Hypnerotomachia Part 13

Round about fast by the walles of the Orchyard there were set conuenyent garden pots in the which in stead of growing plantes, euerie one was of pure gla.s.se, exceeding a mans imagination or beleefe, intorpiaried[A]

boxe the rootes and stalkes of golde, whereout the other proceeded.

[Sidenote A: Ars toparia is the way of cutting of trees in gardens or other places to proportions or shapes.]

Betwixt one and other of the which was placed a Cyprusse tree, not aboue two paces high, and the boxe one pace full of manyfolde maruellous symples, with a moste excellent imitation of nature, and pleasaunt diuersitie in the fas.h.i.+ons of flowers in distinct colours verie delyghtfull.

The playne l.a.b.i.all compa.s.sing about the quadrant Orchyard comming out from the walles as a seate for these aforesayde garden pottes and trees to stande vppon, was subcoronized with golde by excellent lyneamentes wrought and adorned. The vpper face whereof, and whereuppon those pottes and trees did stande, was couered with a playster of gla.s.se gilte, and a curious historographie to be seene in the same, and compa.s.sed about and holden in with wyering and netting of golde.

The wall that compa.s.sed about the Orchyard with a conuenient distance, was bellyed out with columnes of the same matter, and inuested with flowring bindings naturally proportioned, and heere and there were quadrangulate columnes of golde chamfered, arching from one to an other, with a requisite beame Zophor and coronice, with a meete and conuenient proiecture ouer the chapter of gla.s.se vppon the round.

The substance of which subiect proiecture of the bryttle matter, was of counterfayte diasper diuersly coloured and s.h.i.+ning. Which bryttle substance had some void s.p.a.ce betwixt that and the other.

The mouth of the arches were stopped with rombyes of cleare gla.s.se in forme of a tryangle, and the pypes beautified all ouer with an Encaustick painting, verie gratious to the sight of the beholder.

The ground was here and there couered with great round balles of gla.s.selyke gunne stones, and other fine proportions much pleasing, with a mutuall consent vnmooueable lyke pearles s.h.i.+ning without any adulteration by folyature. From the flowers did breath a sweet fragrancie by some cleare was.h.i.+ng with oyle for that purpose.

There most cunningly did _Logistica_ lyke an Orator make a discourse in commendation physically of that excellent confection of the n.o.blenes of the substaunce, secrecie of the art, and straungenes of the inuention.

The like is not to bee found.

And after shee sayde, _Poliphilus_ lette vs goe and ascende vp this mount nexte the Garden, and _Thelemia_ remayning at the stayre foote, wee ascended vp to the playne toppe. Where shee shewed vnto mee, with a heauenly eloquence, a Garden of a large compa.s.se, made in the forme of an intricate Laborynth allyes and wayes, not to bee troden, but sayled about, for insteade of allyes to treade vppon, there were ryuers of water.

The which mysticall place was of a verie l.u.s.tie mould and fruitfull, replenished with all sorts of fruits, beautified with faire springs, and greene hearbes and flowers, full of all solace and delight. Whereupon she spake thus.

I doe imagine (_Poliphilus_) that you doe not vnderstande the conditionate state of this maruellous seate, and therefore giue attendance to my wordes.

Whosoeuer entereth in cannot come backe, but as you see yonder mountaines heere and there distributed, seuen circuits and the about goings distant one from another.

And the extreeme molestation and sorrowe of the enterers in, is this: In the myddle mountayne within the center thereof, and open mouth of the same, there lurketh inuisibly a deadly deuouring olde Dragon, hee is vtter destruction to some, and others are not hurte to death by him. Hee cannot bee seene nor shunned, neyther doth hee leaue any vna.s.saulted, but eyther in the entrie, or in their iourney, hee destroyeth or woundeth. And if hee killeth them not betwixt one mountayne and another, they pa.s.se the seuen circuites to the next mount.

And they that enter in by the first tower or mount (wherevppon is this tytle inscript ???? ??S????OS ???F???S). They sayle in a little s.h.i.+ppe with a prosperous winde, and securely at pleasure: the fruites and flowers fall downe vppon theyr hatches, and with great solace and pleasure they cut through by the seauen reuolutions with a merry winde, vntill the second mount bee discouered and come vnto. And marke and beholde (_Poliphilus_) howe cleare and bright the ayre is in the entrance, ouer that it is in the center, about the which is thicke darknesse.

In the first mount or tower there is alwayes resident a pittifull matron and bountifull, before whome standeth an auncient appoynted vessell called _Vrna_, in a readinesse, hauing vppon it seauen Greeke letters as thus T?S????, full of appoynted honie, and to euerie one that entereth in, verie curteously and with a good will shee giueth one of them without respecte of state and condition, but according to theyr enterance.

These beeing receyued, they came foorth, and begin to sayle in the Laborynth, the water beeing enuyroned vpon either sides, with roses, trees, and fruits.

And hauing sayled the first seuen reuolutions of _Aries_, and being come to the second mount, there they meet with innumerable troopes of yong women of diuerse conditions, which demaund of euerie one the sight of theyr honye, which beeing shewed vnto them, they straightwayes knowe the propertie of the hony, and the goodnesse thereof, and embracing him as theyr guest, they inuyte him with them to pa.s.se through the next seuen reuolutions, and with diuerse exercises according to her inclyned promptnes, they accompany them to the third mount.

In this place hee that will goe on forwards with his companion, shee will neuer abandon or leaue him: for there bee farre more pleasaunt voluptuous women. And many refuse the first and make choyse of them.

In the putting off from the second mount, to come to the third, they finde the current of the water somewhat agaynst them, and stand in neede of oares, but beeing fallen off from the thirde mount, making theyr course towardes the fourth, they finde the tide and streame more against them, and in these seauen oblique courses their pleasure is variable and vnconstant.

Beeing come to the fourth mount, they finde other yoong women combatting and fighting, and those examining theyr pottes of honie, they intice them to theyr exercise, but those that refuse to leaue theyr first companions, they let pa.s.se together, and in this cyrcuite the water is yet more contrary and troublesome, where there is neede of great studie and labour to pa.s.se on.

And beeing come to the fift mount, they finde it speculable, lyke a mirrour wherein they see theyr representations, and in that they take great delyght, and with a feruent desire they pa.s.se on their laboursome course. In that mount they see this sentence and golden saying manyfested, _Medium tenuere beati_: not lyneall, nor locall, but temporall, where by a sincere and perfect examination hee discerneth that meane wherewith he hath ioyned his felicitie, wisdome and riches: which if not well, in the rest of his course he faynteth the more.

And losing off from thence, the Waters by reason of the broken circles, beginne to be verie slyding towards the Center, so that with small or no rowing they are brought to the sixt Mount. And there they finde elegant Women, with a shew of heauenly modestie and diuine wors.h.i.+p, with whose amiable aspects and countenaunces, the Trauailers are taken in their loue, condemning their former with despite and hatefull abhorrence. And with these they fall acquainted, and pa.s.se the seauen reuolucions.

These beeing come ouer with an obscure and foggy close ayre, with many losses and a grieuous voyage, they beginne to remember what they haue past and lost: for the more that the compa.s.se of the reuolucion, draweth neere to the discouerie of the Figure of the Center, the sooner they are pa.s.sed ouer, styll shorter and shorter, and the more swyfter the course of the streame is into the deuouring swallow of the Center.

And then with extreame affliction and bitter anguish remembring the abuse of their pleasures, and companions that they haue forsaken, and sweete places, which so much the more augmenteth their sorrowes, for that they can not returne or goe backe with theyr Shyppe, such a companie still follow them vppon the stearne with their fore-castles.

And most of all dysmayeth them the heauie sentence ouer the median Center, _Theonlykos Dys Algetos_.

And there, considering the displeasant tytle, they curse the time of their entrance into the Labirinth, which hath in it so manie sundry delights, and the end of them subiect to such myserable and ineuitable necessity.

And then she smyling, said: _Poliphilus_, ouer the deuouring throat of thys Center, there sitteth a seuere Iudge, balancing euery ones actions, and helping whom hee will helpe. And because that it will be tedious to tell thee all, let thus much heereof suffise. Let vs goe downe to our cpanion _Thelemia_, who demanding the cause why they staid so long aboue, _Logistica_ made aunswer, it doth not content our _Poliphilus_, onely to behold, but also to vnderstand by me the secrecie of those things, which he could not goe to knowe, wherein I haue satis-fied him.

And when she had ended, _Thelemia_ said.

Let vs goe a little while to an other garden no lesse pleasant ioyning to the gla.s.se garden, vppon the right side of the Pallas: and when wee were come in thither, I was amazed with excessiue wondering, to see the curiousnesse of the worke; as vneasie to report as vncredible to beleeue: aequiuolent with that of gla.s.se, wyth lyke disposition of benches or bankes; theyr lyppes set out with coronising and golden ground worke, and such trees, but that the boxes and Cyprus trees, were all silke, sauing the bodies and greater branches, or the strength of the armes: the rest, as the leaues, flowers, and outermost rynde, was of fine silke, wanting no store of Pearles to beautifie the same: and the perfect fine collour, smelling as the gla.s.se flowers beforementioned, and alike, but that they about compa.s.sing walles, of meruailous and incredible sumpteousnesse, were all couered ouer with a crusting of Pearle, close ioyned and set together: and towardes the toppe, there sprouted out greene yuie, the leaues thickning and bus.h.i.+ng out from the Pearles, vvith the stringes and veines of golde, running vppe in diuers places betwixt the Pearles, in a most rare and curious sort, as if it had beene very growing yuie, with berries of precious stones sette in the stalkes in little bunches: and in the bushes were Ringe-doues of silke, as if they had beene feeding of the berries, all along the sides of the square plotted garden walles: ouer the which, in master-like and requisite order, stretched out the beame and Zophor of golde.

The plaine smoth of the settles, where-vpon the boxe trees stoode, couered ouer with Histories of loue and venerie, in a worke of silke and threddes of golde and siluer, in suche a perfect proportioned ymaginarie and counterfaiting as none may goe beyonde. The ground of the leuell garden, was of leaues, gra.s.se, and flowers of silke, like a faire sweete meddowe: in the midst whereof, there was a large and goodly round Arbour, made with golde wyer, and ouerspread with roses of the lyke worke, more beautifull to the eye, then if they had been growing roses, vnder which couering, and within which Arbour about the sides, were seates of red Diaspre, & all the round pauem?t of a yellow Diaspre, according to the largenes of the place, with dyuers colloured spottings, confusedly agreeing together in pleasant adulterated vniting, and so cleere and s.h.i.+ning, that to euery obiect was it selfe gaine represented.

Vnder the which Arbour, the fayre and pleasant _Thelemia_, solaciously sitting downe, tooke her Lute which she carryed with her, and with a heauenly melodie and vn-hearde sweetenesse, she began to sing in the commendation and delightes of her Queene. And seeing what a grace vnto her, the company of her fellowe _Logistica_ was, I maruailed why _Apollo_ came not to harken the Harmonie made by them: it was so melodious, that for the present tyme a man woulde haue thought that there had beene no greater faelicitie. And after that shee ended her diuine Poems, _Logistica_ tooke me by the hande and led me foorth of the Arbour, saying vnto me.

_Poliphilus_, thou shalt vnderstande that the deuise of these obiects, are more pleasant to bee vnderstoode then behelde, and therefore lette vs enter in heere, to bee satisfied in both.

And from thence, shee and her companion brought mee from thys garden to an other, where I behelde an arching _Areostile_, from the ground bent to the toppe, fyue paces in height and three ouer, and thus continued rounde about the compa.s.se of the garden, in an orderly and requisite proportioning, all inuested and couered ouer with greene yuie, so that no part of the wall was to be seene. And there were a hundred Arches to the compa.s.sing of this garden.

By euery of the Arches, was an Aulter of red Porphirite, curiously proportioned with exquisite lyneaments; and vppon euery one of them was placed, an image of golde, like a Nymph, of rare and beautifull semblances, diuersly apparelled, and varying in theyr attyre and heade dressing, euery one bending their eyes towards the Center of the garden.

In which middle Centricke place, there was founded a Base, of a cleere Christal-like Calcedonie stone, in a Cubic forme: that is, euery way a like square. And vppon that was set a round stone, but flatte vppon both sides, two foote high, and by the Diameter, one pace and a halfe ouer, of most pure red Diaspre. Vppon the which, stoode a most blacke stone, in forme three square, and in quant.i.tie for breadth, fitting the rounde, and in height one pace and a halfe. The corners of which triangle did iumpe with the sides, and lymbus of the subiacent plynth or round stone.

In the smooth polished fronts of which triangle, there was appact a beautifull Image, of a heauenly aspect, graue and modest, with their feete not touching the stone, but standing out from the same iust ouer the suppressed and vnder put rounde stone. Theyr statures as tall as the trygonall would beare, vnto the which they did stick fast by their backe parts. Theyr armes were stretched abroade, both the right and left to the corners of the triangle, where they held a Coppy, filled and fastned to the corners of the Trigonall, the length of euery one of which Coppies of fine gold, was seauen foote.

And the Images, the Coppyes, and their bandes wherewith they were tyed in the midst and held by, were all shyning, and their hands inuiluped with the sundry stringes, flynging about the plaine smothe of the black stone.

Their habits were Nymphish, of most rare and most excellent working. The Sepulchre of _Tarnia_ the Queene of the _Scythians_ in _Asia_, was nothing comparable.

In the lowest Cubicall Figure, vpon the smoth plaine of euery square, were ingrauen Greeke Letters, three, one, two and three on thys sort.

??S ? ?O ??S.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

In the circular there were three Characters Hieragliphicall, perpendicularly vnder the feet of euerie Image. For the first, was impressed the forme of the Sonne. Next vnder another, the figure of an olde fas.h.i.+oned Ower.

Thirdly, a dyshe with a burning flame in it.

Vpon the heade of the trygonall blacke stone, towarde euerie corner, I did behold an Egiptian Monster of Gold, fower footed couchant. One of th? hauing a face lyke man altogether. The other like half a man, & halfe a beast. And the third like a beast. VVith a linnen vaile ouer euery of their heades, with two Labels hanging ouer theyr eares, & the rest descending downe and couering their necks & backes, with the bodies of Lyons. Theyr lookes directly forward.

Vppon the backs of these three, dyd stande rysing vp a ma.s.siue Spyre of Gold, three square, sharpning vp to the toppe, fiue tymes as high as broade below. And vpon euery front or foreside, was grauen a circle, and ouer one circle a Greeke Letter, ?. ouer another, a Letter O. and ouer the third, a Greeke ?.

There _Logistica_ beganne to speake vnto me, saying, by these Figures are discribed, so farre as mans reason can shewe, the celestiall harmony. And vnderstand _Poliphilus_, that these Figures, with a perpetuall affynitie and coniunction, are auncient Monuments, and Egiptian Hieragliphs, signifying this, _Diuinae infinitaeque trinitati vnius essentiae_. Which is now by his holy word, in a most louing sort manifested to the whole world, according to his will: and yet it shall not be a misse to see antiquities, and consider what greater benefite is had by the precious Gospel.

The lower Figure was consecrated to the Deitie, because it is euerie way alike, and all one: and vpon euery side, and turned euery way, of like stablenes, vpon euery base, constant and permanent.

The round Circular standing vppon that, is without beginning or ende.

Vppon the circ.u.mferent sides whereof, these three lyneaments are contained, directly vnder euerie Image, according to the property attributed.

The Sunne with his comfortable light, giueth life to euerie thing, and his nature is attributed to G.o.d.