Nor had the organisers neglected any means of strengthening the play itself by a great variety of spectacles—a prelude played by children; a prologue; four pantomimes between the acts, representing the story of Jason, with bulls made of stuffed hides, their nostrils flaming, Venus surrounded by Cupids, Neptune drawn through the flames by fantastic monsters, Juno encircled by a flight of birds so natural that even Castiglione, who had had them made, for a moment believed them to be real. These pantomimes were danced through in the cleverest fashion, with wonderful mechanical effects. At the close a Cupid recited some verses, concealed viols gave forth a ‘song without words,’ and a quartette of voices concluded with a hymn to Cupid. And after all, if the ladies had not actually the direction of this platonic entertainment, they lost nothing thereby; it was dedicated to them, and the whole performance had for its aim the glorification of ideal love. Such a representation assumed an elevated and almost solemn character, similar in kind to the performances at Bayreuth in these days. Was the _Calandra_ a masterpiece? No. The plot turned upon the difficulty of distinguishing between two twins, brother and sister, who changed clothes as circumstances demanded; from this Bibbiena derived risky situations, broad jokes, and a complicated dénoûment. But it achieved an immense success. It was represented again at Urbino in 1513, and afterwards at the Vatican on the occasion of a visit from Isabella d’Este. On that supreme stage its licenses came under the fierce light of criticism, and scandalised some of the cardinals; but on the other hand it was so magnificently interpreted, it was so excellent “in dramatic elegance, in wit, well-knit construction, and gaiety,” that the enthusiasm was unbounded. The marchioness Isabella did not rest till she had organised a similar performance, an event which took place in 1520. From that time innumerable editions popularised the _Calandra_, which was chosen many years afterwards by the town of Lyons for its festivities in honour of Catherine de’ Medici.