s gloria rebus
Conjugio Austriacae Mediceaeque Domus?
Vivite felices; non est spes irrita, namque
Divina Charites talia voce canunt.

These had on one side, forming as it were a choir about them, and
coupled becomingly together, Youth and Delight, and Beauty with
Contentment in her embrace, and on the other side, in like fashion,
Gladness with Play, and Fecundity with Repose, all in attitudes most
graceful and in keeping with their characters, and so well distinguished
by the able painter, that they could be recognized with ease. In the
picture that was on the right of that one, there were seen, besides Love
and Fidelity, the same Gladness, Contentment, Delight, and Repose, with
lighted torches in their hands, who were chasing from the world and
banishing to the nethermost abyss Jealousy, Contention, Affliction,
Sorrow, Lamentation, Deceit, Sterility, and other vexatious and
displeasing things of that kind, which are wont so often to disturb the
minds of human creatures. And in the other, on the left hand, were seen
the same Graces in company with Juno, Venus, Concord, Love, Fecundity,
Sleep, Pasithea, and Thalassius, setting the genial bed in order with
those ancient religious ceremonies of torches, incense, garlands, and
flowers, which were customary; of which last a number of little Loves,
playing in their flight, were scattering no small quantity over the bed.
Above these, then, were two other pictures distributed in very beautiful
compartments, one on either side of the statue of Hymen, and somewhat
smaller than those described; in one of which, in imitation of the
ancient custom so well described by Catullus, was seen the illustrious
Princess portrayed from life in the midst of a gracious little company
of most beautiful maidens in virginal dress, all crowned with flowers,
and with lighted torches in their hands, who were pointing towards the
Evening Star, which was seen appearing, and, as if set in motion by
them, seemed in a certain gracious manner to move and to advance towards
Hymen; with the motto: O DIGNA CONJUNCTA VIRO. Even as in the other
picture, on the other side, was seen the excellent Prince in the midst
of many young men likewise crowned with garlands and burning with love,
not less eager than the maidens in lighting the nuptial torches, and
pointing no less towards the newly-appeared star, and giving signs, in
advancing towards it, of equal or even greater desire; likewise with a
mott