Legend told of a visit of Aesculapius to this place, earlier and happier than his first coming to Rome: an inscription around the cupola recorded it in letters of gold.

"Being come unto this place the son of God loved it exceedingly:"-- Huc profectus filius Dei maxime amavit hunc locum;--and it was then that that most intimately human of the gods had given men the well, with all its salutary properties.

The [36] element itself when received into the mouth, in consequence of its entire freedom from adhering organic matter, was more like a draught of wonderfully pure air than water; and after tasting, Marius was told many mysterious circumstances concerning it, by one and another of the bystanders:--he who drank often thereof might well think he had tasted of the Homeric lotus, so great became his desire to remain always on that spot: carried to other places, it was almost indefinitely conservative of its fine qualities: nay! a few drops of it would amend other water; and it flowed not only with unvarying abundance but with a volume so oddly rhythmical that the well stood always full to the brim, whatever quantity might be drawn from it, seeming to answer with strange alacrity of service to human needs, like a true creature and pupil of the philanthropic god.

Certainly the little crowd around seemed to find singular refreshment in gazing on it.

The whole place appeared sensibly influenced by the amiable and healthful spirit of the thing.
All the objects of the country were there at their freshest.