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[78]
Now of the cisterns of gold there were two, whose sculpture was
of scale-work, from its basis to its belt-like circle, with various sorts
of stones enchased in the spiral circles. Next to which there was upon
it a meander of a cubit in height; it was composed of stones of all sorts
of colors. And next to this was the rod-work engraven; and next to that
was a rhombus in a texture of net-work, drawn out to the brim of the basin,
while small shields, made of stones, beautiful in their kind, and of four
fingers' depth, filled up the middle parts. About the top of the basin
were wreathed the leaves of lilies, and of the convolvulus, and the tendrils
of vines in a circular manner. And this was the construction of the two
cisterns of gold, each containing two firkins. But those which were of
silver were much more bright and splendid than looking-glasses, and you
might in them see the images that fell upon them more plainly than in the
other. The king also ordered thirty vials; those of which the parts that
were of gold, and filled up with precious stones, were shadowed over with
the leaves of ivy and of vines, artificially engraven. And these were the
vessels that were after an extraordinary manner brought to this perfection,
partly by the skill of the workmen, who were admirable in such fine work,
but much more by the diligence and generosity of the king, who not only
supplied the artificers abundantly, and with great generosity, with what
they wanted, but he forbade public audiences for the time, and came and
stood by the workmen, and saw the whole operation. And this was the cause
why the workmen were so accurate in their performance, because they had
regard to the king, and to his great concern about the vessels, and so
the more indefatigably kept close to the work.
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