University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Fovre bookes of Du Bartas

I. The Arke, II. Babylon, III. The Colonnyes, IIII. The Columues or Pyllars: In French and English, for the Instrvction and Pleasvre of Svch as Delight in Both Langvages. By William Lisle ... Together with a large Commentary by S. G. S

collapse section 
  
collapse section 
  
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
collapse section4. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

But on that other side a Sight-rule turnes about,
And vnd'r it lyes a tabl', on which they seeset-out
The course of wandring starres (who keep yet certaine rites)
The names of eu'ry month, the dayes and scale of heights.
He mouing that same Rule now takes the paine to teach

Vse of th'Astrolabe.


The toysing of a wall, and now to know the reach
From any place to place; the depth of any Well,
By view of breadth in heau'n a breadth on earth to tell:
As als'at what-signe Inne, by tyquet as it were,
Th'Almight' appoints the Sun to ledge all months i'th' yeere,
And where his Nadir is, and how much he declines,
Or how much he aduanc'd aboue th Equator shines:
What time a Signe entire allotted hath to runne
Ere on our Hemisphere he mount; and how to konne
Each countries mid-day-line, the Pole-heights euery way,
All howers of the night, all howers of the day.
The pregnant Phaleg yeelds vnt'all old Heber taught,

Phaleg improues and commends this Art to his posterity.


His eu'r attentiue care and quick-conceiuing thought;
As perfect Alcumist this gold he multiplies,
And vsing well the stock bequeaths rich legacies
Of learning, treasured in his encreasing Casse,
Vnt' all his noble race; and they their teacher passe.
But as of Venus, Mars, and Mercurie the lights
Goe visit otherwhile the naked Troglodytes;
Now Iava, now Peru, and oft remoue, to shine
In either world, a-this, a-that side th'Equall line:

176

So this renowmed Art was first an Hebrue borne,

This knowledge came from the Hebrewes to the Chaldeans From the Caldeans to the Egyptians.