of the Egyptians, carried a hippopotamus in the hand, and was
crowned with flowers of the lupine; and behind them, likewise following
the Egyptian custom, in the form of a young man all dressed in white,
with two little horns on the head that were turned towards the ground,
and with a garland of oriental palm, was seen walking the Month,
carrying in the hand a calf which, not without reason, had only one
horn. And after him was seen likewise walking the Year, with the head
all covered with ice and snow, the arms wreathed in flowers and
garlands, and the breast and stomach all adorned with ears of corn, even
as the thighs and legs, also, were seen to be all wet and stained with
must, while in one hand he carried, as a symbol of his circling course,
a circle formed by a serpent that appeared to be seeking to devour the
tail with the mouth, and in the other hand a nail, such as the ancient
Romans used, so we read, to keep count of the years in their temples.
Then came rosy Aurora, all pleasing, fair, and lissom, with a little
yellow mantle, and with an ancient lamp in the hand, seated with most
beautiful grace upon the horse Pegasus. In her company was seen the
physician AEsculapius, in the habit of a priest, with a knotted stick and
a ruddy serpent in the hands, and a dog at his feet; and with them the
young Phaethon, also (like AEsculapius) the child of the Sun, who, all
burning, to recall the memory of his unhappy fate, appeared to wish to
transform himself into even such a swan as he carried in his hand.
Orpheus, next, their brother, was seen walking behind them, young and
much adorned, but of a presence grave and venerable, with the tiara on
his head, and seeming to play a most ornate lyre; and with him was seen
the enchantress Circe, likewise the daughter of the Sun, with a band
around the head, which was a sign of her sovereignty, and in the habit
of a matron, and she was shown holding in the hand, in place of a
sceptre, a little branch of larch and another of cedar, with the fumes
of which it is said that she used to contrive the greater part of her
enchantments. And the nine Muses, walking in gracious order, formed a
most beautiful finish to the last part of the lovely company just
described; who were seen figured in the forms of most graceful Nymphs,
crowned with feathers of the magpie in remembrance of the Sirens
vanquished by them, and with feathers of other kinds, and holding
various musical instruments in the h