different forms, which are now in the possession of Pietro
Paolo Galeotto, an excellent goldsmith. The first car bore, written in
very clear characters, the word "Erimus," the second "Sumus," and the
third "Fuimus"--that is, "We shall be," "We are," and "We have been."
The song began, "The years fly on...."

Having seen these triumphal cars, Signor Lorenzo, the head of the
Company of the Broncone, desiring that they should be surpassed, gave
the charge of the whole work to Jacopo Nardi, a noble and most learned
gentleman, to whom, for what he afterwards became, his native city of
Florence is much indebted. This Jacopo prepared six triumphal cars, in
order to double the number of those executed by the Diamante. The
first, drawn by a pair of oxen decked with herbage, represented the
Age of Saturn and Janus, called the Age of Gold; and on the summit of
the car were Saturn with the Scythe, and Janus with the two heads and
with the key of the Temple of Peace in the hand, and at his feet a
figure of Fury bound, with a vast number of things around appertaining
to Saturn, all executed most beautifully in different colours by the
genius of Pontormo. Accompanying this car were six couples of
Shepherds, naked but for certain parts covered by skins of marten and
sable, with footwear of various kinds after the ancient manner, and
with their wallets, and on their heads garlands of many kinds of
leaves. The horses on which these Shepherds sat were without saddles,
but covered with skins of lions, tigers, and lynxes, the paws of
which, overlaid with gold, hung at their sides with much grace and
beauty. The ornaments of their croups and of the grooms were of gold
cord, the stirrups were heads of rams, dogs, and other suchlike
animals, and the bridles and reins made with silver cord and various
kinds of verdure. Each Shepherd had four grooms in the garb of
shepherd-boys, dressed more simply in other skins, with torches
fashioned in the form of dry trunks and branches of pine, which made a
most beautiful sight.

Upon the second car, drawn by two pairs of oxen draped in the richest
cloth, with garlands on their heads and great paternosters hanging
from their gilded horns, was Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome,
with the books of religion and all the sacerdotal instruments and the
things appertaining to sacrifices, for the reason that he was the
originator and first founder of religion and sacrifices among the
Romans. This car was ac