after him went one with line, betokening a fowler, another with hookes
declaring a fisher: I saw there a meeke and tame beare, which in matron
habite was carried on a stoole: An Ape with a bonet on his head, and
covered with lawne, resemling a shepheard, and bearing a cup of gold in
his hand: an Asse which had wings glewed to his backe, and went after
an old man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus, and the
other Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures and popular delectations, which
wandered hither and thither, you might see the pompe of the goddesse
triumphantly march forward: The woman attired in white vestiments, and
rejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers upon their heads,
bedspread the waies with hearbes, which they bare in their aprons, where
this regall and devout procession should passe: Other caried glasses
on their backes, to testifie obeisance to the goddess which came after.
Other bare combs of Ivory, and declared by their gesture and motions of
their armes, that they were ordained and readie to dresse the goddesse:
Others dropped in the wayes as they went Balme and other pretious
ointments: Then came a great number, as well of men as women, with
Candels, torches, and other lights, doing honour to the celestiall
goddesse: After that sounded the musical harmony of instruments: then
came a faire companie of youth, apparelled in white vestiments, singing
both meter and verse, with a comely grade which some studious Poet had
made in honour of the Muses: In the meane season, arrived the blowers
of trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapes, and to the temple before
them were officers and beadles, preparing roome for the goddess to
passe. Then came the great company of men and women, which had taken
divine orders, whose garments glistered all the streets over. The women
had their haire annointed and their heads covered with linnen: but
the men had their crownes shaven, which were the terrene stars of the
goddesse, holding in their hand instruments of brasse, silver and gold,
which rendered a pleasant sound.