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64

first appeared after the Flood, when that had abated.
There is another one there, called Meloth [Melos?]. It is called
that because of the great melody that one hears there
from the sweet singing of the birds that are always
there. In this island is found much white marble.
There is another island in these parts that is called Psalmos,
where Queen Sybil was born, who prophesied many
things about Our Lord Jesus Christ
long before He was born of the Virgin
Mary. She prophesied these things in Rome, to where
she had been sent. In this island
the way to make earthen pots was first invented, which is still used
today in many countries, even now. In this country
was born a great philosopher and cleric named
Pythagoras, who by his great understanding discovered
the points and differences in music.
In Africa there is similarly an island in the sea
that is called Sardinia, where an herb grows
that has the characteristic that if anyone should eat it
he would immediately die laughing. There is another
island there called Bosut, where there is neither snake nor vermin

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Marie Richards

original ms. Folio 64r
Walters ms. Folio 69r
BL Royal MS 19 A IX fols 72v-73r
Caxton, ed. Prior, p. 95
Gossuin, ed. Prior, 130-131

Marie Richards

Line 23: "Bosut": Prior (fn 1) identifies as "Ebusus, now Iviza." Actually now Ibiza, I think.