of
turquoise-blue all interwoven with eyes and ears; by Envy, known
likewise by the serpents that she was devouring; by Thought, Care, or
Solicitude, whichever we may choose to call her, known by the raven that
she had on the head, and by the vulture that was tearing her entrails;
and by Scorn, or Disdain (to make it a woman's name), who could be
recognized not only by the owl that she had on the head, but also by the
ill-made, ill-fitting and tattered dress. When these four, beating and
goading her, had made their way near the middle of the stage, in an
instant the ground opened in four places with fire and smoke, and they,
as if they sought to defend themselves, seized hold of four most
horrible serpents that were seen without any warning to issue from
below, and struck them a thousand different blows with their thorny
staves, under which were concealed four little bows, until in the end,
after much terror in the bystanders, it appeared that the serpents had
been torn open by them; and then, striking again in the blood-stained
bellies and entrails, all at once there was heard to issue--Psyche
singing the while the madrigal given below--a mournful but most delicate
and sweet harmony; for in the serpents were concealed with singular
artifice four excellent bass-viols, which, accompanying (together with
four trombones that sounded behind the stage) the single plaintive and
gracious voice of Psyche, produced an effect at once so sad and so
sweet, that there were seen drawn from the eyes of more than one person
tears that were not feigned. Which finished, and each figure having
taken her serpent on her shoulders, there was seen, with no less terror
among the spectators, a new and very large opening appearing in the
floor, from which issued a thick and continuous stream of flame and
smoke, and an awful barking was heard, and there was seen to issue from
the hole the infernal Cerberus with his three heads, to whom, in
accordance with the fable, Psyche was seen to throw one of the two flat
cakes that she had in her hand; and shortly afterwards there was seen
likewise to appear, together with various monsters, old Charon with his
customary barque, into which the despairing Psyche having entered, the
four tormentors described above kept her unwelcome and displeasing
company.

Fuggi, speme mia, fuggi,
E fuggi per non far piu mai ritorno;
Sola tu, che distruggi
Ogni mia pace, a far vienne soggiorno,
I