535

Chap. 7.] Shakespeare , Drayton and Spencer quoted.

pillar Stands a less one fluted, upon which are six infants, every one ofwhom leans on an escutcheon bearing the arms of the empire, those ofNuremberg and other towns ; they are all of them sounding trumpets, outof which water jets in plenty. On the top of this second pillar is a finestatue of Justice, with her sword in one hand and her balance in the other;she likewise sends water from her breasts, and Supports herseif upon alarge ostrich which spouts water most bountifully. All this is in brasssurrounded with an iron grate carved and gilt.” (Travels, i, 197.)

Another at Augsburg he thus describes ; “ In the middle of the basin isa double pedestal, at the foot of which are several sphinxes and statuesjetting water into the basin, some by the mouth, others by their breasts,and three by trumpet-marines. On the four Corners of the first pedestalare four fine statues big as life ; their feet rest upon four very large shellsinto which they pour water, some out of vases, others in another fashion.Upon the top of the second pedestal is a Hercules combating the LerneanHydra.” (Ibid. 291.)

Old writers represent Brussels as well supplied with water 150 yearsago as Rome itself. There were twenty public fountains at the Cornersof the principal streets, and all adorned with statues. In the herb-marketwere figures of four beautiful females “ squeezing water out of theirbreasts”—a favorite device, and another equally populär was adopted ina splendid fountain near the Carmelite church in the same city : “ Toutpres de cette Eglise est le Manneke-pis, c’est la statue d’un garijon, eleveesur une colonne ; du haut, de laquelle il jette de l’eau, comme s’il pissoit,par sa pipe, jour et nuit, dans un bassin qui est au pied de la colonne.C’est une des sept merveilleuses fontaines de la ville.” (Le CurieuxAntiquaire, tome i, 175.) m

Shakespeare often alludes to the figures of old English fountains. InWinter’s Tale, Act iv, Scene I, he compares the old shepherd to “ a weatherbitten conduit of many king’s reigns that is, to a statue from which thewater flowed. Henley in commenting on the passage observes : “ Con-duits representing a human figure were heretofore not uncommon. Oneof this kind, a female form, and weather beaten still exists at Hoddesdon inHerts .” In As You like It , Rosalind says, she will weep “ like Diana inthe fountain”—an allusion to that erected at Paul’s Cross, where, after thereligious images had been destroyed, (see page 106,) “ there was set upa curious wrought tabernacle of gray marble, and in the same an alabasterimage of Diana, and water conveyed from the Thames, prilling from hernaked breast,”

Drayton, a poet Contemporary with Shakespeare , alludes to fountainsand their basins in his Quest of Cynthia.

At length I on a fountain light,

Whose brim with pinks was platted,

The banks with daffodilies dightWith grass, like sleave was matted.

And Spencer in the Fairy Queen —

And in the midst of all a fountaine stood,

Of richest substance that on earth might bee,

So pure and shiny, that the silver flood

Through every. channel running one might see.

Fountains have always been indispensable adjuncts in oriental gardens,and they doubtless formed conspicuous objects in those of Babylon. Thetwo fountains in the gardens of Alcinous, from their elevated position and