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xlv.

of each, and especially about those which are most often
seen by people. I will speak first about
the people of each country, and then about the beasts and the fish,
just is done for us in the book from which this Mappa Mundi
has been extracted. [rubric] Below is discussed the terrestrial
paradise and the four rivers that flow out from it. [/rubric]
The first region of Great Asia is
the terrestrial Paradise. It is a place
that is full of joy, pleasures,
and delights, where no one, whoever they may be, will
grow old or be subject to anything bad in any way.
In this Paradise is the tree of life. Anyone
who eats of its fruit will never die for as long
as the world lasts. But no living person can
go there unless he be led there by Our Lord
or one of his angels. For it is
enclosed all around by a burning fire, the flames of
which rise up to the clouds. From Paradise is sourced a fountain
that divides into four rivers. One of them is called Ungages. It
runs the length of the realm of India and flows out through
several branches. It is sourced in the mountain that is called

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Marie Richards

original ms. Folio 45r
Walters ms. Folio 50r
BL Royal MS 19 A IX, fols 50r-v.
Caxton, ed. Prior, p 68
Gossuin, ed. Prior, 109

Marie Richards

Line 5: Note reference to his Mappa Mundi source text. Per Prior, he draws on Isidore of Seville and/or Honorius of Autun.

Marie Richards

Line 21: "Ungages." Prior notes, p. 68 fn 5, that the OF text has "Phison ou Ganges," and numerous copists corrupted the text. BL ms. also has Ungages.