XI. This third the merry* Diazome we call, The Diazome of sev'ral matters fram'd: The first, moist, soft; harder the next, and drier: Fenc'd with two walls, one low, the other higher; But two twice told down from the Cephal mountain flow. Here § sportful laughter dwells, here ever sitting, * The instrument of free breathing is the Diazome or Diaphragma, which we call the Midriffe, as a wall, parting the heart and liver. The midriffe dilates itself when it draws in, and contracts itself when it puffs out the air. The midriffe consists of two circles, one skinny, the other fleshy; it hath two tunicles, as many veins and arteries, and four nerves. § Here most men have placed the seat of laughter; it hath much sympa、 thy with the brain, so that if the midriffe be inflamed, present madness ensues. XIV. This coast stands girt with a * peculiar wall, Is fair Kerdia, far his bounds extending ; Which full to know, were knowledge infinite : How then should my rude pen this wonder write, Which Thou, who only mad'st it, only know'st aright? XV. In middle of this middle regiment Kerdia seated lies, the centre deem'd More fitly hence to shed his life and heat, XVI. Flank'd with two diff'rent walls (for more defence); Betwixt them ever flows a wheyish moat; In whose soft waves and circling profluence, This city, like an isle, might safely float : In motion still, (a motion fix'd, not roving) Most like to heav'n, in his most constant moving : Hence most here plant the seat of sure and active loving. XVII. Built of a substance like smooth porphyry; His § matter hid, and, like itself, unknown: * Within, the Pleura, or skin which covers the ribs on the inside, compasses this middle region. The heart is placed in the midst of this province and of the whole body. The heart is immured, partly by a membrane going round it, and a peculiar tunicle; partly with an humour, like whey; as well to cool the heart, as to lighten the body. § The flesh of the heart is proper and peculiar to itself; not like other muscles, of a figure pyramidal, Two rivers of his own; another by, That from the Hepar rises, like a crown, Infolds the narrow part: for that great All This his works'. glory made pyramidal, Then crown'd with triple wreath and cloth'd in scarlet pall. XVIII. The city's self in two partitions reft, That on the right, this on the other side: The right (made tributary to the left) Brings in his pension at his certain tide, A pension of liquors strangely wrought; Which first by Hepar's streams are higher brought, The grosser waves of these life-streams (which here A doubtful channel doth to § Pneumon bear: As through a wall, with hidden passage slide; At each hand of the left, I two streets stand by, Of several stuff and several working fram'd, * Though the heart be an entire body, yet it is severed into two partitions, the right and left; of which, the left is more excellent and noble. The right receives into its hollowness, the blood flowing from the liver, and concocts it. This right side sends down to the lungs that part of the blood which is less laboured and thicker; but the thinner part, it sweats through a fleshy partition into the left side. § The lungs. This fleshy partition severs the right side from the left; at first it seems thick, but if it be well viewed, we shall see it full of many pores or passages. Two skinny additions (from their likeness called the ears or auricles) receive, the one the thicker blood, that called the right; the other, the left, takes in the air sent by the lungs. With hundred crooks and deep wrought cavity: I' th' right-hand street, the tribute liquor sitteth : Which subtile wrought and thin, for future workmen fitteth. * The city's left side (by some hid direction) Of this thin air, and of that right side's rent, (Compound together) makes a strange confection; And in one vessel both together ment, Stills them with equal, never quenched firing Then in small streams (through all the Isle retiring) Sends it to every part, both heat and life inspiring. In this XXII. heart-city, four main streams appear; One from the Hepar, where the tribute landeth, Largely pours out his purple river here ; At whose wide mouth, a band of Tritons standeth, (Three Tritons stand) who with their three fork'd mace, Drive on, and speed the river's flowing race; But strongly stop the wave, if once it back repass ‡. XXIII. The second is that doubtful channel, lending 1 The left side of the heart takes in this air and blood; and concocting them both in his hollow bosom, sends them out by the great artery into the whole body. In the heart are four great vessels, the first is the hollow vein, bringing in blood from the liver; at whose mouth stand three little folding doors, with three forks, giving passage, but no return to the blood. (What is said concerning the blood, both in the stanzas and notes is agreeable to the old philosophy; this poem being written before Dr. Harvey made known his discovery.) § The second vessel is called the artery vein, which rising from the right side of the heart, carries down the blood here prepared to the lungs, for their nourishment: here also are the like three folding doors, made like half circles; giving passage from the heart, but not backward. Whose springs by careful guards are watch'd, that sending The third unlike to this, from Pneumon flowing, Is kept by gates and bars, which stop all backward going. The † last full spring, out of this left side rises, Where three fair nymphs, like Cynthia's self appearing, Draw down the stream which all the Isle suffices; But stop back ways, some ill revolture fearing. This river still itself to less dividing, At length with thousand little brooks runs sliding, His fellow course along with Hepar's channels guiding. XXV. Within this city is the ‡ palace fram'd, Where life, and life's companion, heat, abideth ; And their attendants, passions untam'd: (Oft very Hell, in this straight room resideth) And did not neighbouring hills, cold airs inspiring, Allay their rage and mutinous conspiring. Heat, all (itself and all) would burn with quenchless firing. XXVI. Yet that great Light, by whom all heaven shines And to this lowly seat himself confines. Fall then again, proud heart, now fall to rise: * The third is called the veiny artery, rising from the left side, which hath two folds three-forked. The fourth is the great artery: this hath also a flood-gate made of three semicircular membranes. The heart is the fountain of life and heat to the whole body, and the seat of the passions. H |