Page:The Voyage of Italy (1686).djvu/63

Part I.

Y second Voyage was by the way of France, where I started from Paris, & made towards Lyons; in the way I took notice of these places.

Yssone.

Yssone a neat house belonging then to Monsieur Essolin. The House is so pretty, that I think it worth the Travellers seeing, and my describing. It stands in the shade of a thick grove of Trees, and is wholly built and furnished al' Italiana. Under the side of the House, runs a little Brook, which being received into a Bason of Free-stone, just as long as the House, and made like a Ship, (that is, sharp at both ends and wide in the middle) it is cloven, and divided into two, by the sharp end of this Ship and conveyed in close Channels of free-stone, on both sides of the Ship or Bason, into which it empties itself by several Tunnels, or Pipes: so that all this Water spouting into the open Ship on both sides, by four and twenty Tunnels, makes under the Windows of the House, such a perpetual purling of Water, (like many Fountains) that the gentle noise is able to make the most jealous Man sleep profoundly. At the other end of the House, this Water issueth out of the other end of the said Ship, and is courteously intreated by several hidden pipes of Lead, to walk into the house, instead of running by so fast: which it doth, and is presently led into the Cellars, and Buttery; and not only into these, but also into the Kitchin, Stables, Chambers, and Bathing Room, all