234 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



of Provence, entitled La Bible Guiot, forming a 

 quarto manuscript of the thirteenth century, on vel- 

 lum, belonging to the Bibliotheque du Roi at Paris, 

 contains a description of the mariner's compass 

 and of its employment by sailors, so curious and 

 interesting that it is quoted in almost every 

 historical sketch of magnetism. The following 

 verbatim copy of the old French, followed by a 

 literal English translation, of Guiot's statement 

 regarding the compass, is taken from Barlow's 



" Treatise on Magnetism " in the Encyclopedia 

 Metropolitana : 



Icelle estoile ne se muet 

 Une arts font qui mentir ne puet 

 Par la vertue de la Manete 

 Une piere laide et brunete 

 Ou il fers volenters se joint 

 Ont regardent lor droit point 

 Puez c'une aguile lont touchie 

 Et en un festue lont fishie 

 En longue-la mette sens plus 

 Et il festui la tient desus 

 Puis se torne la point toute 

 Centre lestoile sans doute 

 Quant il nuis est tenebre et brune 

 Con ne voit estoile ne lune 

 Lor font a laguille alumer. 



