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
other maiden which seemed by her armour to be Pallas, was accompanied
with two young men armed, and brandishing their naked swords in their
hands, whereof one named Terror, and the other Feare; behind them
approached one sounding his trumpet to provoke and stirre men to
battell; this maiden began to dance and shake her head, throwing her
fierce and terrible eyes upon Paris and promising that if it pleased him
to give her the victory of beauty, shee would make him the most strong
and victorious man alive. Then came Venus and presented her selfe in the
middle of the Theater, with much favour of all the people, for shee was
accompanied with a great many of youth, whereby you would have judged
them all to be Cupidoes, either to have flowne from heaven or else from
the river of the sea, for they had wings, arrowes, and the residue
of their habit according in each point, and they bare in their hands
torches lighted, as though it had beene a day of marriage. Then came in
a great multitude of faire maidens: on the one side were the most comely
Graces: on the other side, the most beautifull Houres carrying garlands
and loose flowers, and making great honor to the goddesse of pleasure;
the flutes and Pipes yeelded out the sweet sound of Lydians, whereby
they pleased the minds of the standers by e