TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM, ETC. 235 



Puiz ne puent ils assorer 

 Contre lestoile vers le pointe 

 Par se sont il mariner cointe 

 De la droite voie terns 

 C'est uns ars qui ne puet mentir. 



TRANSLATION. 



This same star does not move, and 



They (the mariners) have an art which cannot deceive, 



By the virtue of the magnet, 



An ugly brownish stone, 



To which iron adheres of its own accord. 



Then they look for the right point, 



And when they have touched a needle (on it) 



And fixed it on a bit of straw, 



Lengthwise in the middle, without more, 



And the straw keeps it above ; 



Then the point turns just 



Against the star undoubtedly. 



When the night is dark and gloomy 



That you can see neither star nor moon, 



Then they bring a light to the needle, 



Can they not then assure themselves 



Of the situation of the star towards the point ? 



By this the mariner is enabled 



To keep the proper course ; 



This is an art which cannot deceive. 



In this passage, the words, "and the straw keeps 

 it above," imply undoubtedly that the needle was 

 to be floated in water by the straw. 



