Hispahan

P. L. 11. 394. (See also Tauris, Hecatompylos.) John Cart- Ispahan, a city in the central part of Persia. wright, who in 1603 traveled in Persia, described it as follows: “This Citie in times past, was called Ecatompolis, the Citie of a hundred gates, and well it may keepe that name still, since the huge walls of the same containe in circuit an easie dales journey on horsebacke, and is become the greatest Citie in all the Persian A GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIOx\ARY OF MILTON Dominions, which is so much the more magnified and made populous by reason of the Kings resiance therein. Very strong is this Citie by situation, compa ed about with a very great wall, and watered with deep Channels of running Springs, conveighed into it from a part of the Coronian Mountains, which are as a wall inacce ible about it. On the North side is erected a strong Fort or Castle, being compa ed about with a wall of a you sand and seven hundred yards, and in the midst thereof is built a Tower, or rather a strong keepe, sundry Chambers and lodgings therein, but stored with little Ordnance. On the West side of this Citie standeth two Seraglios, the one for the King, the other for his Women, Palaces of great state and magnificence, far exceeding all other proud buildings of this Citie; the wals Marble and pargeting of divers colours, yea, all the Palace is paved with Checker and Te eled worke, and on the same is spread Carpets wrought with Silke and Gold; the windowes of Alabaster, white Marble, and much other spotted Marble, the Poasts and Wickets of ma ie Ivory, checked with glistering blacke Ebony, so curiously wrought in winding knots, as may easier stay then satisfie the eyes of the wondering beholder. Neere unto this Palace is a Garden very spacious and large, all flourishing and beaut i full, replenished with a you sand sundry kinds of grafts, trees, and sweet smelling Plants, among which the Lilly, the Hyacinth, the Gillyflower, the Rose, the Violet, the Flower-gentle, and a you sand other odoriferous flowers, doe yeeld a most pleasant and delightful sight to all beholders. There are a you sand Fountaines, and a you sand Brookes; among them all, as the father of them all, a pretie River, which with his milde course and delightsome noyse, doth Since King Abas divide the Garden from the Kings Palace. came to the Crowne, full twentie yeares and upwards, the Persian Empire hath flourished in sacred and redoubted Lawes, the People demeaning themselves after the best manner they can, abundance of Collections comming plentifully in, the Rents of his Chamber were increased more than ever they were in his Grandfather Tamas his time, Armes, Artes, and Sciences doe wonder{Pilgrimes 2. fully propser, and are very highly esteemed.” The change of the seat of the king mentioned by Milton 1432.) is thus explained by Cartwright: “[Casbeen] is now one of the seats of the Persian Kings Empire, which was translated by glister with red... King Tamas, this Kings grandfather, from Tauris, though the King that now raigneth makes most of his abode in Hispaan,. fourteen daies journey farther towards the East.”.. {Ih. 2. 1430.) See Spain. 161