customary, and with her many breasts, signifying the happy multitude of
her inhabitants, and Concord with the Caduceus in her hand, even as in
the third was seen figured Minerva, the inventress and mistress of the
liberal arts and of civil and refined customs. In the other, which faced
towards the proud statue of Hercules, was seen Amaltheia, with the usual
horn of plenty, overflowing with fruits and flowers, in her arms, and at
her feet the corn-measure brimming and adorned with ears of corn,
signifying the abundance and fertility of the earth; there, also, was
Peace crowned with flowered and fruitful olive, with a branch of the
same in the hand, and finally there was seen, with an aspect grave and
venerable, Majesty or Reputation; demonstrating ingeniously with all
these things how in well-ordered cities, abundant in men, copious in
riches, adorned by arts, filled with sciences, and illustrious in
majesty and reputation, one lives happily and in peace, quietness, and
contentment. Then in line with the four half-columns already described,
above the cornice and frieze of each, was seen fixed in a manner no less
beautiful a socle with a pedestal in proportion, upon which rested some
statues; and since the two in the centre embraced also the width of the
two terminals described, upon each of these were placed two statues
embracing one another--Virtue, namely, who was shown holding Fortune in
a strait and loving embrace, with a motto on the base saying, VIRTUTEM
FORTUNA SEQUETUR; as if to demonstrate that, whatever many may say,
where virtue is fortune is never wanting; and upon the other Fatigue or
Diligence, who in like manner was shown in the act of embracing Victory,
with a motto at her feet saying: AMAT VICTORIA CURAM. And above the
half-columns that were at the extremities, and upon which the pedestals
were narrower, adorning each of them with a single statue, on one there
was seen Eternity as she is figured by the ancients, with the heads of
Janus in her hands, and with the motto, NEC FINES NEC TEMPORA; and on
the other Fame figured in the usual manner, likewise with a motto
saying: TERMINAT ASTRIS. Between one and the other of these, there was
placed with ornate and beautiful composition, so as to have the
above-named escutcheon of the Duke exactly in the middle, on the right
hand that of the most excellent Prince and Princess, and on the other
that which the city has been accustomed to use from ancient times.
OF THE COURT OF THE PALACE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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