'I mislike this playing with fire,' replied the other. 'Heaven grant we have not a real fire presently!'
Presently, from a black chest concealed behind the fiery globes, a white-winged angel arose and recited the prologue. At the line—
'The great King makes his spheres revolve'—
he pointed to the Duke, as if indicating that he governed his people with the same wisdom shown by the monarch of heaven in turning his celestial spheres. At the same moment the crystal globes began to turn to the accompaniment of a low strange music, representing the celestial harmony told of by Pythagoras. Again the planets stood still; upon each appeared its presiding deity, and each one recited a hymn in praise of Beatrice.
Mercury said:—
'Thou Nature's miracle! Diviner Sun!
Lightning, by whom the clouds are overrun!
Thou Lamp, by whom the stars are all outshone!
The pride and glory of a future race!
In that angelic figure, half concealed,