buckler, and fifty heads, from
which a stream of fire was seen spouting through the mouth and nostrils.
These were followed by turbid Acheron, pouring water and sand, livid and
stinking, from a great vase that he carried in his hands, and with him
was seen coming the other infernal river, Cocytus, likewise pallid and
dark, and likewise pouring from a similar vase a similar fetid and
turbid stream; having with them the horrible and sluggish Styx, daughter
of Oceanus, so much feared by all the Gods, who was dressed in a nymph's
habit, but dark and foul, and carried a similar vase, and seemed to be
encompassed by the other infernal river, Phlegethon, whose whole person,
with his vase and the boiling waters, was tinted with a dark and fearful
redness. Then followed old Charon, with the oar, and with the eyes (as
Dante said) of glowing coal; accompanied, to the end that not one of the
infernal rivers might be absent, by the pallid, meagre, emaciated, and
oblivious Lethe, in whose hand was seen a similar vase, which likewise
poured from every side turbid and livid water; and following behind them
were the three great judges of Hell, Minos, AEacus, and Rhadamanthus, the
first being figured in royal form and habit, and the second and third
attired in dark, grave, and venerable vestments. After these was seen
coming Phlegyas, the sacrilegious King of the Lapithae, recalling, by an
arrow that transfixed his breast, the memory of the burned temple of
Phoebus and the chastisement received from him, and, for clearer
demonstration, carrying that temple all burning in one of his hands.
Next was seen the afflicted Sisyphus under the great and ponderous
stone, and with him the famished and miserable Tantalus, who was shown
with the fruits so vainly desired close to his mouth. And then were seen
coming, but in more gracious aspect, as if setting out from the glad
Elysian Fields, with the comet-like star on the brow, and wearing the
imperial habit, the divine Julius and the happy Octavianus Augustus, his
successor; the terrible and dreadful company being finally concluded in
most noble fashion by the Amazon Penthesileia, adorned with the spear,
the half-moon shield, and the royal band upon the head, and by the
widowed Queen Tomyris, who likewise had the hands and side adorned with
the bow and barbaric arrows.

SEVENTEENTH CAR, OF CYBELE.

After these was seen coming Cybele, the great mother of the Gods,
crowned with towers, and, for t