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EXCERPTA CYPRIA. ZAMBËBT1. A quaint sonnet in the Venetian dialect contains probably the first printed account of Cyprus. It appears in the very rare book entitled Isolano, by Bartolommeo Zambertd (da' Sonetti), a small quarto, witliout note of place or date, but printed probably at Venice about 1489. The last sonnet in the book is on Cyprus, the concluding leaf being a curious outline map, without any names of places, of the island. The verses, copied verbatim et literatim, and a translation, are printed below. S. PEH L1NSULA DE CIPRO Questa e quela achamantida che pïaqne cotanto a venus delichata e molle ainathussa e machara pria dir se sole adeso ci pro e qui come iaque Vedila a quela parte one il sol naquè posta ala sirya e da quela chel toile sta verso diaria col suo piano e colle piu verso coro onde la hyems il taque Questa e simele a crete de grandeza e per i venti quasi mi stile tene e già de piu dun regno fu in alteza qui cnchari qui sale a sai qui bene Qui cerere dal trito fa dinicia qui da se alba un vino tinto fato qui le done de se non fa nnaricia Qui pnpho e salamina fumo in stato qui se lia de amaso e coloe notitia qui bufnueiito mira dogni lato Lydinia chi tino carpacio e gostanza Famagosta nicosia regal stanza SüXXET US THE ISLAND OF CVPBUS. This is that Àcamautis which charmed so much delicate and tender Venus. Anciently it was called Amatbusia and Macaria, now Cyprus. It lies thus—see! on the vide where the sun rises it is set over against Syria, and on that where it sets towards Caria; with its plains and hills sloping more towards the north-west, so that the winter blasts are hushed. It is like Crete in size, and lies open to almost the same winds. Of old it held more than one kingdom. Here are sugne, much salt, and wealth, for Ceres showers here store of grain. Hero a wine black when made grows light of itself. Here the women are not chary of their favours. Here Paphos and Salamis were renowned: and we hear of Tamassus and Soloi. Here Buffavento looks to every side. Lydinia, Citiuni, Carpas and Constantia, Famagusta, and Nicosia, seat of kings.

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