death invented for the quality of her offence, was condemned to be eaten
with wild beasts. Behold with this woman was I appointed to have to doe
before the face of the people, but I being wrapped in great anguish, and
envying the day of the triumph, when we two should so abandon our selves
together, devised rather to sley my selfe, then to pollute my body with
this mischievous harlot, and so for ever to remaine defamed: but it was
impossible for me so to doe, considering that I lacked hands, and was
not able to hold a knife in my hoofes: howbeit standing in a pretty
cabin, I rejoyced in my selfe to see that spring time was come, and that
all things flourished, and that I was in good hope to find some Roses,
to render me my humane shape. When the day of triumph came, I was led
with great pompe and benevolence to the appointed place, where when I
was brought, I first saw the preamble of that triumph, dedicated with
dancers and merry taunting jests, and in the meane season was placed
before the gate of the Theater, whereas on the one side I saw the greene
and fresh grasse growing before the entry thereof, whereon I greatly
desired to feed: on the other side I conceived a great delectation
to see when the Theater gates were opened, how all things was finely
prepared and set forth: For there I might see young children and
maidens in the flowre of their youth of excellent beauty, and attired
gorgiously, dancing and mooved in comely order, according to the order
of Grecia, for sometime they would dance in length, sometime round
together, sometime divide themselves into foure parts, and sometime
loose hands on every side: but when the trumpet gave warning that every
man should retire to his place, then began the triumph to appeare. First
there was a hill of wood, not much 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,