And within from the bending downe of the chine or backe of the beast, there hunge by chaynes of copper an euerlasting lampe and incalcerate light, thorough the which in this hinder parte I sawe an auncient sepulcher of the same stone, with the perfect shape of a man naked, of all natural parts. Hauing vpon his head a crowne of black stone as iet: his teeth eyes and nayles siluered and standing vpon a sepulcher couered like an arke, of scale woorke, and other exquisite lyneaments, poynting with a goulden scepter, and holding forward his arme to giue direction to the former part.[4]
On his left side he held a shield in fashion like to the keele of a ship, or the bone of a horse head, wherevppon was inscript in Hebrew, Attic,[5] and Latine[6] letters, this sentence that is placed on the other side with the figure.
[v] | אם לא כי הבהמה כסתה את בשרי אני הייתי ערום חפש ותמצא הניחני |
| ΓΥΜΝΟΣ ΗΝ, ΕΙ ΜΗ ΑΝ ΘΗΡΙ- ΟΝ ΕΜΕΚΑΛΥΨΕΝ. ΖΗΤΕΙ. ΕΥ- ΡΗΣΗΔΕ. ΕΑΣΟΝ ΜΕ. | |
| NVDVSESSEM, BES- TIA NIME TEXIS- SET, QVAERE, ET INVE NIES. MESI- NITO. |
At which vncoth and straunge sight I stood not a little amased and somewhat doubtfull what to imagine, turning my eyes to the contrarie part, I sawe in like sorte an other, as before burning light, and passing thorough betwixt the side of the beast, and the therein inclosed part of the Obelisk, I came towards the forepart of the Olyphant, where in like manner I found such an other fashioned sepulcher as the former, with a stature or image standing therevpon as the other, sauing that it was a Queene, who lyfting vp hir right arme with hir formost finger, poynted towards that part behinde hir shoulders, and with the other shee helde a little table fast in hir hand, in which was written in three languages[7,][8,][9] this epygram.
 | שתהיה קח מן האוצר הזה כאות נפשך הסר הראש ואל תיגע בגופו היה מי אבל אזהיר אותך |
| ΟΣΤΙΣ ΕΙ, ΑΛΒΕΕΚ ΤΟΥ ΔΕ ΤΟΥ ΘΗΣΑΥΡΟΥ, ΟΣΝΟΝ ΑΝΑ ΡΕΣΚΟΙ. ΠΑΡΑΙΝΩ ΔΕ ΩΣ ΛΑΒΗΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΚΕΦΑΛΗΝ, ΜΗ ΑΠΤΟΥ ΕΩΜΑΤΟΣ. | |
| QVISQVIS ES, QVANTVNCVN- QUE LIBVERIT HVIVS THESAVRI SVME AD MONEO. AVFER CAPVT, CORPVS NE TAN- GITO. |
This noueltie worthie to be manifested, and secret riddle often to be read ouer, was not knowen to me, so as I rested doubtfull what the interpretation of this sophisme should signify, not daring to trie the conclusion. But stricken with feare in this dark vnlightsome place, notwithstanding the dimme burning lampe, I was more desirous to beholde and peruse that triumphant porch and gate as more lawfull to remaine there than other-where. Whereupon without more adoe, I determined to leaue this place vntill another time, that I might more quietly at lesure looke vpon the same, and to prepare my selfe to beholde the woonderfull worke of the gate: and thus descending downe I issued foorth of the vnbowelled monster, an inuention past imagination, and an excessiue labour and bolde attempt to euacuate such a hard substance ouer that other
[v] stones be, the workemanship within as curious as that without. Lastly, returned cleane downe, I beheld in the Porphire laste along the sides notably insculpt and grauen these hierogliphies.
First, the horned scalpe of an oxe, with two tooles of husbandry fastned to the hornes.
An altar standing vpon goates feete, with a burning fire aloft, on the foreside whereof there was also an eie, and a vulture.
After that a bason and an ewre.