, and buskins woven of
various flowers; by another Music, known by the tuning instrument that
she had on the head, by her rich dress covered with her various
instruments and with various scrolls wherein were marked all her notes
and all her times, and even more because she likewise was seen playing
with most sweet harmony upon a great and beautiful lyra-viol; and by the
other two, also, Play and Laughter were seen to appear in the form of
two little Cupids, playing and laughing. After these, while they were
going on their way to their destined places, four other Cupids were seen
to issue by the same passages, in the same guise, and at the same time,
and to proceed likewise to play most graciously on four most ornate
lutes; and after them four other similar little Cupids, two of whom,
with fruits in their hands, were seen playing together, and two seemed
to be seeking to shoot one another in the breast with their bows and
arrows, in a quaint and playful fashion. All these gathered in a
graceful circle, and, singing in most harmonious concert the following
madrigal, with the lutes and with many other instruments concealed
within the scenery accompanying the voices, they appeared to make this
whole conception manifest enough, saying:

O altero miracolo novello!
Visto l' abbiam! ma chi sia che cel creda?
Ch' amor, d' amor ribello,
Di se stesso e di Psiche oggi sia preda?
Dunque a Psiche conceda
Di belta pur la palma e di valore
Ogn' altra bella, ancor che pel timore
Ch' ha del suo prigionier dogliosa stia;
Ma seguiam noi l' incominciata via,
Andiam Gioco, andiam Riso,
Andiam dolce armonia di Paradiso,
E facciam che i tormenti
Suoi dolci sien co' tuoi dolci concenti.

THIRD INTERLUDE.

Not less festive was the third Interlude, because, as is narrated in the
fable, Cupid being occupied with the love of his beautiful Psyche, and
not caring any more to kindle the customary flames in the hearts of
mortals, and using with others, as others with him, fraud and deceit, it
was inevitable that among those same mortals, who were living without
love, there should arise at the same time a thousand frauds and a
thousand deceits. And therefore it was made to appear that the floor of
the stage swelled up, and finally that it was changed into seven little
mounds from which there were seen to issue, as things evil and hurtful,
first seven Deceits, and then se