The description of Amalphi, by William the Apulian (l. iii. p. 267), contains much truth and some poetry, and the third line may be applied to the sailor's compass:
Nulla magis locuples argento, vestibus, auro
Partibus innumeris: hâc plurimus urbe moratur
Nauta maris caelique vias aperire peritus.
Huc et Alexandri diversa feruntur ab urbe
Regis, et Antiochi. Gens haec freta plurima transit.
His Arabes, Indi, Siculi nascuntur et Afri.
Haec gens est totum prope nobilitata per orbem,
Et mercando forens, et amans mercata referre.