so seen to have made in
no less lovely fashion about her head, with vine-leaves and bunches of
similar grapes, a green and graceful garland. After these came the fair
and youthful Cissus, also beloved by Bacchus, who, falling by
misfortune, was transformed by Mother Earth into ivy, on which account
he was seen in a habit all covered with ivy in every part. And behind
him was seen coming old Silenus, all naked and bound upon an ass with
various garlands of ivy, as if by reason of his drunkenness he were
unable to support himself, and carrying attached to his girdle a great
wooden cup all worn away; and with him, likewise, came the God of
Banquets, called by the ancients Comus, represented in the form of a
ruddy, beardless, and most beautiful youth, all crowned with roses, but
in aspect so somnolent and languid, that it appeared almost as if the
huntsman's boar-spear and the lighted torch that he carried in the hands
might fall from them at any moment. There followed with a panther upon
the back the old and likewise ruddy and laughing Drunkenness, attired in
a red habit, with a great foaming vessel of wine in the hands, and with
her the young and merry Laughter; and behind these were seen coming in
the garb of shepherds and nymphs two men and two women, followers of
Bacchus, crowned and adorned in various ways with various leaves of the
vine. And Semele, the mother of Bacchus, all smoky and scorched in
memory of the ancient fable, with Narcaeus, the first ordinator of the
sacrifices to Bacchus, who had a great he-goat upon his back, and was
adorned with antique and shining arms, appeared to form a worthy,
appropriate, and gracious end to that glad and festive company.

TWENTY-FIRST AND LAST CAR.

The twenty-first and last car, representing the Roman Mount Janiculum,
and drawn by two great white rams, was given to the venerable Janus,
figured with two heads, one young and the other old, as is the custom,
and holding in the hands a great key and a thin wand, to demonstrate the
power over doors and streets that is attributed to him. At the foot of
the car was seen coming sacred Religion, attired in white linen
vestments, with one of the hands open, and carrying in the other an
ancient altar with a burning flame; and on either side of her were the
Prayers, represented, as they are described by Homer, in the form of two
wrinkled, lame, cross-eyed, and melancholy old women, dressed in
draperies of turquoise-blue. After these