Page:The Voyage of Italy (1686).djvu/48

riant Lombardy and Campania antonomastically Fœlix, which Florus, Trogus, and Livy, think to be the best parts of the World, where Ceres and Bacchus are at a perpetual strife, whether of them shall court Man the most; she by filling his Barns with Corn, he by making his Cellars swim with Wine: Whilst the other parts of Italy are sweating out whole Forests of Olive-Trees, whole Woods of Limons, and Oranges, whole Fields of Rice, Turkey Wheat, and Musk-millions; and where those Bare Hills, which seem to be shaven by the Sun, and cursed Nature for their Barrenness, are oftentimes great with child of precious Marbles, the Ornaments of Churches and Palaces, and the Revenues of Princes: witness the Prince of Massa, whose best Revenues are his Marble Quarries: Nature here thinking it a far more noble thing to feed Princes, than to feed sheep. It abounds also in Silks and Silk-worms; out of which they draw a notable profit, and for the feeding of them they keep a world of Mulberry Trees, whose leaves are the food of those little worms, whose excrement is our pride; thus, Adam like, we are clad in leaves again, but leaves once removed. It's rich also in Pasturage and Cattle, especially in Lombardy, where I have seen Cheeses of an excessive greatness, and of a Parmesan goodness. The surface also of the Earth is covered with many curious Simples and wholesome Herbs: Hence so many rare Essences, Cordials, Perfumes, Sweet Water, and other Odoriferous Destillations, so common here, that Ordinary Barbers and Laundresses will sprinkle them in your Face, and perfume yourLinen