TEdiiim, 



274 Vhyfical and Mifcellaneous 



through a Porch or Gate-Way, with Benches on each Side, 

 where the Mailer of the Family receiveth Vifits and difpatch- 

 eth His Bufmefs ; few Perfons, not even the neareft Relations, 

 having Admiffion any further, except upon extraordinary Oc- 



ne Court, calions. From hence we are received into the Court, which 

 lying open to the Weather, is, according to the Ability of the 

 Owner, paved with Marble or fuch proper Materials, as will 

 immediately carry off the Water. There is fomething very 

 analogous betwixt This open Space in the MoorifJj Buildings, 



The Cava and thc Imfluv'mm ' or Ca'va jEd'mm of the Roman Archi- 

 tecture ; both of Them being alike expofed to the Weather 

 and giving Light to the Houfe. When much People are to 

 be admitted, as upon the Celebration of a Marriage, the Cir- 

 cumcifmg of a Child or Occafions of the like Nature, the Com- 

 pany is rarely or never received into one of the Chambers, 

 but into the Court, which is ftrewed accordingly with Mats 

 and Carpets for their more commodious Entertainment. Now 

 as this Part of the Houfe is always allotted for the Reception 

 of large Companies, being alfo called [i^^^j^ EllVooff] The 

 Middle of the Houfe , and fo far litterally anfwering to the 

 TO |t«cTO» of St. Luke, it is probable that the Place, where our 



"f^l-y^^" Saviour and the Apoftles were frequently accuftomed to give 

 their Inftrudtions, might have been in the like Situation. 



It is ufual in the Summer Seafon, and upon all Occafions, 

 when a large Company is to be received , to have the Court 

 flieltred from the Heat or Inclemency of the Weather, by a 

 Velum \ Umbrella or Veil , as I fhall call It , which , being 

 expanded upon Ropes from one Side of the Parapet Wall to 

 the other, may be folded or unfolded at Pleafure. The Pfalmift 

 feems to allude to fome Covering of this Kind in that beau- 

 tiful Expreffion, of fpreading out the Hea'vens like a Curtain \ 



and furroHvd- Thc Court Is for the molt Part furrounded with a Cloyfter ; 



ciojiti." ^s the Caiia JB^dium of the Romans was with a Terifiylium 



1 Si reli(Sum erat in medio domus iit luccm caperet, deorfum quo impluebat, ImpUmum 

 dicitur. Viirro de Ling. Lat. 1. 4. 5- 33- Impluvinm locus fine teQ^o in sdibus , 

 quo implucre imber in domum poffit. yifcon. Pedan. Not. in Gcer.Otat. i. in Verrem c. jd. 

 Sub divo, quod 7ffi/)/«vi«w dicitur. ^frv. Not. in Fir^. .^n.ii. v. J12. ^fn.j sedificij genus 

 fuere, continens niediam aream, in quam ex omni tedto pluvia recipitur, columnis quadrifa- 

 liam per fingulos angulos difpofitis & Epiftilijs. Alexand, ab Alexandra Genial. D. l.j. 

 cap. 6. Prater Veftibula fuere cava xdimn & periftylia in qus quifque fuojure non vocatus 

 admittebatur. Id. lib. y. cap. 24. 2 This is the fame with the Arab, ool^**) which is inter- 

 preted, Velum, aut quid fimile, quod obtenditur atrio domus, feu Cavxdio. Vid. Gol. 

 in voce. 3 The fame Expreffion we have in the Prophet Ifaiah 40. 22. 



or 



a7id 7T> fiimv 



The Court 



Ihaded by a 

 Veil, 



