View PDF version of this page

L. VON SUCHEN. J. M AU NI SEVILLE. 21 neat on an empty stomach. In all the world are no greater or better drinkers than in Cyprus. The trees and herbs that grow here are the same as those of the Holy Land. In my days many nobles, barons and knights came hither from Germany, to wit the Count of Fyanden [Graf Gottfried ITI. von Yianden], the Count of Suartzborg [Heinrich von Schwarzbnrg], the loi*d of Sledin [Schleiden] and nobles of Litehtenstein [Liechtenstein] and several others. The seaeoasts of Turkey pay tribute to the king of Cyprus, to wit Caudelor, Scabmir [Auaimir], Sieee [Sechin] and Scaealia [Adalia] and some other towns and castles.... It would be a long task to set down the other wonderful riches of the island, or to tell of its nobles. J. MAU2ÎDEV1LLE. Sir John Jlaundeville was born, it is imagined, at St Albans, set out on his travels in 1332, and was buried in 1382 at Liege, where his Voiage and Travaile was written in 1356. The work as we have it is really a compilation of later date from the French. We transcribe from pp. 37—40 of the edition illustrated by Arthur Layard, 8vo, A. Constable, 1895. From this isle of Rhodes men go to Cyprus, where be many vines, that first be red, and after one year they become white : and those wines that be most white be most dear and best of smell.... From Rhodes to Cyprn-S be five hundred miles and more; but men may go to Cyprus and not touch at Rhodes. Cyprus is a right good isle, and a fair and great, and it hath fonr principal cities within him, and there is an Archbishop at Nicosia, and four other bishops in that land. And at Famagosta is one of the principal havens of the sea that is in the world; and there arrive Christian men and Saracens, and men of all nations. In Cyprus is the hill of the Holy Cross, and there is an abbey of black monks, and there is the cross of Dismas, the good thief, as I have said before, and some men believe that there is half of the Cross of our Lord, but it is not so, and they do evil who make men to believe so. In Cyprus lies St Zenommus of whom men of that country make great solemnity; and in the castle of Amours lieth the body of St Hilarion, and men keep it right worshipfully, and beside Fainagnsta was St Barnabas the Apostle bora. In Cyprus men hunt with papyons [papiones quos appellant, canes sihestres, acrioree quam lupi, Jac. de Yitriaeo, Hist. Orient. III.], that be like leopards, and they take wild beasts right well, and they be somewhat more big than lions, and they take more sharply the beasts, and more nimbly than do hounds. In Cyprus it is the manner of lords and all other men to eat on the earth ; for they make ditches in the earth all about in the hall, deep to the knee, and they do pave them; and when they will eat, they go therein and sit there, and the reason is that they may be the more cool ; for that land is much hotter than it is here, and at great feasts, and for strangers, they set forms and tables as men do in this country; but they had rather sit in the earth. From Cyprus men go to the land of Jerusalem by the sea, and in a day and night he that hath good wind may come to the haven of Tyre, that is now clept Sur.... Men might go more direct to that haven, and touch not at Cyprus, but they go gladly to Cyprus, to rest them on the laud, or else to buy things that they need for their living.

View PDF version of this page