le, from their socles that
rested upon the base, two vast half-columns, upon which rested cornice,
frieze, and architrave, leaving behind the Sea-Gods already described,
almost in the form of a triumphal arch, a very spacious square; and over
the two columns and the architrave rose two very well-formed pilasters
covered with creepers, from which sprang two cornices, forming at the
summit a superb and very bold frontispiece, at the top of which, and
above the creepers of the pilasters already described, were seen placed
three very large vases of gold, all filled to overflowing with thousands
and thousands of different riches of the sea; and in the space that
remained between the architrave and the point of the frontispiece, there
was seen lying with rare dignity a masterly figure of a Nymph,
representing Tethys, or Amphitrite, Goddess and Queen of the Sea, who
with a very grave gesture was presenting as the principal crown of that
place a rostral crown, such as was generally given to the victors in
naval battles, with her motto, VINCE MARI, and as it were adding that
which follows: JAM TERRA TUA EST. Even as in the picture and the facade
behind the Giants, in a very large niche that had the appearance of a
real and natural cavern or grotto, there was painted among many other
monsters of the sea the Proteus of Virgil's Georgics, bound by Aristaeus,
who, pointing with his finger towards the verses written above him,
appeared to wish to announce in prophecy to the well-united pair good
fortune, victories, and triumphs in maritime affairs, saying:

Germana adveniet felici cum alite virgo,
Flora, tibi, adveniet soboles Augusta, Hymenei
Cui pulcher Juvenis jungatur foedere certo
Regius Italiae columen, bona quanta sequentur
Conjugium? Pater Arne tibi, et tibi Florida Mater,
Gloria quanta aderit? Protheum nil postera fallunt.

And since, as has been told, this facade of the cavern stood between the
two other facades, one of which was turned towards S. Trinita and the
other towards the Ponte alla Carraia, both these, which were of the same
size and height, were likewise bordered in a similar manner by two
similar half-columns, which in like manner supported their architrave,
frieze, and cornice in a quarter-round, upon which, both on the one side
and on the other, were seen three statues of boys on three pedestals,
who were upholding certain very rich festoons of gold, composed in a
most masterl