Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 4, 1893.djvu/314

 306 while the abbot came from under his canopy and took the host from the old man; then, ascending the altar, he held up the host in his elevated hands, and the vast multitude instantly fell on their knees, from the house-tops down to the dirt in the streets below. After this solemnity was over, gaiety in the face of everyone appeared, and the procession recommenced; other pageants came forth from the great church, followed by a vast moving machine, consisting of several circular stages. On the bottom stages appeared many friars and nuns, each holding white lilies in their hands, and on the uppermost stage but one were two figures, representing Adam and Eve, and several winged angels, in white flowing garments. On the uppermost stage was one figure only, to represent God, on whom all the eyes of the lower figures were directed, with looks of adoration and humility; and this machine, drawn by horses, was to represent heaven. Then followed on an enormous figure something like an elephant, with a large head and eyes, and a pair of horns, on which several little devils, or rather boys dressed like devils, were sitting. The monster was hollow within, and the lower jaw was movable, by moving of which it frequently exhibited the inward contents, which was filled with full-grown devils, and who poured out liquid fire from the jaws of hell; at the same time the figure was surrounded by a great number of external devils, dressed in crape, with hideous masks and curled tails. But I should have observed that between the figures which represented heaven and hell several young ladies passed with wreaths of flowers on their heads, and palms in their hands, riding in elegant carriages. Then followed old Lucifer himself, armed with a pitchfork, and leading St. Michael the Archangel in chains. Michael and Lucifer were followed by a person dressed in a harlequin's coat hung round with bells, holding a hoop in his hands, through which he frequently jumped, and showed many other feats of activity; but what, or who, he represented, I cannot say. Then came a grand carriage, covered with a superb canopy, from the middle of which hung a little dove; under the dove was a table covered with a carpet, at which were sitting two women dressed in white, and with wings pointing upwards to the dove, and they representing the salutation of the Virgin Mary. Next followed a group of dancing boys surrounding a stable, in which was seen the Virgin,