oted her swiftness. In her company, then, in a red habit,
with the hair ruddy and dishevelled, was the Comet, figured as a young
woman who had a large and shining star upon the brow; and with them came
Clear Sky, in the aspect of a virgin, who was seen with the countenance
of turquoise-blue, and turquoise-blue all the wide and ample dress, not
without a white dove likewise upon the head, to signify the sky. After
these were seen Snow and Mist, coupled together; the first dressed in
tawny-coloured draperies, upon which were shown lying many trunks of
trees all sprinkled with snow, and the other was seen walking, as if she
had no shape, as it were in the semblance of a great white mass; having
with them verdant Dew, figured in that same colour, to denote the green
plants upon which she is generally seen, and having a round moon upon
the head, signifying that in the time of the moon's fulness, above all,
dew is wont to fall from the heavens upon green herbage. Then there
followed Rain, dressed in a white but somewhat soiled habit, upon whose
head seven stars, partly bright and partly dim, formed a garland
representing the seven Pleiades, even as the seventeen that blazed upon
her breast appeared to denote the sign of rainy Orion. There followed,
likewise, three virgins of different ages, attired in white draperies
and also crowned with olive, representing the three classes of virgins
that used to run races in the ancient games of Juno; having with them,
for the last, the Goddess Populonia in the rich habit of a matron, with
a garland of pomegranate and balm-mint upon the head, and with a little
table in the hand, by whom the airy company above described was seen
graciously concluded.

THIRTEENTH CAR, OF NEPTUNE.

Fanciful, bizarre, and beautiful beyond all the others appeared the
thirteenth car, of Neptune, which was composed of an immense crab, such
as the Venetians are wont to call Grancevola, which rested upon four
great dolphins, having about the base, which resembled a real and
natural rock, a vast number of sea-shells, sponges, and corals, which
rendered it most lovely and ornate, and being drawn by two sea-horses;
and upon it was seen standing Neptune, in the customary form and with
the customary trident, having at his feet, as a companion, his spouse
Salacia, in the form of a snow-white nymph all covered with foam. Before
the car, then, was seen walking the old and bearded Glaucus, all
dripping and all covered w