unlike that which the Poet Homer called Idea, for it was garnished
about with all sort of greene verdures and lively trees, from the top
whereof ran downe a cleare and fresh fountaine, nourishing the waters
below, about which wood were many young and tender Goates, plucking and
feeding daintily on the budding trees, then came a young man a
shepheard representing Paris, richly arrayed with vestments of Barbary,
having a mitre of gold upon his head, and seeming as though he kept the
goates. After him ensued another young man all naked, saving that his
left shoulder was covered with a rich cloake, and his head shining with
glistering haires, and hanging downe, through which you might perceive
two little wings, whereby you might conjecture that he was Mercury,
with his rod called Caduceus, he bare in his right hand an Apple of
gold, and with a seemely gate went towards him that represented Paris,
and after hee had delivered him the Apple, he made a signe, signifying
that Jupiter had commanded him so to doe: when he had done his message
he departed away. And by and by, there approached a faire and comely
mayden, not much unlike to Juno, for she had a Diademe of gold upon her
head, and in her hand she bare a regall scepter: then followed another
resembling Pallas, for she had on her head a shining sallet, whereon
was bound a garland of Olive branches, having in one hand a target or
shield: and in the other a speare as though she would fight: then came
another which passed the other in beauty, and presented the Goddesse
Venus, with the color of Ambrosia, when she was a maiden, and to the
end she would shew her perfect beauty, shee appeared all naked, saving
that her fine and dainty skin was covered with a thin smocke, which the
wind blew hither and thither to testifie the youth and flowre of the
age of the dame. Her colour was of two sorts, for her body was white as
descended from heaven, and her smocke was blewish, as arrived from the
sea: After every one of the Virgins which seemed goddesses, followed
certaine waiting servants, Castor and Pollus went behind Juno, having
on their heads helmets covered with starres. This Virgin Juno sounded a
Flute, which shee bare in her hand, and mooved her selfe towards the
shepheard Paris, shewing by honest signes and tokens, and promising
that hee should be Lord of all Asia, if hee would judge her the fairest
of the three, and to give her the apple of gold: the other maiden which
seemed by her armour to be Pallas, was accompanied with two young men
armed, and brandishing their naked swords in their hands, whereof one
named Terror, and the other Feare; behind them approached one sounding
his trumpet to provoke and stirre men to battell; this maiden began to
dance and shake her head, throwing her fierce and terrible eyes upon
Paris and promising that if it pleased him to give her the victory of
beauty, shee would make him the most strong and victorious man alive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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