I beheld engrauen
certaine Hieragliphs, both which I did interprete, but I stoode
doubtfull of certaine branches, that were tyed to the hornes of the
scalpe of the Oxe, and the rather because they were in the Porphyrite
stone, and not in the Ophit vpon the other side.

She aunswered me straight way. The braunches, one is of the Thistle or
thorne of Iudea[A], and the other of the Turbentine. The nature of which
Woodes bee, that the one will not easily take fire, and the other will
neither bend, rotte, consume, nor be eaten with wormes. And so that
patience is commended, which with anger is not kindled, nor by aduersity
will bee subdued.

[Sidenote A: The crown of thorne vpon Christes head.]

The nature of the Porphyrit stone is of this secrecie, that in the
fornace it will neither burne it selfe, but also causeth other stones
neere adioyning that they shall not burne. And of that nature is
patience, that it will neither be altered itselfe, nor suffer any other
wherein it beareth rule to fall into a furie. And the Ophite stone is of
such nature also.

Nowe _Poliphilus_, I doe greatly commende you, in that you are desirous
to vnderstand such secrets: for to behold, consider, and measure the
same, is a commendable vertue, and the way to knowledge: whereuppon I
had occasion giuen to render innumerable thanks, for her great and
fauourable curtesies.

And thus with allowed and delightfull discoursing speeches, we came to a
fayre Riuer, vpon the banck whereof, besides other fayre greene and
florishing Trees, and water hearbes, I beheld a fine Groue of Plane
Trees, in the which was an excellent fayre bridge ouer the Riuer made of
stone, with three Arches, with pyles bearing foorth against the two
fronts, to preserue the worke of the bridge, the sides thereof beeing of
excellent workmanship.

And in the middle bending of the same, vpon eyther sides, there was a
square stone of Porphyrite set, hauing in it a Catagliphic, engrauing of
Hieragliphies.

Vpon the right hand as I went ouer, I beheld a woman, casting abroade
her armes, sitting onely vppon one buttocke, putting foorth one of her
legges as if shee woulde rise; In her right hand, vpon that side which
shee did sitte, shee helde a payre of winges, and in the other hand,
vppon that side whereon she was arysing, a Tortice.

Right against her, there was a Circle, the center wherof two little
Spyrits did hold, with their backs turned towards the circumference of
th