o that said: O TAEDIS FELICIBUS AUCTE. Above these, arranged in a
very graceful manner, there was seen as the principal device, which, as
has been told, was placed over all the arches, a gilded chain all
composed of marriage-rings with their stones, which, hanging down from
Heaven, appeared to be sustaining this terrestrial World; alluding in a
certain sense to the Homeric Chain of Jove, and signifying that by
virtue of nuptials, the heavenly causes being wedded with terrestrial
matter, Nature and the aforesaid terrestrial World are preserved and
rendered as it were eternal; with a motto that said: NATURA SEQUITUR
CUPIDE. And then a quantity of little Angels and Loves, all gracious and
merry, and all set in fitting places, were seen dispersed among the
bases, the pilasters, the festoons, and the other ornaments, which were
without number; and all, with a certain gladness, appeared to be either
scattering flowers and garlands, or sweetly singing the following ode,
from among the spaces between the double columns that divided, as has
been told, the great pictures and the great facade, which was arranged
in a lovely and gracious manner:

Augusti soboles regia Caesaris,
Summo nupta viro Principi Etruriae,
Faustis auspiciis deseruit vagum
Istrum regnaque patria.

Cui frater, genitor, patruus, atque avi
Fulgent innumeri stemmate nobiles
Praeclaro Imperii, prisca ab origine
Digno nomine Caesares.

Ergo magnanimae virgini et inclytae
Jam nunc Arne pater suppliciter manus
Libes, et violis versicoloribus
Pulchram Flora premas comam.

Assurgant proceres, ac velut aureum
Et caeleste jubar rite colant eam.
Omnes accumulent templa Deum, et piis
Aras muneribus sacras.

Tali conjugio Pax hilaris redit,
Fruges alma Ceres porrigit uberes,
Saturni remeant aurea saecula,
Orbis laetitia fremit.

Quin dirae Eumenides monstraque Tartari
His longe duce te finibus exulant.
Bellorum rabies hinc abit effera,
Mavors sanguineus fugit.

Sed jam nox ruit et sidera concidunt;
Et nymphae adveniunt, Junoque pronuba
Arridet pariter, blandaque Gratia
Nudis juncta sororibus.

Haec cingit niveis tempora liliis,
Haec e purpureis serta gerit rosis,
Huic molles violae et suavis amaracus
Nectunt virgineum caput.

Lusus, laeta Quies cernitur et Decor;
Quos circum volitat turb