ith sea-weed and moss, whose person from the
waist downwards was seen in the form of a swimming fish. About him
circled many halcyon-birds, and with him was seen the much-changing and
deceitful Proteus, likewise old, all dripping, and covered with
sea-weed; and with them proud Phorcys, with a royal band of
turquoise-blue about the head, and with beard and hair long and flowing
beyond measure, and carrying in the hand the famous Pillars of Hercules,
as a sign of the empire that he once had. Then followed two Tritons with
the customary tails, sounding their trumpets, and in their company
appeared old AEolus, likewise holding in the hands a royal sceptre and a
sail, and having upon the head a burning flame of fire. And he was
followed by four of his principal Winds; by young Zephyrus, with the
locks and the varied wings adorned with various little flowers, by dark
and parching Eurus, who had a radiant sun upon the head; by cold and
snowy Boreas; and, finally, by the soft, cloudy, and proud Auster; all
figured, according as they are generally painted, with swelling cheeks
and with the large and swift wings that are customary. After these, in
due place, were seen coming the two giants, Otus and Ephialtes, all
wounded and transfixed by various arrows, in memory of their having been
slain by Apollo and Diana; and with them, not less appropriately, were
seen coming likewise two Harpies, with the customary maiden's face and
the customary rapacious claws and most hideous belly. There was seen
also the Egyptian God Canopus, in memory of the astuteness formerly used
by the priest against the Chaldaeans, figured as very short, round, and
fat; and likewise, young and lovely, winged Zetes and Calais, the sons
of Boreas, by whose valour it is related that once upon a time those
foul and ravenous Harpies were driven from the world. And with them were
seen, at the last, the beautiful Nymph Amymone, beloved by Neptune, with
a gilded vase, and the young Greek Neleus, son of the same Neptune, who,
with royal sceptre and habit, was seen to conclude the last part of the
company described above.

FOURTEENTH CAR, OF OCEANUS AND OF TETHYS.

There followed in the fourteenth company, with Tethys, the great Queen
of the sea, the great father Oceanus, her husband, the son of Heaven,
who was figured in the form of a tall and cerulean old man, with a great
beard and long hair all wet and dishevelled, and covered all over with
sea-weed and various s