HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 



35 



to make a little island of timber, with a bridge in the form of a raft, where one could go to 

 eat, or for pleasure, and when eight or ten people are gathered together thereon, the said raft 

 descends to the bottom, lca^-ing the said abandoned ones upon the island ; next the island itself 

 begms to descend, and slowly sinks for the greater tornicnt of those who find themselves upon 



it. When it is gone a certain distance, it slowly begins to ascend again, and the bridge also 

 returns, so that the people should be able to go into the sunshine and dry themselves. I wish 

 to make an experiment of another idea equally di\'erting; when it is made, I will tell your Grace 

 about it.' ^ 



During the first half of the sixteenth century a great impetus was given to the study of 



I ^ 



* ArchiviQ Storico Lombardo^ vol, xv. 



