ian_: or that in the fift
Pyramides standing vpon foure. This Obeliske in my iudgement was such,
as neyther that in the _Vaticane_ in _Alexandria_ or Babilon, may bee
equally compared vnto it, but rather esteemed far inferiour. It
conteined in it such a heape of woonders, as I could not without great
astonishment looke vpon it. As also consider the hugenesse of the worke,
the excessiue sumptuousnesse, the straunge inuention, the rare
performance, and exquisite diligence of the woorkeman. With what art
inuented? with what power, humaine force, and incredible meanes, enuying
(if I may speake it) the workmanship of the heauens, such and so mightie
weights should be transported and carryed into the skyes? with what
Cranes, winding beames, Trocles, round pullies, Capres bearing out
deuices, and Poliplasies, and drawing frames, and roped tryces, therein
being vnskilfull, I slip it ouer with silence.

_And heere on the other side followeth the figure._

[Illustration]

Let vs returne then to the huge Pyramides, standing vpon a strong and
sound plynth or foure square foote, fourteene paces in heigth, and in
length sixe furlongs, which was the foundation and bottom of the
weightie pyramides, which I perswaded my selfe was not brought from any
other place, but euen with plaine labour and workemanship hewen out of
the selfe same mountaines, and reduced to this figure and proportion in
his owne proper place.

Which great quadrant and square woorke, ioyned not fast to the
collaterate and sidelying rockes, but was betwixt spaced and seperated
on eyther sides tenne paces. Vpon the right hand as I went of the
aforesaid plynth or square sheame, there was most perfectly carued the
vyperous head of the fearefull _Medusa_, in a most furious and rigorous
forme to looke vpon, and as it were yelling out: with terrible eyes
cauernate, and hollow skowling vnder ther ouerhanging browes with a
wrympled and forrowed forehead and gaping wide open mouth, which being
hollowed with a dyrect waye from the Catill, and vppon stone by a
mediane lyne perpendicular to the center of the far shewing Pyramides,
made a large enterance and comming vnto it, at which opening mouth,
compassed with fowlded haires of vnrepartable curiousnes artificiall
cunning and costly woorkmanshyppe the assending the turning stayers
shewed them selues, and instead of tresses of haire platted with laces,
I saw fearefull vypers and winding serpents growing out from the scalpe