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