ng
heards and flockes, with a pleasant shade, vnder the which a I passed
on, I came to an auncient bridge of marble with a very great and highe
arche, vppon the which along winning to eyther sides of the walls, there
were conuenient seats to rest vppon, which although they were welcome to
my wearye bodie, yet I had more desire to go on forwarde, vppon which
sides of the bridge, iust ouer the top of the arche, there was placed a
porphirit table with a gorgeous border of curious workmanship, one table
on the one side and an other on the other side, but that one the left
side was of _Ophite_.

Vppon the table on my right hand as I went I beheld _Egiplie
hierogliphies_ on this sorte, An auncient Helmet crested with a
Doggeshead.

The bony scalpe of an oxe with two green braunches of trees bound fast
to the hornes. And an ould lampe. Which hierogliphis the braunches
excepted because I know not whether they were of Firre tree, Pineapple,
Larix or _I_uniper, or such like: I thus interpret.

_PATIENTIA EST ORNAMENTVM,_
_CVSTODIA ET PROTECTIO_
_VIT[AE]._

[Illustration]

On the other side there was ingrauen a cyrcle, then an Anchor with a
Dolphin winding about the strangule thereof, which I coniectured should
signifie this, +AEI SPEU DE BRADEOS+, _Semper festina tarde_.

Vnder which auncient, sure, and faire bridge, did runne a most cleare
swift water, deuiding it selfe into two seuerall currents, the one one
way and the other an other, which ranne most colde, making a soft
continuall still noyse, in their freesed, broken and nibbled Channels,
by their eaten in and furrowed bancke, full of stones, couered ouer and
shadowed with trees, their spredding rootes appearing in the same bare,
and about them hanging _Tricomanes_, _Adiantus_ and _Cimbalaria_, and
bearded also with diuers small hayres as vse to growe about the banckes
of Ryuers.

The wood that I haue spoken of, was to looke vppon verye pleasant,
neyther ouer thick or more large in compasse than a man would wish, but
building a delightfull shadowe, the trees full of small birdes and
foules.

Right forwarde, the Bridge did extende it selfe, and leade towardes a
large plaine, resounding all ouer with the sweete chirpings, melodious
recordings, and loude singing of them. Wherein were leaping and running
little Sqirrels, and the drowsie Dormouse, and other harmeles beastes.

And after this manner as aforesayd, this wooddie Countrie shewed