when I read that there are now above three thousand Cities in Italy, and most of them Cities of Garbo: when I meet with National Diseases in every other Country, as the Kings-Evil in Spain, the Pox in France, the Consumption in Portugal, the Colick in England, the Dysentery in Gascony, the Head-ach in Tolouse, etc when I reflect how this Sun hath blessed Lombardy and made Campania Happy: when I call to mind, that it hath filled the Cellars of Italy with above Thirty several sorts of Wines: when I remember what Health it hath poured into several herbs here, what admirable fruits it furnisheth the Markets withal, what ornaments. it affords to Gods Houses, over-crusting almost all the chief Churches of Italy with exquisite marbles: when I consider in fine, how this Sun hath helpt to make so many brave Soldiers and Scholars, I dare not speak ill of the Sun or Air of ltaly, least Balzac check me, as Gracchus did him who spoke ill of his Mother, with a Tu Matri meae maledicus, quae Tiberium Gracchum genuit? Darest thou speak ill of that Sun which helpt to make Caesar?
Yes, yes, it’s this great blessing of God, warm Sun, which hath so throughly baked the Italian Wits, that while (according to the observation of Charles the V) the French appear not wise, but are wise; the Spaniards appear wise, but are not wise; the Dutch neither appear wise, nor are wise; the Italians only both appear wise, and are wise, Hence the Italians anciently afforded us those prodigies of Wit and learning, and set
