d by the poets of romance to have
been wont to carry. And even as there were giants, so there were also
giantesses, which produced a truly beautiful and marvellous effect.

Different from these, again, were the little phantoms, for these walked
on similar stilts five or six braccia high, without anything save their
own proper form, in such a manner that they appeared to be true spirits.
They likewise had a man in front of them with a pike to assist them; but
it is stated that some actually walked very well at so great a height
without leaning on anything whatsoever, and I am sure that he who knows
what Florentine brains are will in no way marvel at this. For, not to
mention that native of Montughi (near Florence) who has surpassed all
the masters that ever lived at climbing and dancing on the rope, whoever
knew a man called Ruvidino, who died less than ten years ago, remembers
that climbing to any height on a rope or cord, leaping from the walls of
Florence to the earth, and walking on stilts much higher than those
described above, were as easy to him as it is for an ordinary man to
walk on the level. Wherefore it is no marvel if the men of those times,
who practised suchlike exercises for money or for other reasons, did
what has been related above, and even greater things.

I will not speak of certain waxen candles which used to be painted with
various fanciful devices, but so rudely that they have given their name
to vulgar painters, insomuch that bad pictures are called "candle
puppets"; for it is not worth the trouble. I will only say that at the
time of Cecca they fell for the most part into disuse, and that in their
place were made the cars that are still used to-day, in the form of
triumphal chariots. The first of these was the car[21] of the Mint,
which was brought to that perfection which is still seen every year when
it is sent out for the said festival by the Masters and Lords of the
Mint, with a S. John on the highest part and with many other angels and
saints around and below him, all represented by living persons. Not long
ago it was determined that one should be made for every borough that
gave an offering of wax, and ten were made, in order to do magnificent
honour to that festival; but the plan was carried no further, by reason
of events that supervened no long time after. That first car of the
Mint, then, was made under the direction of Cecca by Domenico, Marco,
and Giuliano del Tasso, who were among t