The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 34

19. A Picture describing how _Hannibal_ forced his pa.s.sage over the River _Rhosne_ with his Elephants, Baggage and mixed Army; with the Army of the Gauls opposing him on the contrary Sh.o.r.e, and _Hanno_ pa.s.sing over with his Horse much above to fall upon the Rere of the Gauls.

20. A neat Piece describing the Sack of _Fundi_ by the Fleet and Souldiers of _Barbarossa_ the Turkish Admiral, the confusion of the people and their flying up to the Mountains, and _Julia Gonzaga_ the beauty of _Italy_ flying away with her Ladies half naked on Horseback over the Hills.

21. A n.o.ble Head of _Franciscus Gonzaga_, who, being imprisoned for Treason, grew grey in one night, with this Inscription,

_O nox quam longa est quae facit una senem._

22. A large Picture describing the Siege of _Vienna_ by _Solyman_ the Magnificent, and at the same time the Siege of _Florence_ by the Emperour _Charles_ the Fifth and Pope _Clement_ the Seventh, with this Subscription,

_Tum vacui capitis populum_ Phaeaca _putares?_

23. An exquisite Piece properly delineating the first course of _Metellus_ his Pontificial Supper, according to the description of _Macrobius_; together with a Dish of _Pisces Fossiles_, garnished about with the little Eels taken out of the backs of Cods and Perches; as also with the Sh.e.l.l Fishes found in Stones about _Ancona_.

24. A Picture of the n.o.ble Entertain and Feast of the Duke of _Chausue_ at the Treaty of _Collen_, 1673, when in a very large Room, with all the Windows open, and at a very large Table he sate himself, with many great persons and Ladies; next about the Table stood a row of Waiters, then a row of Musicians, then a row of Musketiers.

25. _Miltiades_, who overthrew the Persians at the Battel of _Marathon_ and delivered _Greece_, looking out of a Prison Grate in _Athens_, wherein he died, with this Inscription,

_Non hoc terribiles Cymbri non Britones unquam, Sauromataeve truces aut immanes Agathyrsi._

26. A fair English Lady drawn _Al Negro_, or in the aethiopian hue excelling the original White and Red Beauty, with this Subscription,

_Sed quondam volo nocte Nigriorem._

27. Pieces and Draughts in _Caricatura_, of Princes, Cardinals and famous men; wherein, among others, the Painter hath singularly hit the signatures of a Lion and a Fox in the face of Pope _Leo_ the Tenth.

28. Some Pieces _A la ventura_, or Rare Chance Pieces, either drawn at random, and happening to be like some person, or drawn for some and happening to be more like another; while the Face, mistaken by the Painter, proves a tolerable Picture of one he never saw.

29. A Draught of famous Dwarfs with this Inscription,

_Nos facimus Bruti puerum nos Lagona vivum._

30. An exact and proper delineation of all sorts of Dogs upon occasion of the practice of _Sultan Achmet_; who in a great Plague at _Constantinople_ transported all the Dogs therein unto _Pera_, and from thence into a little Island, where they perished at last by Famine: as also the manner of the Priests curing of mad Dogs by burning them in the forehead with Saint _Bellin's Key_.

31. A n.o.ble Picture of _Thorismund_ King of the Goths as he was killed in his Palace at _Tholouze_, who being let bloud by a Surgeon, while he was bleeding, a stander by took the advantage to stab him.

32. A Picture of rare Fruits with this Inscription,

_Credere quae possis surrepta sororibus Afris._

33. An handsome Piece of Deformity expressed in a notable hard Face, with this Inscription,

----_Ora Julius in Satyris qualia Rufus habet._

34. A n.o.ble Picture of the famous Duel between _Paul Manessi_ and _Caragusa_ the Turk in the time of _Amurath_ the Second; the Turkish Army and that of _Scanderbeg_ looking on; wherein _Manessi_ slew the Turk, cut off his Head and carried away the Spoils of his Body.

3. Antiquities and Rarities of several sorts.

1. Certain ancient Medals with Greek and Roman Inscriptions, found about _Crim Tartary_; conceived to be left in those parts by the Souldiers of _Mithridates_, when overcome by _Pompey_, he marched round about the North of the _Euxine_ to come about into _Thracia_.

2. Some ancient Ivory and Copper Crosses found with many others in _China_; conceived to have been brought and left there by the Greek Souldiers who served under _Tamerlane_ in his Expedition and Conquest of that Country.

3. Stones of strange and illegible Inscriptions, found about the great ruines which _Vincent le Blanc_ describeth about _Cephala_ in _Africa_, where he opinion'd that the Hebrews raised some Buildings of old, and that _Solomon_ brought from thereabout a good part of his Gold.

4. Some handsome Engraveries and Medals, of _Justinus_ and _Justinia.n.u.s_, found in the custody of a Bannyan in the remote parts of _India_, conjectured to have been left there by the Friers mentioned in _Procopius_, who travelled those parts in the reign of _Justinia.n.u.s_, and brought back into _Europe_ the discovery of Silk and Silk Worms.

5. An original Medal of _Petrus Aretinus_, who was called _Flagellum Principum_, wherein he made his own Figure on the Obverse part with this Inscription,

_Il Divino Aretino._

On the Reverse sitting on a Throne, and at his Feet Amba.s.sadours of Kings and Princes bringing presents unto him, with this Inscription,

_I Principi tributati da i Popoli tributano il Servitor loro._

6. _Mummia Tholosana_; or, The complete Head and Body of Father _Crispin_, buried long ago in the Vault of the Cordeliers at _Tholouse_, where the Skins of the dead so drie and parch up without corrupting that their persons may be known very long after, with this Inscription,

_Ecce iterum Crispinus._

7. A n.o.ble _Quandros_ or Stone taken out of a Vulture's Head.

8. A large _Ostridges_ Egg, whereon is neatly and fully wrought that famous Battel of _Alcazar_, in which three Kings lost their lives.

9. An _Etiudros Alberti_ or Stone that is apt to be always moist: usefull unto drie tempers, and to be held in the hand in Fevers instead of Crystal, Eggs, Limmons, Cuc.u.mbers.