and other precious gems, and the
various kinds of draperies with which his followers were covered and
adorned. And Bellona, Goddess of War, most richly robed in many parts
with cloth of silver in place of arms, and crowned with a garland of
verdant laurel, with all the rest of her habit composed in a thousand
rich and gracious ways, was seen likewise coming after them with a large
and warlike horn in the hand, and accompanied, like the others, by
Terror, known by the cuckoo in the head-dress, and by Boldness, also
known by the lion's head worn in place of a cap; and with her the
military men in her train were seen following her in like manner with
swords and iron-shod maces in their hands, and draperies of gold and
silver arranged most fancifully in the likeness of armour and helmets.
These and all the others in the other companies had each, to demonstrate
that they represented dreams, a large, winged, and very well fashioned
bat of grey cloth of silver fitted on the shoulders, and forming a sort
of little mantle; which, besides the necessary significance, gave to all
the companies (which, as has been shown, were all different) the
necessary unity, and also grace and beauty beyond measure. And all this
left in the minds of the spectators a firm belief that there had never
been seen in Florence, and perhaps elsewhere, any spectacle so rich, so
gracious, and so beautiful; for, in addition to all the gold, the
pearls, and the other most precious gems wherewith the embroideries,
which were very fine, were made, all the dresses were executed with
such diligence, design, and grace, that they seemed to be costumes
fashioned not for masquerades, but enduring and permanent, and worthy to
be used only by great Princes.

There followed Madness, the men of whose company alone, for the reason
that she had to be shown not as a dream but as real in those who sought
against the inclination of nature to pursue the things described above,
were seen without the bat upon the shoulders; and she was dressed in
various colours, but all put together most inharmoniously and without
any manner of grace, while upon her dishevelled tresses, to demonstrate
her disordered thoughts, were seen a pair of gilded spurs with the
rowels turned upwards, and on either side of her were a Satyr and a
Bacchante. Her followers, then, in the semblance of lunatics and
drunkards, were seen dressed most extravagantly in cloth of gold,
embroidered with varied boughs