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[64]
When therefore the workmen had undertaken to make the table, they
framed it in length two cubits [and a half], in breadth one cubit, and
in height one cubit and a half; and the entire structure of the work was
of gold. They withal made a crown of a hand-breadth round it, with wave-work
wreathed about it, and with an engraving which imitated a cord, and was
admirably turned on its three parts; for as they were of a triangular figure,
every angle had the same disposition of its sculptures, that when you turned
them about, the very same form of them was turned about without any variation.
Now that part of the crown-work that was enclosed under the table had its
sculptures very beautiful; but that part which went round on the outside
was more elaborately adorned with most beautiful ornaments, because it
was exposed to sight, and to the view of the spectators; for which reason
it was that both those sides which were extant above the rest were acute,
and none of the angles, which we before told you were three, appeared less
than another, when the table was turned about. Now into the cordwork thus
turned were precious stones inserted, in rows parallel one to the other,
enclosed in golden buttons, which had ouches in them; but the parts which
were on the side of the crown, and were exposed to the sight, were adorned
with a row of oval figures obliquely placed, of the most excellent sort
of precious stones, which imitated rods laid close, and encompassed the
table round about. But under these oval figures, thus engraven, the workmen
had put a crown all round it, where the nature of all sorts of fruit was
represented, insomuch that the bunches of grapes hung up. And when they
had made the stones to represent all the kinds of fruit before mentioned,
and that each in its proper color, they made them fast with gold round
the whole table. The like disposition of the oval figures, and of the engraved
rods, was framed under the crown, that the table might on each side show
the same appearance of variety and elegancy of its ornaments; so that neither
the position of the wave-work nor of the crown might be different, although
the table were turned on the other side, but that the prospect of the same
artificial contrivances might be extended as far as the feet; for there
was made a plate of gold four fingers broad, through the entire breadth
of the table, into which they inserted the feet, and then fastened them
to the table by buttons and button-holes, at the place where the crown
was situate, that so on what side soever of the table one should stand,
it might exhibit the very same view of the exquisite workmanship, and of
the vast expeses bestowed upon it: but upon the table itself they engraved
a meander, inserting into it very valuable stones in the middle like stars,
of various colors; the carbuncle and the emerald, each of which sent out
agreeable rays of light to the spectators; with such stones of other sorts
also as were most curious and best esteemed, as being most precious in
their kind. Hard by this meander a texture of net-work ran round it, the
middle of which appeared like a rhombus, into which were inserted rock-crystal
and amber, which, by the great resemblance of the appearance they made,
gave wonderful delight to those that saw them. The chapiters of the feet
imitated the first buddings of lilies, while their leaves were bent and
laid under the table, but so that the chives were seen standing upright
within them. Their bases were made of a carbuncle; and the place at the
bottom, which rested on that carbuncle, was one palm deep, and eight fingers
in breadth. Now they had engraven upon it with a very fine tool, and with
a great deal of pains, a branch of ivy and tendrils of the vine, sending
forth clusters of grapes, that you would guess they were nowise different
from real tendrils; for they were so very thin, and so very far extended
at their extremities, that they were moved with the wind, and made one
believe that they were the product of nature, and not the representation
of art. They also made the entire workmanship of the table appear to be
threefold, while the joints of the several parts were so united together
as to be invisible, and the places where they joined could not be distinguished.
Now the thickness of the table was not less than half a cubit. So that
this gift, by the king's great generosity, by the great value of the materials,
and the variety of its exquisite structure, and the artificer's skill in
imitating nature with graying tools, was at length brought to perfection,
while the king was very desirous, that though in largeness it were not
to be different from that which was already dedicated to God, yet that
in exquisite workmanship, and the novelty of the contrivances, and in the
splendor of its construction, it should far exceed it, and be more illustrious
than that was.
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