* Larghezza, but
miſprinted.
miſprinted.
In the dayes of yore, before that the admirable Art of Wea
ving was in uſe, there was found in Perſia a vaſtand unvaluable
Treaſure, which conſiſted in an huge multitude of pieces of Er
meſin, or Damask, I know not whether; which, as I take it,
amounted to near two thouſand pieces; which were of ſuch a
nature, that though their Breadth and Thickneſs were finite and
determinate, as they uſe to be at this day; yet nevertheleſs, their
Length was in a certain ſenſe infinite, for that thoſe two thouſand
pieces, day and night without ceaſing, iſſued out with their ends
at ſuch a rate, that of each piece there iſſued 100. Ells a day, from
a deep and dark Cave, conſecrated by the Superſtition of thoſe
people, to the fabulous Arachne. In thoſe innocent and early
times (I take it to have been, in that ſo much applauded and
deſired Golden age) it was left to the liberty of any one, to cut
off of thoſe pieces what quantity they pleaſed without any diffi
culty: But that felicity decaying and degenerating, which was
altogether ignorant of Meum and Tuum; terms certainly moſt
pernicious, the Original of all evils, and cauſe of all diſcords;
there were by thoſe people ſtrong and vigilant Guards placed
upon the Cave, who reſolved to make merchandize of the Stuffes;
and in this manner they began to ſet a price upon that ineſtima
ble Treaſure, ſelling the propriety in thoſe pieces to divers Mer
chants; to ſome they ſold a right in one, to ſome in two, and to
ſome in more. But that which was the worſt of all, There was
found out by the inſatiable avarice of theſe men crafty inventions
to deceive the Merchants alſo; who came to buy the aforeſaid
commodity, and to make themſelves Maſters, ſome of one
ſome of two, and ſome of more ends of thoſe pieces of ſtuff;
and in particular, there were certain ingenuous Machines placed
in the more ſecret places of the Cave, with which at the pleaſure
of the Guards, they did retard the velocity of thoſe Stuffs, in
their iſſuing out of the Cave; inſomuch, that he who ought to have
had 100. Ells of Stuff in a day, had not above 50, and he who
ſhould have had 400, enjoyed the benefit of 50. onely; and ſo all
the reſt were defrauded of their Rights, the ſurpluſage being ſold,
appropriated, and ſhared at the will of the corrupt Officers: So
that the buſineſs was without all order or juſtice, inſomuch that
the Goddeſs Arachne being diſpleaſed at thoſe people, deprived
every one of their benefit, and with a dreadful Earthquake for
ever cloſing the mouth of the Cave, in puniſhment of ſo much
impiety and malice: Nor did it avail them to excuſe themſelves,
by ſaying that they allowed the Buyer the Breadth and Thick
neſs bargained for; and that of the Length, which was infinite,
ving was in uſe, there was found in Perſia a vaſtand unvaluable
Treaſure, which conſiſted in an huge multitude of pieces of Er
meſin, or Damask, I know not whether; which, as I take it,
amounted to near two thouſand pieces; which were of ſuch a
nature, that though their Breadth and Thickneſs were finite and
determinate, as they uſe to be at this day; yet nevertheleſs, their
Length was in a certain ſenſe infinite, for that thoſe two thouſand
pieces, day and night without ceaſing, iſſued out with their ends
at ſuch a rate, that of each piece there iſſued 100. Ells a day, from
a deep and dark Cave, conſecrated by the Superſtition of thoſe
people, to the fabulous Arachne. In thoſe innocent and early
times (I take it to have been, in that ſo much applauded and
deſired Golden age) it was left to the liberty of any one, to cut
off of thoſe pieces what quantity they pleaſed without any diffi
culty: But that felicity decaying and degenerating, which was
altogether ignorant of Meum and Tuum; terms certainly moſt
pernicious, the Original of all evils, and cauſe of all diſcords;
there were by thoſe people ſtrong and vigilant Guards placed
upon the Cave, who reſolved to make merchandize of the Stuffes;
and in this manner they began to ſet a price upon that ineſtima
ble Treaſure, ſelling the propriety in thoſe pieces to divers Mer
chants; to ſome they ſold a right in one, to ſome in two, and to
ſome in more. But that which was the worſt of all, There was
found out by the inſatiable avarice of theſe men crafty inventions
to deceive the Merchants alſo; who came to buy the aforeſaid
commodity, and to make themſelves Maſters, ſome of one
ſome of two, and ſome of more ends of thoſe pieces of ſtuff;
and in particular, there were certain ingenuous Machines placed
in the more ſecret places of the Cave, with which at the pleaſure
of the Guards, they did retard the velocity of thoſe Stuffs, in
their iſſuing out of the Cave; inſomuch, that he who ought to have
had 100. Ells of Stuff in a day, had not above 50, and he who
ſhould have had 400, enjoyed the benefit of 50. onely; and ſo all
the reſt were defrauded of their Rights, the ſurpluſage being ſold,
appropriated, and ſhared at the will of the corrupt Officers: So
that the buſineſs was without all order or juſtice, inſomuch that
the Goddeſs Arachne being diſpleaſed at thoſe people, deprived
every one of their benefit, and with a dreadful Earthquake for
ever cloſing the mouth of the Cave, in puniſhment of ſo much
impiety and malice: Nor did it avail them to excuſe themſelves,
by ſaying that they allowed the Buyer the Breadth and Thick
neſs bargained for; and that of the Length, which was infinite,