Palestina

Robert William Chambers

wrz 2020 · Library of Alexandria

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 In the heauenlye Hierusalem dwelleth an Emperor, so worthie, and so wealthie, as in his presence, both the rarest maiestie seemeth base; and the richest Monarch a beggar. The cite wherein hee abideth is so stately, and so strong, as neyther Niniuie without a lippe, nor Babilon for Ecbatane, may without a blush either be named, or numbred with it. It is of a glasse-like transparent, but the purest tried gold, that he resteth free from all doubt of euer hauing it wasted with fire, and voide of all feare, that it will not last for euer. The streetes of the citties are of the same gold, through them runneth a riuer as cleare as christall, on either side of which groweth a tree, which for euery of the twelue monethes giueth a seuerall fruite, and according vnto the effect it worketh, is called the tree of life: it is watered with the riuer which is of no lesse vertue then the tree, and hath his first vent from vnder the Emperour his throne. The citie is square 375. miles aswell in heigth, as length, and breadth, the compasse is 1500 mile: about it is a wal 216. foote high, all of Iasper stone, which beside the firmenes thereof, is of a most fresh and beautifull greene colour, that it mooueth the beholders to wish, as much as to wonder. The wall is built so low of purpose, that the statelinesse of the Citie may appeare the better vnto all passengers.

The foundation of the wall is of twelue precious stones, the Iasper, the Saphire, the Calcedonicke, the Emerauld, the Sardonix, the Sardius, the Chrysolith, the Berill, the Topaze, the Chrysophrase, the Hyacinth, the Amethist. In this wall were twelue gates, in all poynts correspondent vnto the statelinesse of the wall, three toward the East, as many toward the West, also three towarde the North, and three toward the South: euerie seuerall gate is one of those twelue seuerall precious stones, and no one of the gates without all the rest of the stones, but they are not so much beautified by them, as by the presence of twelue princes, which stand in euery of the twelue gates one, who seeme there to abide, onely as allurements to their citie, if any beeing weary of the worlds illusions, should indeuour too seeke theyr safetie, for neyther haue they any cause to looke vnto their gates, nor any custome to locke them.

And no worse then princes can stande at his gates, all whose houshold are princes, euerie one of them rich, because they cannot enioy more then they doe: all happie, because they cannot become lesse then they are, and onely contend, who shall to their power giue him most praise, who hath filled their harts with such ioy, as neither eye hath seene, eare hath heard, nor heart, (but their owne) can conceiue, and furnished all their senses with such delight, as still they couet, but neuer want, still they taste, but are neuer glutted, because they no sooner wish, then haue, and euery taste giueth a fresh appetite. If the verie pauement of their streetes bee of most pure gold, and the foundation of their walles of most precious stones, thinke what ornaments are those which are within theyr Pallaces. No night succeedeth their day, no winters colde, nor summers heate, disturbeth that temperature, which an euerlasting spring-time maintaineth in liuely vigour. One Kingdome contenteth them all, and because they all hold it of one, in whome onelie they ioy, and by whome they enioy it; they know not how to liue, but as one; no one enuyeth at anothers good, both because euery one hath what his heart can desire, and also for that they all haue one obiect, which so mightily draweth all their powers to the continuall loue, and looking thereon, as they haue neither power nor leysure to apply themselues to any other, more then that they loue each other, in respect that euerie one loueth him, who, as each thinketh, cannot bee loued too much.