time called Mopsopia The Pamphylian sea ioineth to the Cilician The townes scituate vpon that coast be Side Aspendus on the hill Plantanistus and Perga Also the cape Leucolla the mount Sardemisus the riuer Eurymedon running hard by Aspendum Moreouer Cataractes the riuer neere vnto which stand Lyrnessus and Olbia and the vtmost towne of all that coast Phaselis Fast vpon it lieth the Lycian sea and the nation of the Lycians where the sea makes a huge great gulfe The mountaine Taurus likewise confining vpon the Levant sea doth limit Lycia and Cilicia with the promontorie Chelidonium This Taurus is a mighty mountain and determineth as a judge an infinite number of nations So soone as he is risen from the coast of the East Indian sea hee parteth in twaine and taking the right hand passeth Northward and on the left hand Southward somwhat bending into the West yea and diuiding Asia through the middest and but that he meeteth with the seas ready to stop and dam vp the whole earth besides He retireth back therefore as being curbed toward the North fetching a great circuit and so making his way as if Nature of purpose opposed the seas eftsoones against him to bar him of his passage of one side the Phoenician sea of another the great sea of Pontus the Caspian Hyrcanian seas likewise and full against him the lake Moeotis And notwithstanding all these bars within which he is pent twined and wrested yet maketh he means to haue the mastery and get from them all and so winding byas he passeth on vntill he encounter the Riphaean hils which are of his owne kinde and euer as he goeth is entituled with a number of new names For he is called Imaus where he first beginneth a little forward Emodus Paropamisus Circius Canibades Parphariades Choatras Oreges Oroandes Niphates and then Taurus Neuerthelesse where he is highest and as it were ouer-reacheth himselfe there they name him Caucasus where he stretcheth forth his armes like as if he would now and then be doing with the seas he changeth is name to Sarpedon Coracesius and Cragus and then once again he takes his former name Taurus euen where he opens and makes passage as it were to let in the world And yet for all these waies and ouertures he claimeth his owne stil and these passages are called by the names of gates in one place Armeniae in another Caspiae and sometimes Ciliciae Ouer and besides when he is broken into parcels and escaped far from the sea he taketh many names from diuers and sundry nations on euery side for on the right hand he is termed Hyrcanus and Caspius on the left Pariedrus Moschicus Amazonicus Coraxicus and Scythicus and generally throughout all Greece Ceraunius To returne then to Lycia being past the foresaid cape there Chelidonium ye come to the towne Simena the hill Chimaera which casteth flames of fire euery night the city Hephaestinm where the mountains about it likewise oftentimes are known to burne Somtimes the city Olympus stood there but now nothing to be seene but mountaines and amongst them these townes Gage Corydalla and Rhodiopolis On the sea coast the city Lymira vpon a riuer to which Aricandus runneth also the mountaine Massyrites the cities Andriara and Myra Also these townes Apyre and Antiphellos which somtime was called Habessus and more within-forth in a corner Phellus Then come ye to Pyrrha and so to Xanthus 15 miles from the sea and to a riuer likewise of that name Soon after ye meet with Patara before-time named Sataros and Sydinia seated vpon an hill and so to the promontorie Ciagus Beyond which ye shall enter vpon a gulfe as big as the former vpon which standeth Pinara and Telmessus the vtmost bound in the marches of Lycia In antient time Lycia had in it 60 townes but now not aboue 36. Of which the principall and of greatest note besides the aboue named be Canae Candiba where is the famous wood Oenium Podalia Choma vpon the riuer Adesa Cyane Ascandalis Amelas Noscopium Tlos and Telanorus As for the midland parts of the maine you shall finde Chabalia with three townes thereto belonging Oenonda Balbura and Bubon When you are beyond Telmessus you meet with the Asiaticke sea otherwise called Carpathium and this coast is properly called Asia Agrippa hath diuided it in two parts whereof the one by his description confronteth vpon Phrygia and Lycaonia Eastward but on the West side it is limited with the Aegean sea Southward it bounds vpon Egypt and in the North vpon Paphlagonia the length thereof by his computation is 470 miles the bredth 300. As for the other he saith That Eastward it confineth vpon Armenia the lesse Westward vpon Phrygia Lycaonia and Pamphylia on the North it butteth vpon the prouince or realm of Pontus and on the South side is inclosed with the Pamphylian
of the â—…ater die presently and are there to be seen lying dead For this secret mischiefe there is besides in many of these waters that they are faire and cleare to see to and thereby seeme to allure both man and beast to drinke thereof for their owne bane and destruction as we may see by Nonacris in Arcadia for surely this fountaine giueth no suspition at all wherby we should mistrust a venomous quality and yet some are of opinion That the hurt which commeth thereby proceedeth from excessiue cold and they ground their reason vpon this That the water issuing out of it into riuerets and rils will congeale and grow to a stony substance It fareth otherwise about the vale of Tempe in Thessalie where the water of a certaine fountaine is fearfull to see to and there is no man but abhorreth the sight therof besides the corrosiue quality that by folks saying it hath to fret and eat into brasse and yron the best is that as I haue shewed before it runneth not farre and the course that it holdes is but short But wonderfull it is that a certaine wild Carob should enuiron this source round about with his roots and the same continually beare purple flours as it is roported to do Also in the very brinke and edge of this fountaine there is another herbe of a kind by it selfe which abideth fresh and greene from one end of the yeare to another In Macedonie not far from the tombe of Euripides the Poët there be two riuers run together the one yeelds water most wholesome for to be drunke the other is as noisome and deadly Neare to Perperenae a towne in Troas there is a spring the water whereof giueth a stonie coat or crust to all the earth that it either ouerfloteth or runneth by of which nature are the hot waters issuing out of a fountaine neare Delium in Euboea for look what way soeuer the riuer runs you shal see the stones to grow still in height About Eurymenae which is in Thessalie there is a well cast into it any chaplets or guirlands of floures they will turne to stones There runneth a riuer by Colossi a city in Phrygia into which if you throw brickes or tiles that be raw and vnbaked you shall take them forth againe as hard as stones Within the mines of the Isle Scyros there is a riuer which conuerteth into stone all the trees that it runneth by or toucheth as well the boughs as the bodies In the famous and renowned caues called Corycia all the drops of water that distill from the rocke turne to be as hard as stones and no maruell for at Meza in Macedonie a man shall see the drops of water become stone as they hang to the very vaults of the rocke much like to ysickles from the eaues of houses in Winter time whereas at Corycum abouenamed the said drops turn into stone when they are fallen downe and not before In certain caues they are to be seen conuerted into stones both waies and some of them are so big as they serue to make columnes and pilastres of and those otherwhiles of diuers colours to the eye as may be seen in the great caue of Phausia which is within the Chersonese of the Rhodians Thus much may suffice by way of examples to shew the varietie of waters with their sundry vertues and operations CHAP. III. ¶ The qualitie that is in waters How a man may know which be good and wholesome from such as be naught and vnwholesome MVch question there is controuersie among physicians What kind of water is best and yet with one generall consent they condemne and that iustly all dead and standing waters supposing those that run to be better for it standeth with good reason that the very agitation and beating vpon the banks as they beare streame in their current maketh them more subtile pure and cleare and by that meanes they get their goodnesse Which considered I maruaile very much at those who make most account of the * water gathered and kept in cesternes But they ground their opinion vpon this reason because raine water is of all others lightest as consisting of that substance which was able to rise and mount vp aloft and there to hang aboue in the aire Which is the cause also that they preferre Snow water before that which commeth downe in shoures and the water of yce dissolued before the other of melted Snow as if the water were by yce driuen together and reduced to the vtmost point of finenesse They collect hereby that these waters to wit raine snow and yce bee all of them lighter than those that spring out of the earth and yce among the rest farre lighter than any water in proportion But this opinion of theirs is to bee reputed as erronious and for the common good and profit of mankinde to be refuted For first and formost that leuitie whereof they spake can hardly and vnneath bee found and knowne by any other meanes than by the sence and feeling of the stomacke for if you goe to the weighing of waters you shall perceiue little or no difference at all in their poise Neither is it a sufficient argument to prooue raine water to be light because it ascendeth on high into the aire for wee may see stones likewise drawne vp into the clouds and besides as the raine falleth downe againe it cannot chuse but be infected with the grosse vapours of the earth Whereby it commeth to passe that wee find raine water ordinarily to bee most charged and corrupted with ordure and filthinesse and by reason thereof it heateth most quickly and corrupteth soonest As for snow and yce that they should bee thought to bee composed of the subtile parts of this Element and yeeld the finest water I wonder much considering the neare affinitie which is betweene them and haile which might induce vs also to thinke the same of it but all men confesse and hold that the same is most pestilent and pernicious for to bee drunke Moreouer there are amongst them not a few who contrary vnto the opinion of other Physicians their fellowes affirme flatly and confidently the water of snow and yce to bee the vnwholesome drinke that is for that all the puritie and finenesse thereof hath beene drawne and sucked out And in very truth wee find it by experience that any liquor whatsoeuer doth diminish and consume greatly by beeing frozen and congealed into an yce Wee see besides That ouer-grosse and foggie deawes breed a kinde of scurfe or scab in plants white frosts burne and sendge them and both of these the hore frost as well as the deaw proceed from the same causes in a manner that snowes doe Certes all Philosophers agree in this one point That raine water putrifieth soonest of any other and least while continueth good in a ship as saylers know full well Howbeit Epigenes auoucheth and affirmeth That the water which hath beene seuen times putrified and as often purified
a candied dew howbeit that which is found in the rocks is more quicke and biting than the other There is besides of salt naturall a third distinct sort from the former for in the Bactrians country there be two great and huge lakes which naturally do cast vp a mighty quantity of salt the one lieth toward the Scythians and the other bendeth to the Arians country like as neere to Citium a city in the Isle Cypros and about Memphis in Aegypt they draw forth salt out of lakes and afterwards dry the same in the sun Moreouer there be certain riuers which beare salt and the same congealed aloft in their vpper part in manner of yce and yet the water runneth vnderneath and keepeth the course wel enough As for example about the sluces and straits of the mount Caspius and thereupon they be called the Riuers of salt as also in other riuers of Armenia and about the Mardians countrey Moreouer Oxus and Othus two riuers passing through the region Bactriana carry ordinarily downe with them in their streame great peeces and fragments of salt which fall from the mountaines adjoining vnto them There are besides in Barbary other lakes and those verily thicke and troubled which ingender and beare salt But what will you say if there bee certaine Fountaines of hote Waters which breed Salt And yet such bee the Baynes or Springs called Pagasaei Thus far forth haue I proceeded in those kinds of salt which come of waters naturally There are besides certain hils also which are giuen by nature to bring forth salt and such is the mountain Oromenus among the Indians wherein they vse to hew salt as out of a quarry of stone and yet the same groweth still insomuch as the kings of that country make a greater reuenue by far out of it than either by their mines of gold or the pearles which those coasts do yeeld Furthermore it is euident that in Cappadocia there is salt Minerall digged out of the earth and it appeareth plainly that it is a salt humor congealed within And verily they vse to cut it out of the ground after the maner of glasse stone in lumps and those exceeding heauy which the peasants commonly call crums of salt At Carrhae a city of Arabia all the walls thereof as also the housen of the inhabitants be reared built of hard stones and the same be laid by Masons worke and the joints closed and soudered by no other morter but plain water K. Ptolomaeus at what time as he incamped about Pelusium a city of Egypt and cast vp a trench to fortifie the same found such a mine or quarrey of salt as these which was a president to others afterward to sinke pits betweene Aegypt and Arabia euen in the waste and dry quarters where vnder the delfe of sand they met with salt After which manner also they practised to dig in the desart dry sands of Africk and found more as they went euen as far as to the Temple and Oracle of Iupiter Ammon And verily they might perceiue this salt to grow in the night season according to the course of the Moone As for all the tract and country of Cyrenae famous it is and much spoken of for the salt Ammoniacum so called by reason that it is found vnder the sands In colour and lustre it resembleth that Alume de Plume which the Greeks call Schistos It groweth in long lumps or pieces and those not transparent the tast is vnpleasant howbeit this salt is of good vse in Physicke The clearest thereof is taken for the best especially when it wil cleaue directly into streight flakes A strange and wonderfull nature it hath if it be right for so long as it lyeth vnder ground within the mine it is passing light in hand and may be easily welded take it forth once and lay it abroad aboue ground a man would not beleeue or imagine how exceeding heauy it is But surely the reason thereof is evident for the moist vapors contained within those mines where it lieth beare vp the said pieces of salt and are a great ease to those that deale therwith much like as the water helpeth much to the stirring and managing of any thing within it be it neuer so weighty Well this Ammoniacke salt is corrupted and sophisticate as well with the pit salt of Sicily called Cocanicus as also with that of Cypresse which is wonderfull like vnto it Moreouer neare Egelasta a city in high Spaine there is a kind of sal-gem or Minerall salt digged the peeces or lumps wherof are so cleare as a man may in a maner see through them and this hath of long time bin in great request and of such name as the Physitians giue vnto it the price and praise aboue all other kinds But here is to be noted that all places where salt is found are euer barren and will beare no good thing els And thus much may bee said concerning salt that commeth of the own accord As touching salt artificiall made by mans hand there be many kinds thereof Our common salt and whereof we haue greatest store is wrought in this manner first they let into their pits a quantity of sea-water suffering fresh water to run into it by certain gutters for to bee mingled therewith for to help it to congeale whereto a good shower of raine auaileth very much but aboue all the Sun shining therupon for otherwise it wil neuer dry harden About Vtica in Barbary they vse to pile vp great heaps of salt in manner of Mounts which after that they bee hardened and seasoned in the Sun and Moone scorne all raine and foule weather neither will they dissolue insomuch as folke haue enough to doe for to break and enter in with pick-axes Howbeit in Candy the Salt is made in the like pits but of Sea-water onely without letting in any fresh water at all Semblably in Aegypt the Sea it selfe ouerfloweth the ground which as I take it is already soked and drenched with the water of Nilus and by that means their Salt is made After the same manner they make salt also out of certain wels which are discharged into their Salt-pits And verily in Babylon the first gathering or thickening of the water in their salt-pits is a certain liquid Bitumen or Petroleum an oleous substance which they vse in their lamps as we do oile and when the same is scummed off they find pure salt vnderneath Likewise in Cappadocia they do conuey and let in water out of certain wels and fountaines into their Salt-pits In Chaonia there be certaine Springs of saltish water which the people of that countrey doe boile and when it is cooled againe it turneth into Salt but it is but dull and weak in effect and besides nothing white In France and Germany the maner is when they would make salt to cast sea-water into the fire as the wood burneth In some parts of Spain there be salt
The gifts and rewards represented vnto valiant souldiers for their braue seruice And at what time Coronets of gold were seene THe chamber of the foresaid judges consisted of diuers estates and degrees distinguished all by seuerall names for first and foremost there were of them called Tribuni aeris as it were Generall receiuers or Treasurers secondly Selecti chosen from among the Senators and last of all those who simply were named Iudices or Iudges taken from among the knights or men of armes Ouer and besides these they had others called Nongenti choice men selected from out of all the estates who had the keeping of those chists or caskets wherin were put the voices of the people in their solemn elections And by reason of a proud humor in men chusing themselues names to their owne liking great diuisions and factions arose in this house and chamber of the foresaid Iudges whiles one would needs be called Nongentus another Selectus and a third gloried in the title of Tribune or Receiuer But at length in the ninth yere of the reigne of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar the whole estate of the gentrie or cauallerie of Rome was reduced to an vniformitie and an order was set downe whereby it was knowne who might weare rings and who might not which fell out to be in that yeare when C. Asinius Pollio and C. Antistius Vetus were Consuls together and in the 775 yere alter the foundation of Rome city And verily this vniforme regularity was occasioned by a trifling cause to speak of and whereat wee may well maruell and thus stood the case C. Sulpitius Galba desirous in his youth to win some credit with the foresaid Emperour Tiberius and namely by deuising meanes how to bring Taueâ—… Cooks shops and victualing houses in danger of the law and to forfeit penalties pleaded against 〈◊〉 and complained before the Senat That those who were the vndertakers and Tenants 〈◊〉 â—…re of the foresaid Tauerns c. and made their gaine thereby had no other meanes to bearâ—…â—…mselues out nor plea to defend their faults and disorders but their rings The Senat taking knowledge hereof ordained an act That none from that time forward might bee allowed to weare the said rings vnlesse he were free borne and that both himselfe his father and grand sire by the fathers side were assessed in the Censors booke 400000 sesterces and by vertue of the law Iulia as touching the publicke Theatre had right to sit and behold the plaies in the first and foremost 14 ranks or seats for knights appointed Howbeit afterwards euery man labo red and made means one with another to be allowed to weare this ornament of a ring Now in regard of these disorders and variances aboue rehearsed prince Caius Caligula the Emperour adjoyned to the former foure a fifth Decurie And shortly after men gtew to that height and pride in this behalfe of wearing rings and the company so surcreased that whereas in Augustus Caesars dayes there could not be found knights and Gentlemen sufficient throughout all Rome to furnish those Decuries by this time they could not be contained all within the Chamber of Iudges or Decuries abouesaid insomuch as now adaies no sooner are there any slaues manumised and affranchised but presently by their good will they must be at their rings A thing that neuer before was knowne in Rome for aforetime when a man spake of the iron ring he was vnderstood presently to point at the Gentlemen and Iudges before named but the said ornament or badge became so commonly to be taken vp by one as well as another that a gentleman of Rome Flauius Proculus by name indited 400 at once before Claudius Caesar Censor for the time being and declared against them for this abuse and offence See what inconuenience insued vpon the act of rings for whiles thereby a distinction was made between that degree other free-born citizens streight-waies base slaues leapt in and were so bold as to take that ornament vpon them And here by the way it is to be noted that the two Gracchi Tiberius and Caius brethren vpon a certain desire and inbred affection that they had to maintaine and nuzzle the people in sedition and to beare a side alwaies against the Senat for to currie fauour with the Commons and to do them a pleasure deuised first to haue al them called Iudges who by vertue of the foresaid statute or edict might weare rings and this he did to crosse and beard the Senat. But after the fire of tbis sedition was quenched and the popular authors thereof who stirred blew the coles were murdered the denomination of these criminall Iudges after diuers troubles and seditions with variable and alternatiue fortune fell in the end to the Publicans and Farmers of the reuenues of the State and being thus deuolued vpon them there continued insomuch as for a good while the said Publicans made vp the third degree betweene the Senatours and the Commons Howbeit M. Cicero when he was Consull re-established the Knighthood Cauallerie of Rome in their former estate and place and so far preuailed that hee reconciled them againe vnto the Senat giuing out openly that he himselfe was come of that degree and by that means by a certain popularity sought to draw them all to side with him From this time forward the men of arms were installed as it were in the third estate of Rome insomuch as al edicts and publick acts passed in the name of the Senat People and Cauallerie of the citie And for that these knights or gentlemen were last incorporated into the body of the Common-weale this is the only reason that euen now also they are written in all publicke Instruments after the People As touching the name or title attributed to this third estate or degree of Horsemen or men of Arms it hath bin changed and altered oftentimes for in the daies of Romulus and other KK of Rome they were called Celeres afterwards Flexumines and in processe of time Trossuli by occasion that these horsmen without any aid at all of the Infanterie had woon a towne in Tuscane nine miles on this side Volsinij called Trossuli which name continued in the Cauallerie of Rome vntill the time of C. Gracchus and afterward And verily Iunius who vpon the great amitie betweene Gracchus and him was syrnamed Gracchanus hath left these words in writing as touching this matter concerning the degree of knights quoth hee those who now are called Equites i. Horsemen beforetime had to name Trossuli the change of which name arose vpon this that many of these Gentlemen ignorant in the originall and first occasion of the foresayd name Trossuli and what the meaning thereof was were ashamed so to be called He alledgeth moreouer the cause of the said name and yet notwithstanding quoth hee they cannot away with the name at this day but are so called against their wils To come again vnto our former discourse of gold There
vessels then which our delicats haue those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors are only of the Corinth mettal and no better which they cast partly into pots and pans and such like kitchin vessell for to seeth meat in partly into candlesticks chafers chamber pots and such like homely and base vessels without any regard of cleanenesse and neat seruice But this Corrinthian mettall may be reduced well into three principall kinds to wit the white which commeth nearest in brightnesse to siluer as standing most indeed vpon the mixture of siluer the second yellowish according to the nature and colour of gold which beareth the chiefe stroke in it and a third of an equall medley and temperature wherein a man shall not perceiue any one mettall predominant Ouer and besides these 3 sorts of Corinthian brasse there is another kind of Mascellin as touching the mixture whereof precisely we are not able to yeeld any reason for although there be found Images and statues thereof made wherein we may see the handy worke of man yet it should seem that Fortune in some sort hath giuen the temperature thereto and that dainty and precious colour that it hath is a deep red much resembling that of the iliuer and therefore they call it commonly Hepatizon Short it commeth far of the Corinthian mettall but out-goeth a great way the brasse either of Aegina or Delos which two mettals for a long time were thought to be the chiefe And in very truth for antient glory and name the Deliake brasse may challenge the first place for thither as to a mart or fair there was great resort of chapmen from all parts of the world specially of those artificers who were curious in making of table feet trestles and bed-steads and indeed the finest workmanship at first was seen herein and thereby artificers came to be innobled But in processe of time they went farther euen to cast the images of gods the personages also of men for statues yea the solid forms and pourtraits of beasts and other such liuing creatures After this brasse of Delos the most account was made of that which came from Aegina an Island this is without any mine at al of brasse in it howbeit much renowned for the excellent mettal-founders therein in regard of the singular temperature that they gaue vnto their brasse The brasen Oxe which standeth in the beast market at Rome was brought from thence And this may serue for a paterne of the Aeginetick brasse but the image of Iupiter erected within the chappel of Iupiter syrnamed Thundring in the Capitoll is the true paterne testifying what kind of brasse that of Delos was And as Myron was wont to cast the mettall of Aegina in all his works so Polycletus vsed ordinarily that of Delos for this purpose and these two were rare Imageurs liuing at one time and prentises at the Art together but they indeauoured to surpasse one the other in diuers mettalls which they occupied CHAP. III. ¶ Of Candle-stickes and Ornaments belonging to Temples made of Brasse IN old time the Island Aegina was in especial name for the workmanship only of the branches sockets heads of candle-sticks like as Tarentum for the shanke shaft body supporting the same and therefore that candle-sticke was counted rich indeed when both these places seemed to concur to the making and workmanship therof for such a candle-stick some haue not bin ashamed to giue as much mony as the salarie and yearely pension of a Tribune militarie or Colonell commeth to and yet you see an implement or moueable it is that hath but a vile base name for called it is in Latine Candelabrum of sticking a candle in it But wil you know who was so foolish as to bestow so much vpon a candle-stick and what a tale belongeth therunto for to mend the hard bargain thus stood the case it was a jolly dame in Rome named Gegania who made this wise match And when she had so done she must needs forsooth make a feast to shew this candle-stick to her guests which cost her 50000 sesterces Now Clesippus the founder or Brasier that sold it her was mishapen and bunch-backt And order was taken by the commandement of Theon a publick crier of Rome that he should in the middest of supper be brought into the place stark naked as euer he was borne and as foule and ill-sauoured a fellow he was otherwise as a man should lightly see vnder a colour to make sport and to set the company in a laughing but indeed to mocke Gegania the Mistresse of the house But what followed therupon The woman cast a fansie to him by and by and in that heat of loue or lust rather admitted him anon to her bed and after set him into her will and made him her heire This crooke-backed squire seeing himselfe exceedingly inricht by this double bargaine adored the said candlestick no lesse than a god as the only cause of his rising and all the wealth he had and thus by his occasion one tale more goeth currant abroad in the world of Corinthian vessels And yet afterwards as it were to punish his Mistresse for that light behauiour of hers he caused a stately and magnificent sepulchre to be made for her whereby the infamy and shame of Gegania might be eternized and continue fresh in remembrance with all posterity But to return again to Corinthian Brasse and the vessels made thereof although it be well knowne that there are no Candlesticks indeed made of that Mascelin yet there goeth a great name of them as if they aboue all other things were certainly cast of that mettall and the reason is because that Mummius as in the heat of his victorie he sacked and destroied Corinth so withall hee dispersed the brasse by parcels and piece-meale and sent it away into many other townes and cities of Greece Moreouer this is to be noted That in old time it was an ordinary thing to make of brasse the sides lintels sils and leaues of great dores belonging to temples I reade also in Chronicles that Cn. Octauius who defeated K. Perseus in fight at sea and rode in triumph for that naual victorie caused the double gallerie which standeth neere vnto the Cirque of Flaminius to be erected which was called the Corinthian gallerie for that the chapters of the pillers were of brasse Furthermore the Annals do testifie that it was thought good That the roufe of the chappel of Vesta should be alwaies couered ouer with Brasse after the manner of Saracossian work Likewise M. Agrippa made all the chapters of the pillars standing in the temple Pantheon of Syracusian brasse which remaine at this day to be seene And not onely publick places and buildings were thus beautified and adorned but great mens priuat houses also were inriched by this mettall for it appeareth vpon record That Sp. Carvilius one of the Treasurers of Rome amongst other
in clokes or mantles were his handiwork which Catulus set vp in the same temple likewise another after the maner of a colossus or gyant all naked In sum he was deemed and that iustly to haue bin the first that deuised and taught the skil of chasing embossing As for Polycletus the Sicyonian who learned his cunning vnder Agclades hee it was that made in brasse Diadumenus an effoeminat yong man looking want only with a diadem or wreath about his head a piece of work of great account much spoke of for that it cost 100 talents and of his making was Doryphorus a yong boy with a manly countenance hauing a speare in his hand Moreouer he made that which workmen call Canon that is to say one absolute piece of worke from whence artificers do fetch their draughts simetries and proportions as from a perfect patterne or rule which guideth and directeth them in their worke so as wee may well and truly iudge That Polycletus alone reduced the skill of Founderie and imagerie into an Art and method as may appeare both by that Canon and by other workes which passed through his hands Of his workmanship was the brasen image representing one scraping and rubbing himselfe in the bath or hot-house as also another all naked and challenging to the dice. Item two boyes both naked playing at dice which thereupon be called Astragalizontes And these remain to be seen in the court or portall belonging to the house of Titus the Emperor which is so exquisit a piece of worke that many doe iudge there cannot be set another to it more absolute and perfect also he it was which wrought the image of Mercury which is at Lysimachia of Hercules at Rome and namely how hee heaued and held vp Anteus from the ground between heauen and earth and the counterfeit of Artemon that effeminate and wanton person who because hee was ordinarily carried in a Litter men called Poryphoretos This Polycletus was iudged to haue brought this art of Imagery to a consummat perfection the feat also of ingrauing imbossing he was thought to practise and promote like as Phidias before him opened the way to it gaue instructions This proper and special gift he had besides aboue all other to deuise how Images might stand vpon one leg and yet Varro saith that all the images of his making be four square and all in manner after one pattern To come vnto Myro born he was at Eleutherae and an apprentice likewise to Agelades the piece of worke that brought him into name and made him famous was an heifer of brasse by reason that diuers Poets haue in their verses highly praised it and spread the singularity of it abroad for so it falls out otherwhiles that many men are commended by the wit of others more than by their own Other pieces of work there were of his besides to wit a dog a coit caster or one hurting a stone or weight of lead Perseus killing Medusa sawyers called Pristae a Satyre wondring at a pipe or flute and the goddesse Minerva moreouer the Delphick Pentathli the Pancratiastae furthermore that image of Hercules which standeth in the temple that Pompey erected neere the greatest cirque or shew-place is the handiwork of Myro Besides as it appeares by the poësie of Brinna the Poëtresse hee it was that made the tombe or monument in brasse of a poore grashopper and a locust the image likewise of Apollo which after that Antonius the Triumvir had wrongfully taken from the Ephesians Augustus Caesar restored againe vnto them being warned so to do by a vision appearing vnto him in his sleep was of Myro his making This workman seems to haue bin the first that wrought not his images after one sort but altered his work after many fashions as being fuller of inuention and giuen more to deuise in his art more curious also and precise in his symentries and proportions than Polycletus and yet as exquisite as he was he went no farther than to the outward linements of the body and members thereof as for the inward affections of the mind he did not expresse in any of his work the haire also as well of head beard as share he left after a grosse maner wrought them no finer than the rude and vnexpert workmen in old time had either done or taught No maruel therefore if Pythagoras the Imageur of Rhegium in Italy went beyond him in this feat and namely in that piece of worke of his which resembled a wrestler or Pancratiastes which was dedicated in the temple of Apollo at Delphos He came short also of Leontius who expressed liuely in brasse Astylos the famous runner in a race which image is shewed for a rare piece of work in Olympia also the boy Libys which is to be seen in the same place holding in his hand a little table and withall carrying apples stark naked He made also the pourtraiture of one that seemed lame and to halt vpon an vlcer but the same is so liuely and naturally done that as many as behold the same seeme to haue a compassion and fellow-feeling with him of some pain and grieuance of his sore and this piece of work a man may see at Syracusa Furthermore the said Leontius cast in brasse one Apollo playing vpon his harpe as also another Apollo and the serpent killed with his arrowes which image he sirnamed Dicaeus i. Iust for that when the city of Thebes was won by Alexander the Great the gold which he hid in the bosome thereof when hee fled was found there safe and not diminished when the enemy was gon and he returned Hee was the first that in his images expressed the sinues and veines lying vnder the skinne hee it was also that couched and layd the haire of the forehead more handsomely yea and wrought the same farre more finely than any before him Now besides Pythagoras before mentioned there was another a Samian both who by occupation was at the beginning a painter of his handiwork are those 7 images halfe naked which are to be seen in the Temple of This daies Fortune at Rome and one resembling an old man all highly commended for singular art This Pythagoras was so like vnto the other aboue named especially in face and countenance that hardly by report one of them could be knowne from the other As touching Sostratus it is said he was apprentice to Pythagoras of Rhegium and his sisters son besides As for Lysippus of Sicyone Durus saith That he learned the art by himselfe and neuer was taught by other But Tullius affirmeth That hee was an Apprentice vnto it and hauing bin at first by occupation a poore tinker or a plain brasier and coppersmith at the most he began to take heart vnto him and to proceed further by a speech or answer that Eupompus the painter gaue him for when he seemed to ask this painters counsel what pattern and whom be were best to follow of
the race of these both father grandsire sons nephewes wrought only in white marble digged out of the â—…and Paros and this stone men began to call Lychnites that is to say the candle marble not for the lightsome white colour which it caried for many quarries were found afterwarde of whiter and brighter marble and namely of late daies in those about Luna in Tuscane but as Varro mine Author saith for that the pioners vndermined the ground for that stone and laboured in hewing it continually by candle light But here commeth to my remembrance a strange thing that is recorded of the quarries in the Island Paros namely That in one quarter thereof there was a vein of marble found which when it was clouen in twain with wedges shewed naturally within the true image and perfect portraiture of a Silenus imprinted in it Neither must I foâ—… to note That this art of grauing images in stone is of greater antiquitie by farre thâ—…â—…er painters craft or founderie and casting statues for both painters and also imagâ—… in mettal began with Phidias about the 83 Olympias which falleth out to be 332 yeâ—…s after Malas the first grauer in stone of name This Phidias though otherwise a paintâ—…â—…t the beginning and a caruer in Ivorie was himselfe also a grauer in marble and the image of Venus which now stands among the stately buildings of Octavia was as they say oâ—… his cutting a braue piece of worke and in beauty surpassing This is knowne for certaine That Alcamenes the Athenian a most excellent grauer in stone learned his skill vnder him of whose workmanship there be a number of statues to be seene at Athens within the sacred temples Besides one image there is of Venus most exquisitly wrought standing without the wall of the city and is knowne by the name of Aphrodite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Venus in the gardens and as it is said Phidias with his own hands finished this Venus who also had another prentise vnder him named Agoracritus of Paros whom he loued also for his sweetly youth in regard of which affection it is said that many braue pieces of his own handiwork he was content should passe vnder his name which hee dedicated to the immortal memorie of Agoracritus Now these two apprentises of his stroue a-vie whether of them could make the statue of Venus better and so it fell out that Alcamenes won the victorie not in regard of finer and more cunning workmanship but for that the city of Athens in fauor of their own countryman gaue sentence on his side against Agoracritus a stranger and Parian borne who tooke this repulse and disgrace in such displeasure and indignation that by report when he sold the said Venus of his owne making he would by no meanes passe it away but with this condition That it should neuer stand in the city of Athens and withall he named it Nemesis i. Vengeance and therefore set vp it was at Rhamnus a village so called within the territorie of Attica Which image of Venus M. Varro preferred before all other statues whatsoeuer Within the foresaid city of Athens and in the chappell dedicated to the honor of Cybele the great mother of the gods there was another mostexcellent statue or image wrought by the hands of Agoracritus As touching Phidias no man doubteth but he was the most excellent grauer that euer was as all nations will confesse who euer haue heard of that statue of Iupiter Olympius which his own hands wrought but that all others also may know who neuer saw his work nor the statues that he made that he wel deserued the name which went of him I wil lay abroad some smal pieces as arguments of his handiwork and those only that may testifie his fine head rare inuention neither wil I alledge for proofe hereof either the beautifull image of Iupiter Olympius which hee made at Olympia noâ—… the stately statue of Minerva that he wrought at Athens which carâ—…ied in height 26 cubits and was all made of Iuory and gold but I will take the shield or targuet that the said goddesse is portraied with in the embossed and swelling compasse whereof he ingraued the battell wherin the Amasons were defeated by Theseus within the hollow part and concauitie he inâ—…hased the conflict between the gods and the gyants vpon the shoos or pantofles that she weâ—…reth he portraied the fight betwixt the Lapithae and the Centaurs so ful compact of art wâ—… euery thing about her and so curiously and artificially contriued Now in the base or pied â—…all vnder the statue the work that was cut he called the Genealogie of Pandora A man mighâ—… there see the natiuity of the gods to the number of 30 among them the goddesse Victory oâ—… admirable workmanship Moreouer artificers that are seen skilful in these matters do greaâ—…ly admire the fel serpent as also the monster Sphinx made in brasse vnder the very spear that Mâ—…nerua holdeth in her hand This may serue by the way in a word or two touching that famous most renowned Artist Phidias whom no man is able to commend sufficiently that it may be known likewise that the sufficiencie of his workmanship was the same stil euen in small matters as well as great To come now to Praxiteles what time hee liued I haue declared already in my catalogue of Founders and Imageurs in brasse who albeit he was singular in that kind yet in marble he went beyond himselfe his workes are to be seen at Athens in that conspicuous street called Ceraunicum but of all the images that euer were made I say not by Praxiteles onely but by all the workmen that were in the world his Venus passeth that hee made for them of Gnidos and in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exquisit and singular it was that many a man hath embarked taken sea and sailed to Gnidos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other busines but onely to see and behold it Hee made two of them and sould them both togetâ—… the one with a vaile and arraied decently in apparell which in that regard the men of Cos boughâ—… for being put to their choice they like honest men preferred it before the other which was naked â—…otwithstanding Praxiteles tendred them both at one and the same price in the good mind that they carried and hauing respect and regard vnto their grauity and modest carriage of themselues that which they refused and reiected the Gnidians bargained for and indeed to speak of workmanship it was infinitely better and there was no comparison betweene them by the generall fame and opinion of all men and verily King Nicomedes would afterwards gladly haue bought it againe of the Gnidians and offered them enough for he promised in consideration thereof to discharge al debts that their city was ingaged in which were very great summes but they would not giue eare or hearken vnto him content they were rather to liue in debt and danger still yea and to abide and endure