The loudest sound is hardly heard within : No sounding voice unto his seat may come : The lazy sense still sleeps, unsummon'd with his drum. XLII. This *drum divides the first and second part, XLIII. The first an† hammer call'd, whose out-grown sides The stirrup's sharp side by the stithe embrac'd; XLIV. Two little windows ever open lie, The sound unto the cave's third part conveying; * The drum parteth the first and second passage. To ît are joined three little bones, the instruments of hearing; which never grow, or decrease, in child hood or age: they are all in the second passage. The hammer, stithe (or anvil), and stirrup, all take their names from their likeness; and are all tied to the drum by a small string. These are two small passages, admitting the sounds into the head, and cleansing the air. K And slender pipe, whose narrow cavity, Doth purge the inborn air, that idle staying, Would else corrupt, and still supplies the spending : Such whilome was that eye-deceiving frame, Whom late a shepherd taught to weep so sore, The third part with his narrow rocky straits Perfects the sound, and gives more sharp accenting; As when a stone troubling the quiet waters, Till all the lake with circles now is crown'd: All so the air, struck with some violence night, Begets a world of circles in the sky; All which inflected move with sounding quality. *The last passage is called the Cochlea, snail, or periwinkle, where the nerves of hearing plainly appear. XLVIII. These at Auditus' palace soon arriving, Enter the gate, and strike the warning drum: And in an instant brought unto the judging sense. This sense is made the master of request, Prefers petitions to the prince's ear : Admits what best he likes, shuts out the rest; Oft melts the prince with oily flatteries. Ill mought he thrive, that loves his master's enemies! L. "Twixt Visus' double court a tower stands, Plac'd in the suburbs' centre; whose high top, And lofty raised ridge the rest commands : Revives the heavy town, his lib'ral sweets dispending. This vaulted tow'r's half built of massy stone, The other half of stuff less hard and dry, Fit for distending, or compression : The outward wall may seem all porphyry. But in the city is his chief resort, Where 'twixt two little hills he keeps his judging court. * The sense of smelling. 1 LII. By two great caves are fix'd these little hills, The odours pressing in, are here all stay'd; Unto the common judge they are with speed convey'd. At each side of that tow'r, stands two +fair plains, Was once frequented by the Muse's trains : Here in two colours beauty shining bright, Dressing her white with red, her red with white, With pleasing chain enthrals, and binds loose wand'ring'sight. LIV. Below a cave, roof'd with a heav'n-like plaster, Where Gustus dwells, the Isle's and prince's taster, Whom Tactus (some affirm) got of his mother: Tactus the last, but yet the eldest brother; These are those two little paps or teats spoken of in the xvth stanza of this canto. †The cheeks. Gustus, or the taste, is in the palate. § Tactus, the sense of feeling. Through all the Isle distended is his dwelling; He rules the streams that from the Cephal swelling, Run all along the Isle, both sense and motion dealing. LVI. With Gustus, Lingua* dwells, his prattling wife, Endow'd with strange and adverse qualities: The nurse of hate and love, of peace and strife; Mother of fairest truth, and foulest lies, Or best, or worst; no mean: made all of fire, Which sometimes Hell, and sometimes Heav'n inspire, By whom truth's self oft speaks, oft that first murd'ring liar. LVII. The idle Sun stood still at her command, Breathing his fiery steeds in Gibeon : And pale-fac'd Cynthia at her word made stand, Her voice oft open breaks the stubborn skies, And holds th' Almighty's hands with suppliant cries: Her voice tears open Hell with horrid blasphemies. LVIII. Therefore that great Creator, well foreseeing To what a monster she would soon be changing, (Though lovely once, perfect and glorious being) Curb'd her with iron † bit, and held from ranging; And with strong bonds her looser steps enchaining, Bridling her course, too many words refraining, And doubled all his guards, bold liberty restraining. LIX. For close within he sets twice sixteen guarders‡, Whose harden'd temper could not soon be mov'd: *The tongue. + The tongue is held with a ligament called the bridle. It is guarded by the teeth and lips, both which help and sweeten the voice. |