To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
SHE then order'd some Cups, Goblets, and Talboys of Gold, Silver, and Cristal to be brought, and kindly invited us to drink of the Liquor that sprung there, which we readily did; for to say the truth, this Fantastick Fountain was very inviting, and its Materials and Work∣manship more precious, rare, and admira∣ble than any thing Pluto ever dreamt of in Limbo.
Its Basis or Ground-work was of most pure and limpid Aleblaster, and its height somewhat more than three Spans; being a regular Heptagone on the out-side, with its Stylobates or Footsteps, Arulets, Sima∣sults or Blunt Tops, and Doric Ʋndulations about it. It was exactly round within. On the middle Point of each Angle and Brink stood a Pillar orbiculated, in form of Ivory or Alabaster Solid Rings.
Each Pillar's length from the Basis to the Architraves, was near seven Hands, taking an exact Demension of its Diame∣ter through the Centre of its Circumfe∣rence and inward Roundness; and it was so dispos'd, that casting our Eyes behind one of them, whatever its Cube might be, to view its Opposite, we found that the Pyramidal Cone of our Visual Line ended at the said Centre, and there, by the two Opposites, form'd an Equilaterial Triangle, whose two Lines divided the Pillar into two equal Parts.
That which we had a mind to measure going from one side to another, two Pil∣lars over, at the first third part of the distance between them, was met by their lowermost and fundamental Line, which in a Consult Line drawn as far as the Uni∣versal Centre, equally divided, gave in a just Partition the distance of the Seven op∣posite Pillars in a right Line; beginning at
the Obtuse Angle on the Brink; as you know that an Angle is always found plac'd between two others in all Angular Figures odd in number.
This tacitly gave us to understand that seven Semi-diamiaters are in Geometrical Proportion, Compass and Distance, some∣what less than the Circumference of a Circle, from the Figure of which they are extracted, that is to say, three whole Parts with an eighth and a half, a little more; or a seventh and a half, a little less, according to the Instructions given us of old by Euclid, Aristotle, Archimedes, and others.
The first Pillar, I mean that which fac'd the Temple-gate, was of Azure, Sky-co∣lour'd Saphir.
The second of Hiacinth, a precious Stone, exactly of the Colour of the Flower, into which Ajax's Cholerick Blood was trans∣form'd; the Greek Letters, A I, being seen on it in many places.
The third an Anachite Diamond, as bright and glittering as Lightning.
The fourth a Masculin Ruby Ballais [Peach colour'd] amatistising, its Flame and Lu∣stre ending in Violet or Purple, like an Amatist.
The fifth an Emerald, above five hun∣dred and fifty times more precious than that of Serapis in the Labyrinth of the Egyp∣tians,
and more verdant and shining than those that were fix'd instead of Eyes in the Marble Lyon's Head, near King Hermias's Tomb.
The sixth of Agath, more admirable and various in the Distinctions of its Veins, Clouds, and Colours, than that which Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, so mightily e∣steem'd.
The seventh of Sienites, transparent, of the Colour of a Beri••, and the clear Hue of Hymetian Honey, and within it the Moon was seen, such as we see it in the Sky, Si∣lent, Full, New, and in the Wain.
These Stones were assign'd to the Seven heavenly Planets by the Ancient Chaldeans; and that the meanest Capacities might be inform'd of this, just at the Central Per∣pendicular Line, on the Chapter of the first Pillar, which was of Saphir, stood the Image of Saturn in Eliacim Lead, with his Scythe in his Hand, and at his Feet, a Crane of Gold, very artfully enemall'd accord∣ing to the Native Hue of the Saturnine Bird.
On the second, which was of Hiacinth, towards the lest, Jupiter was seen in Jo∣vetian Brass, and on his Breast an Eagle of Gold enemall'd to the Life.
On the third was Phoebus of the purest Gold, and a white Cock in his right hand.
On the fourth was Mars in Corinthian-Brass, and a Lyon at his Feet.
On the Fifth was Venus in Copper, the Metal of which Aristomides made Athamas's Statue that express'd in a blushing white∣ness his Confusion at the sight of his Son Learchus, who died at his Feet of a Fall.
On the Sixth was Mercury in Hydrargyre, I would have said Quicksilver, had it not been fixed, malleable, and unmoveable: That nimble Deity had a Stork at his Feet.
On the Seventh was the Moon in Silver with a Grayhound at her Feet.
The size of these Statues was somewhat more than a third part of the Pillars on which they stood, and they were so admi∣rably wrought according to Mathematical proportion, that Polycletus's Cannon could hardly have stood in competition with them.
The Bases of the Pillars, the Chapters, the Architraves, Zoophores and Cornishes, were Phrygian Work of Massive Gold, pu∣rer and finer than any that is found in the Rivers Leéde near Montpellier, Ganges in In∣dia, Pô in Italy, Hebrus in Thrace, Tagus in Spain, and Pactolus in Lydia.
The small Arches between the Pillars were of the same precious Stone of which the Pillars next to them were. Thus that Arch was of Saphir which ended at the
Hiacynth Pillar; and that was of Hiacynth which went towards the Diamond, and so on.
Above the Arches and Chapters of the Pillars on the inward Front a Cúpola was raised to cover the Fountain; it was surrounded by the Planetary Statues, Heptagonal at the bottom, and Spherical o' top; and of Christal so pure, transpa∣rent, well polished, whole, and uniform in all its parts, without Veins, Clouds, Flaws or Streaks, that Xenocrates never saw such a one in his life.
Within it were seen the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac, the Twelve Months of the Year, with their Proprieties, the Two Equinoxes, the Ecliptic Line, with some of the most Remarkable fixed Stars about the Antartic Pole and elsewhere, so curi∣ously engraven, that I fancied them to be the Workmanship of King Necepsus or Peto∣siris the Ancient Mathematician.
On the top of the Cúpola, just over the Centre of the Fountain, were three noble long Pearls all of one size, Pear-fashion, perfectly imitating a Tear, and so joined together as to represent a Flower-de-luce or Lilly, each of the Flowers seeming above a Hand's-breath. A Carbuncle jetted out of its Calix or Cup, as big as an Ostridge's Egg, cut seven square (that Number so belov'd of Nature) and so prodigiously
glorious, that the sight of it had like to have made us blind; for the fiery Sun, or the pointed Lightning are not more dazling and unsufferably bright.
Now were some Judicious Appraisers to judge of the Value of this incomparable Fountain, and the Lamp of which we spoke, they would undoubtedly affirm, it exceeds that of all the Treasures and Cu∣riosities in Europe, Asia and Africa put to∣gether. For that Carbuncle alone would have darken'd the Pantharb of Joachas the Indian Magician, with as much ease as the Sun outshines and dims the Stars with his Meridian Rays.
Now let Cleopatra that Egyptian Quean boast of her Pair of Pendants, those two Pearls, one of which she caused to be dis∣solv'd in Vinegar in the presence of An∣thony the Triumvir, her Gallant.
Or let Pompeia Plautina be proud of her Dress cover'd all over with Emeralds and Pearls curiously intermix'd, that attracted the Eyes of all Rome, and was said to be the Pit and Magazine of the Conquering Robbers of the Universe.
The Fountain had three Tubes or Chan∣nels of right Pearl, seated in three Equila∣teral Angles already mention'd, extended on the Margent; and those Channels pro∣ceeded in a Snail-like Line winding equally on both sides.
We look'd on them a while, and had cast our Eyes on another side, when Bacbuc di∣rected us to watch the Water: We then heard a most harmonious sound, yet some∣what stopp'd by starts, far distant, and Subterranean, by which means it was still more pleasing than if it had been free, un∣interrupted, and near us; so that our Minds were as agreeably entertain'd through our Ears with that charming melody, as they were through the Win∣dows of our Eyes, with those Delightful Objects.
Bacbuc then said, Your Philosophers will not allow, that Motion is begot by the power of Figures; Look here, and see the contrary. By that single Snail-like motion, equally divided as you see, and a five-fold insoliature, moveable at every inward meet∣ing, such as is the Vena cava where it enters into the right Ventricle of the Heart; just so is the Flowing of this Fountain, and by it an harmony ascends as high as your World's Ocean.
She then order'd her Attendants to make us drink; And to tell you the truth of the matter as near as possible, we are not, Heav'n be prais'd! of the nature of a Drove of Calf-lollies, who (as your Spar∣rows can't feed unless you bob them on the Tail) must be Ribroasted with tough Crabtree, and firk'd into a stomach, or at
least into an humour to eat or drink; No, we know better things, and scorn to scorn any man's Civility who civilly in∣vites us to a Drinking Bout. Bacbuc ask'd us then, how we liked our Tiff; We an∣swer'd, that it seem'd to us good harmless sober Adam's Liquor, fit to keep a man in the right way, and in a word, meer Ele∣ment; more cool and clear than Argyrontes in Aetolia, Peneus in Thessaly, Axius in Migdonia, or Cydnus in Cilicia, a tempting sight of whose cool silver Stream caus'd Alexander to prefer the short-liv'd Pleasure of bathing himself in it, to the Inconveni∣ences which he could not but foresee would attend so ill-tim'd an Action.
This, said Bacbuc, comes of not consi∣dering with our selves, or understanding the motions of the Musculous Tongue, when the Drink glides on it in its way to the Stomach! Tell me, Noble Strangers, Are your Throats lin'd, pav'd, or ena∣mell'd, as formerly was that of Pythilus, nicknam'd Theuthes, that you can have miss'd the Taste, Relish and Flavour of this Divine Liquor? Here, said she, turning to∣wards her Gentlewomen, Bring my scrub∣bing Brushes, you know which, to scrape, rake, cleanse and clear their Palates.
They brought immediately some stately, swindging jolly Hams; fine, substantial Neat stongues, good Hung-beef, pure and
delicate, Botargos, Venison, Sawcidges, and such other Gullet-sweepers. And to comply with her Invitation, we crammed and twisted till we owned our selves tho∣roughly cured of Thirst, which before did damnably plague us.
We are told, continu'd she, that for∣merly a Learned and Valiant Hebrew Chief leading his People through Deserts, where they were in hopes of being famish'd, ob∣tain'd of God some Manna, whose taste was to them by imagination such as that of Meat was to them before in reality: Thus, drinking of this miraculous Li∣quor you'll find it taste like any Wine that you shall fancy you drink. Come then, fancy, and drink. We did so, and Pa∣nurge had no sooner whipp'd off his Brim∣mer, but he cry'd, By Noah's Openshop, 'tis Vin de Beaulne, better then ever was yet tipp'd over Tongue, or may Ninety six Devils swallow me. Oh that to keep its taste the longer, we Gentlemen Topers had but Necks some three Cubits long, or so, as Philoxenus desir'd to have, or at least like a Crane's, as Melanthius wish'd his.
On the Faith of true Lanterners, quoth Friar Ihon, 'tis gallant sparkling Greek Wine; Now, for God's sake, Sweetheart, do but teach me how the devil you make it. It seems to me Mirevaux Wine, said Pantagruel, for before I drank, I suppos'd
it to be such. Nothing can be mislik'd in it, but that 'tis cold, colder, I say, than the very Ice, colder than the Nonacrian and ••eraean Water, or the Conthopian Spring at Corinth, that froze up the Stomach and Nutritive Parts of those that drank of it.
Drink once, twice or thrice more, said Bacbuc, still changing your Imagination, and you shall find its taste and flavor to be exactly that on which you shall have pitch∣ed. Then never presume to say that any thing is impossible to God. We never of∣fered to say such a thing, said I; far from it, we maintain he is Omnipotent.