uired and needfullnes did desire
to beare vp the burthen that was laide vppon them. Their ornature and
decking with woorkes, and deuises imitating the apparreling of princely
bodies indewed as it were with an artificiall reason. For as to a large
big and corpulent body strong legges, and broad feete, are necessarie to
beare and carry the same: so in a modulate and well composed building,
to sustaine great weights, Naues are appointed, and for beautie,
columnes, Corinthies, and slender Ionices, are set vpon them. And this
whole woorke euen after such sorte as was requisite for the harmonie
thereof, euen so it stood in an approoued excellencie.

With diuersitie of coulers, sweetlye set, and aptlye disposed, the
reflexion of one beautifing another, and all together making a gratious
obiect. Of _Porphyrit_, _Ophit_, _Numidian_, _Alabastrit_, _Pyropecil_,
_Lacedemonian_ greene, and white marble, diuerslie watered, and of
_Andracine_ with white spottes, and many others of strange sorts and
diuers commixtures.

I found one rare forme of a base, in fashion like a cushion vpon the
plynthe whereof stood two trochils or torrules, with an interposition of
Hypotracles or shaftes, and Astragals, with a supreame Thore.

Diuers places were hidden and couered ouer with winding, felted and
spreding Iuie, full of black berries, and greene soft leaues heare and
there growing vp, and hindering the inwarde obiect of the auncient
worke, with other Murall and wall weeds comming out of the chinkes and
clifts, as the bell flowre. Venus Nauill, & Erogennet, of some called
Loue, to whome he is gratefull, bushing downe againe toward the ground,
in other ryfts grew Mowse-eare, Polypodie, Adientus or Lady hayre, the
iagged and curled Cithracus the knotted Lunarie minor, Prickmaddam,
Polytricon, or goulden lockes and such like, which vse to grow in
decayed buildings, and ould stone wales, so that many woorthie peeces
were inuested and hydden from me, with such like weedes and greene
Olyues the garnishers of ruines.

There was in diuers places inestimable huge downe falles of many
columnes or rather confused piles of broken stones, and vnshapely
Culpins mounting vp from the earth.

Among which downefallen peeces I might see the remaynders of diuers
shapes of men of sundrie sortes, many naked, other some hauing their
members couered with folded and plited induments, fast sticking to their
naked proportions. Some standing vpon the left foote, others