Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/353

Rh broidered with ivy leaves, in gold and silver, after a most masterly fashion; and on their shoulders they wore the sacerdotal vestments of antiquity, all richly surrounded with borders and fringes of gold: one bore in his hand a thurible, another a golden vase, and others carried other things of similar character. At their stirrups walked attendants in the manner of Levites, they bore torches in their hands, which were formed after the fashion of ancient candelabra, and made with the most judicious artifice.

The third chariot represented the Consulate of Titus Manlius Torquatus, who, having been made Consul after the close of the first Carthaginian war, had governed in such a manner, that during his time all the virtues and talents flourished in Rome, while the city enjoyed the utmost prosperity. This chariot, on which was a person representing Titus himself, was adorned with many ornaments made by Puntormo, and was drawn by eight magnificent horses; before it went twelve senators, wearing the toga, and riding two and two on horses covered with cloth of gold: they were attended by numerous servants, representing Lictors, and bearing the fasces, axes, and other things pertaining to the administration of justice.

The fourth chariot was drawn by four buffaloes accoutred after the fashion of elephants; and the story represented was the Triumph of Julius Caesar on the occasion of the victory obtained over Cleopatra; the most remarkable events of Caesar’s life being depicted by Jacopo Puntormo on the chariot, which was accompanied by twelve men, walking two and two, all dressed in rich and resplendent armour, finely decorated with gold; they bore lances in their hands, and the torches carried by their half-armed attendants had the form of trophies arranged in various fancies.

The fifth car was drawn by winged horses which had the forms of Griffins, and bore a personage representing Caesar Augustus, lord and master of the universe; he was accompanied by twelve poets, riding on horseback in double file, and all crowned with laurel, as was Caesar himself, they wore vestments suited to the different countries of which they were supposed to be natives, and these bards were chosen to be the followers of Caesar Augustus, because that Emperor was ever most favourable to the poets, who exalted