Addison, Joseph: Remarks on several parts of Italy: &c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703 (London: Tonson, 1718)

So VENICE.
of Artisans, who by the help of several
Poles, which they lay acrols each others
Shoulders, build themselves up into a
kind of Pyramid; so that you see a
Pile of Men in the Air of Four or Five
Rows rising one above another. The
Weight is so equally distributed, that
every Man is very well able to bear his part
of it, the Stories, if I may so call them,
growing leis and less as they advance high-
er and higher. A little Boy represents the
Point of the Pyramid, who, after a
ihort space, leaps' off, with a great deal
of Dexterity, into the Arms of one that
catches him at the Bottom. In the same
manner the whole Building falls to pie-
ces. I have been the more particular on
this, because it explains the following
Verses of Claudian^ which show that the
Venetians are not the Inventors of this
Trick.
Pel qui mere avium fefe jaculantur in auras.,
Corporaque adificant, celeri crefcentia nexu,
Quorum compojitam puer augment at us w
arcem
Pmicat, & vinPtus plant a, vel cruribus
barens,
Pendula librato sigit vejiigia faltu.
Claud, de Pr. 8c Olyb. Cons.
Men,

VE
Jless, pil'd on N
arise,
Ind build the bi
Skies;
■1 sprightly Yoo
Row
1 Points the tallPy
Show.

Tho’wo w.::-
ta to find a Pl;
saw’s Epigrai
lobe inserred.
feed this City

Vtnttt
Jarman

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