46
The Voyage
issue and spawn of the Great Cupola. Then mounting a little higher, I beheld a rare fabrick of the mother Cupola, both within and without. The staires to mount up into it: the double vault in it, and stairs between the two vaults: the lantern upon the Cupola: the narrow stairs in one of the pillars of that Lantern up to the ball: lastly the straight neck of the passage into the Ball, and the Ball it self, are all worth particular observation, as being the height of Architecture. The round Ball capable of 30 men.The ball it self of brass gilt is capable of thirty men, though from below it lookes onely as big as twice a mans head. We were eight in it at once; and I am sure we could have placed thrice as many more. Upon the round Ball is mounted a great Cross of iron guilt to signifie, that the Vertue of the Cross by our Saviours passion, hath triumphed over the world, of which this round Ball is the express emblem. From this Cupola we had a perfect view of Rome under us, and of all the Villas about it. But nothing was so wonderful, as
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