Illam homines dices, hanc posuisse Deos.’
‘When Neptune saw in Adrian surges stand
Venice, and gave the sea laws of command:
Now Jove, said he, object thy Capitol,
And Mars’ proud walls: this were for to extol
Tyber beyond the main; both towns behold;
Rome, men thou’lt say, Venice the Gods did mould.’
Sannazaro had given him by Saint Mark a hundred zecchins, for every one of these verses, which amounts to about 300 pounds. It would be long before the city of London would do the like. Witness that cold reward, or rather those cold drops of water which were cast upon my countryman, Sir Hugh Middleton, for bringing Ware River through her streets, the most serviceable and wholesomest benefit that ever she received.
JAMES HOWELL (1621).