The Artiſt hath ſo far complied with the perfect and exact Original, as is poſſible to humane skill and induſtry. His reſearches and enquiries after Foraign, Outlandiſh Creatures, whoſe names are not ſo well known to theſe Quarters of the World (and thoſe ſmall and inconſiderable ones too) was a coſtly Labour; but to preſent them to view in their natural ſhapes and poſtures to the Life, and beyond all former Figures and Deſcriptions of them, as that every man may be as wiſe as Adam, and read their names and qualities in their Aſpects, is a moſt meritorious obliging Work.

To enumerate all the Creatures (ſo as they ſeem here enlivened) by name, were a tedious and impertinent task, only thus much ſhall ſuffice: whatever the moſt unbounded and comprehenſive knowledge of any man ſince Adam did attain to in the Science of the Number and Form of Creatures, is certainly outdone in this Repreſentation. For here they are placed from the greateſt to the leaſt, from the Elephant to the Mouſe, from the Eagle to the Wren, from the Crocodile to the Glow-Worm; with all ſorts or kinds of Inſects, and Creeping things, to pleaſe the wandering eyes of the Spectators.

One would wonder upon a long and continued view, that the Creatures of different natures and antipathies to one another, as the Dog and the Bear, the Lion and the wild Boar; and thoſe ſmaller Animals, which exerciſe hoſtility, and among whom, one with another there is ſuch conſtant feuds, as Cocks, &c. ſhould ſtand ſo ſtill and quiet, and not flie one upon another; certainly, the leaſt Mathematical motion, would breed ſuch a War in this Commonwealth of Beaſts, that would utterly undo the better deſerving Artiſt.

You muſt have a ſpecial care (whoever ſhall indulge himſelf his innocent pleaſure of ſeeing theſe Rarities) that as ſoon as you enter, you fix your eye firſt on the Baſilisk, placed conveniently for that advantage, leſt her venemous ſight ſpy you out before, and ſo a ſtrong conceit that ſhe is there in life, endanger yours.

You cannot without indignation of minde ſee the accurſed Serpent putting the deadly Apple into our Grand mother Eves hand: and were it not that this malicious fraud is acted at the furtheſt end of the Room; and out of your reach, you would put forth your hand to prevent that deſtruction (which enſued thereby upon Poſterity) A fraud, I ſay, twice ſo (ill and well) practiſed, firſt by the Serpent, and then by this our Artiſt, that the one can never be remedied, nor the other mended.

There is alſo the divertiſement of Hawking, in the ſeveral Flights of the Taſſel, the Lanner, the Marlyn, and that merry ſport of the Hobby; but I know not by what new or ill quality, they neither come down with their Quarry, nor will they come to Lure at any hand; the Spaniels ſtand diligently at the retrive, eagerly expecting a ſhare of the Game, and would bark, but dare not for their lives, but y • u would ſwear they meant it, and that they are abuſed.

Here is alſo ſundry Rarities of Trees, Slips of thoſe beauteous bulks, which grew in the Garden of Eden, upon the fruit whereof (Zeuxis Maſter ſhip being here infinitely ſurmounted and excelled) ſtand Birds picking, to the envy of the Lady Spectators, who thinks thoſe Delicacies were ordained for them, while their gallants are ready to huſh them off the Trees with their Hat and Feathers.

While we are ſpeaking of ſuch Perſonages, give me leave to mention a piece of excellent accompliſht Art, relating to them: On the left ſide of the Room, are five beautifull Ladies ſeated, beholding theſe curioſities, a perſon of quality ſtanding by them, attended with three Blackmore Lacquees in rich blew Liveries: At the firſt entrance, the livelineſs, beauty and gallantry of them hath ſtruck ſuch a kind of Reverence, that many have conſtantly and obſervantly bowed towards them, and have wondred at the non-return of their Civility.

On the left ſide behind the opening of the door are placed a Conſort of Muſitians of commonly known faces. among the reſt the Artiſt, tuning of a Lute, all ſo exact and to the Life, that people on a ſudden glance, ſuppoſe they ſhall have Muſick too, as in other Shows and Plays, for their money. But that which excels therein, is the draught of the old man of the Houſe, filling out drink to the Muſicians, ſo proportionably and rarely Copied, that it is very hard to diſtinguiſh betwixt them, which is the livelier,

Nay ſo compleatly hath the Artiſt done this piece, that when firſt he placed him in the Room, the Old man having conducted ſome Gentlemen thither, and while they were beholding the aforeſaid Rarities gone out again; when the Show was done there; and the Artiſt was to ſhut the door, he eſpied, as he though, the old man, and deſired his Picture inſtead of him to come out, that he might lock the ſaid door, till recollecting himſelf, he found out his happy and almoſt indiſcoverable Errour.

When you have glutted your eyes even to ſatiety here, there remains yet a Collation below ſtairs which will amount to the juſt meaſure of a large entertainment: Tis the Repreſentation, What do I call it? Tis the very ſelf ſame Feaſt that luxurious Emperour Heliagabalus made for his Companions, who diſappointing his Invitation, it hath been preſerved in Art to this time; you are deſired nor to fall to, becauſe that great Maſter of the Beaſt hath nor as yet touched one Diſh of it, and 〈◊〉 mannerly to begin before him: you may deſign what Oath you pleaſe to feed upon out of all that choice variety, and keep your ſtomach for it, whether it be Chine of Beef, Weſtphalia Gammon, Veniſon, or Daintier Viands, Hollow Birds, Pies, Tarts, &c. But if you ſhould chance to faſt over long (as I do not promiſe you any ſet Meal time) there is a remedy at hand, you may kiſs the Cook Maid; but let not her ſmug and black eyes entice you any further.

After all this comes a Banquet (tis not for a maſculine palate, and therefore I ſhall not inſiſt upon thoſe ſweet Kickſhaws) there is nothing wanting here, to ſerve a Ladies deſire, and to keep it; for its twenty to one if her eye be not bigger then her belly.

Upon a review of the whole, and ſecond thoughts, it ſeems to me to be the Model of the Ark, into which all the Creatures againſt the approach of the Deluge entred for their preſervation: The Proviſion in the Room below-ſ • e •• ing like the Store Room in the Hold thereof 〈◊〉 untain and feed them. And it is moſt certain, that the 〈◊〉 parable Art of this Gentlemen haht reſcued many of theſe Creatures from the ignorance of half-the world.

To conclude, he that hath ſeen this delightfull ſight, can never ſee enough of it (beſides the daily ad •… ons with which the rich Invention of the Artiſt is ſtill furniſhing and repleniſhing this Work) and he that hath not ſeen it, hath in effect as good as ſeen nothing. — The whole is remitted to the belief of your ſight, which helped with the full Relation of the ſeveral Natures, Qualities, Countries, and Contrarieties of the ſeveral Creatures, exactly delivered by the Artiſt himſelf, will, without arrogance of ſaying ſo, improve it to your higheſt ſatisfaction.