Hither Love glided down, winging his way o’er the long journey. Joyfully and with prouder gait than e’er his wont he enters. Venus was seated on her glittering throne, tiring her hair. On her right hand and on her left stood the Idalian sisters.[129] Of these one pours a rich stream of nectar over Venus’

[129] i.e. the Graces.

[250]

inrigat, haec morsu numerosi dentis eburno

multifidum discrimen arat; sed tertia retro

dat varios nexus et iusto dividit orbes

ordine, neglectam partem studiosa relinquens: 105

plus error decuit. speculi nec vultus egebat

iudicio; similis tecto monstratur in omni

et capitur[130] quocumque videt. dum singula cernit,