Vnsaciable thus casting mine eyes, and turning vp my countenance now
this way & now that way, towards this huge & mighty frame, I thus
thought with my selfe. If the fragments and remaynder of so sacred an
antiquitie, and if the greet and dust of such a decayed monument, can
breed a stupifaction in the admiration thereof, and cause so great
delyght to behould the same, what would it haue done in chiefest pride.

After this my discourseing, reason perswaded mee to suppose, that with
in might bee the Aultar of _Venus_ for hir misticall Sacrifices and
sacred flames, or the representation of hir Godhead, or the _Aphrodise_
of hir selfe and hir little Archer, and therefore with a deuoute
reuerence, my right foote beeing set vppon the halowed lymit of the
doore, there came towards me flying a white _Horix_.[A]

[Sidenote A: A bird of slow flight & long liuing, in old monuments
by Augurs dedicated to Saturne.]

But I sodainlye with out any further regard or curious forcaste which
with my searching eies went in as the spatious and lightsome entrie
gaueme leaue, representing vnto me such sights as merit, and are
Condigne of euerlastinge remembrannce, in ether sydes stilled with smoth
poollishede Marble, in the middle parte where of there was impacte a
rounde table, inclaustrede and compassede about with a greene Stonne
verye pretious and accordinglie asosciated with curious workemanship.
And the opposite of verie blacke stone, scorning and contemning the
hardnes of iron, and cleare and shining as a mirror. By meanes whereof
as I passed by (vnawares) I grew afrayd at my owne shadow, neuertheles I
was by an by comforted with vnexspected delight, for the place that
occasioned my disquiet nowe offered vnto me the grounde of all sciences,
historied in a visible manifest and experte painting.