CHAP. I. Of the river Tybre.
IT should follow by due course and order, to treat of Ianiculum and all that quarter of the citie on the other side of Tybre: but because these parts are separate from the rest of the citie by the river Tybre betweene; thereof al∣so it is meete to say somewhat briefly. And first verily the reason of that name would be shewed. Some thinke therefore, that the river was called Tyberis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For the Sicilians when as in old time they had overcome the * 1.1 Carthaginians in battaile, and taken a number of them prisoners, en∣joyned them, for the better fortification of their owne citie, to cast a trench about it, and to let water thereinto: and this ditch in reproch of their enemies, they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And the same men upon a time afterwards, when as they encamped neere Rome, gave this verie name unto this river also, whereas before it was called Albula. Some thinke it was named so of Ty∣beris a king of the Tuscans, slaine upon the banks thereof. Varro is of opinion, that it tooke the name of Tyberius, a neighbour prince of the Vejentians. In holy writings we read it Tyberinus. In vulgar speech they call it Tyberis: in poetrie, Tybris. In old time it was tearmed Rumon, as it were, gnaw∣ing and eating the bankes thereof. Also at one side of the citie it was cleped Terentus, as a man would say, wearing the bankes. It springeth from the Apennine, above Arnus. At the first it is but small and shallow, but before it entreth into Rome, it (having received 40 other rivers) is encreased to such bignesse, that ships of burden and the greatest hulkes, may come up in it as farre as Rome. This river divideth Tuscan from Vmbria, the Sabines country and the Latines, entreth at the North part of the citie, and so passeth through it Southward, betweene the gates Hostiensis and Portuen∣sis, leaving Ianiculum on the right hand and the citie on the left, and so neere unto Hostia is dischar∣ged into one maine broad Streame, and falleth into the Tyrrhene sea. Vpon the bankes thereof, as if they were consecrate to some divine power, it was not lawfull to set up any building. Certaine warders and keepers there were appointed, for the channell and the bankes. But of this river, Plinie and others have left much in writing.