Czerniechovia

Decl. Poland 8. 466. Czernichowce, a village of Galicia, in the region of Tamopol. Dacor (Dacre). Hist. Brit. (5) 5. 223. A place in Cumber land, on the River Eamont. Damascus (Damasco). Grif. 5. 391. Eleg. 4. 116; P. L. 1. 468, 584; Notes: (See also Abbana.) An ancient city of Syria, east of the Anti-Lebanons, on the edge of the desert, for ages celebrated for its beauty and prosperity. William Biddulph, who visited it in the year 1600, writes: “Damascus is a most ancient city, and as Esay spake of it in his time: ‘The head of Aram is Damascus’ (Isaiah 7. 8), so Damascus is the chiefest Citie of Syria to this day. The situation thereof is most pleasant, being built on a plaine ground, strongly walled about, and a strong Castle therein, with many fine Rivers running on every side of it, especilly Abanah and Pharpar, mentioned 2 Kings 5, which are now divided into many heads. The Turkes say that their Prophet Mahomet was once at Damascus, and that when he saw the pleasant situation of it, and beheld the stately prospect of it, excelling all others that ever hee saw before, refused to enter into the Citie, lest the pleasantne e move him there to settle an Earthly Paradise, and hinder his desire of the heavenly Paradise. It hath also many pleasant Orchards, and Gardens round about thereof should ravish him, and the Citie, and some wayes for the space of a mile and more about the Citie there are many Orchards, and great variety of fruits.... Damascus is called... the Garden of Turkic, because there is no place in all the Turkes Dominions, that yeeldeth such abundance of Fruit.” (Pilgrimes 2. 1347.) Ariosto describes Damascus, and tells of a tournament held there: These three unto Damasco came togither, The fair’st and richest towne of all the East, What time great lords and knights repaired thither, Allured by the fame of such a feast. I told you from the holy citie thither. Was five or sixe dayes journey at the least: But all the townes about both small and great, Are not like this for state and fruitful! seat. For first, beside the cleare and temprat aire, Not noid with sommers heat nor winters cold. There are great store of buildings large and faire. Of carved stone most stately to behold, The streets all pav’d where is their most repaire, And all the ground is of so fruit full mold. That all the yeare their spring doth see me to last. And brings them store of fruits of daintie tast. Above the Citie lies a little hill. That shades the morning sunne in erly hours. Of waters sweet (which here we use to still) They make such store with spice and juyce of flowrs As for the quantitie might drive a mill. Their gardens have faire walks and shady bowrs, But (that which chief maintain eth all the sweets) Two christ all streames do runne amid the streets. {Orlando Furioso 17. 12-14.) Milton refers to Damascus in connection with the following the story of Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5); Biblical narratives: the obtaining of the pattern of an altar of the Syrian fashion by King Ahaz (2 Kings 16. 10-16); the invasion of Palestine by Benhadad king of Syria (1 Kings 20). Damiata. P. L. 2. 593. Damietta, a city near the Mediterranean, on the right bank of Matthew Paris, who mentions the eastern branch of the Nile. it often in his accounts of the Crusades, calls it “the key of all Egypt.” (a.d. 1219.) A traveler who visited it in 1580 writes: “More within the lande by the rivers side is Damiata an auncient citie environed with walles contayning five miles in circuit.... This citie is very large, delight full, and pleasant, abounding with gardens and faire fountaines.” Damietta. 1. ch101.xhtml d 111