122 THE HOUSE I LIVE IN". 



partly buried in the earth where it was laid 

 down, till about 250 years ago, when Pope 

 Sixtus V, by the help of forty-one strong 

 machines, eight hundred men, and one hundred 

 and sixty horses, succeeded in eight days, in 

 getting it out of the ground ; but it took four 

 months more to remove it fifty or sixty rods 

 farther, to its present situation. 



When they had reached the spot, the grand 

 point was to raise it. They erected a pedestal 

 or foot piece, shaped like four lions, for it to 

 stand on ; and by means of powerful machines 

 and many strong ropes and tackles, they placed 

 the bottom of it on the pedestal. Then they 

 began, with their machinery, to raise it. But 

 when it was nearly up, so that it would almost 

 stand, the ropes, it is said, had stretched so 

 much more than the master workman expected, 

 that it would go no farther. 



What was to be done ? Fontana, the master 

 workman, had forbid all talking ; and they now 

 stood holding upon the tackles so silently that 

 you might have heard a whisper. Suddenly 

 an English sailor cried out " Wet the ropes." 

 This was no sooner said than done ; when, to the 



