Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/231

Rh oval towards the horn of the lunette on the garden side, where her lover Endymion must he placed; nay, she shall bend forwards from her chariot as if to embrace him; and not being able to effect this, because of the enclosure, she shall be regarding him tenderly, and enlightening him with her beams.

‘‘For Endymion you must make a beautiful youth, in the garb of a shepherd, and he must be lying asleep at the foot of Mount Latmos. In the second horn of the lunette shall be the god Pan, who is in love with Luna, and whose form is familiar to you. His pipe must be round his neck, and let him extend his hands, wherein there shall be a skein of white wool, toward the Luna; for with this it is feigned that he obtained her love, and by this present he hopes to induce her to descend and dwell with him. The remaining space of the window shall be filled with a Story of the Sacrifices offered at night by the Lemures, who believed that evil spirits were thus driven from their houses. And the rite was performed on this wise; with raised hands and bare feet, they walked round and round, scattering black beans, which they first turned about in their mouths and then cast behind them, striking meanwhile on basins and other instruments of copper, whereby they made a loud noise.

“On the left side of the oval shall be Mercury, in his usual form, with the winged cap and wings at his feet, the caducous in his right hand, and a purse in his left. He shall be entirely nude, with the exception of the short mantle on his shoulders; his form that of a beautiful youth, but of a simple comeliness, and wholly wdthout art; his countenance cheerful, the eyes very spirited; a slender person, beardless chin, and rosy complexion. Some give him wings at the ears, and make feathers of gold proceed from his hair. Be the attitude at your pleasure, provided you show that he is descending from heaven to bring sleep; and turning towards the bed, let him seem to touch the canopy thereof with his rod.

“Opposite to Mercury place the Lares his sons, the protectors of private dwellings: two youths, namely, clothed with the skins of dogs, but with short vestments thrown over the left shoulder, yet returning under the right arm, to show that they are unencumbered and ready to guard the houses confided to them. Let them be seated beside each