English.
Gardon at Nismes, waters shall overflow so high,
That they’l think that Deucalion is born again,
Most of them will run into the Colossus,
And a Sepulchre, and fire extinguished, shall appear.
ANNOT.
Near Nismes there is the River called Gardon, which cometh from St. Romans, and dischargeth it self into the Rhosne at Beaucaire, there is to be seen in that City abundance of Antiquitez, which the Goths had built 1150. years before; there is also many Roman Antiquities, as an Amphitheater, so well builded that neither the Goths nor the Saracens, nor Attila, nor Charles Martel, with all their power, could not utterly demolish it. The Author nameth it Colossus, because its building appeared like a Colossus for solidity.
There is also an ancient Temple which is called the Fountain, builded as a Quadrangle, and supported by two rows of great Pillars, which at present is a Church of Nuns.
This being supposed, the River of Gardon did overflow so much, that its Waters joyning with that of a Flood that happened there the ninth of September 1557. every one thought that Deucalion had been born again. The Author saith this; because in the fables of the ancients. Deucalion is thought to be the Author of the Flood which Ovid mentioneth. During this Flood which was like to overflow the Town, as well as the Countrey, many did retire themselves into that Amphitheater.
And in that ancient Temple of the Fountain, the Waters overthrowing a great many old buildings did discover abundance of Antiquities, and amongst the rest one of those Lamps that burneth always, in the Sepulchre of a Vestal, which went out as soon as it felt the fresh Air.