Then came the magnificent Youantée, and the peerless Chaoukeun, seated in a massive car of gossamer richly studded with the eyes of live humming-birds, drawn by twelve beautiful blue load-stars, presented by the heavenly bodies to the brother of the sun and moon.
Twenty thousand young men, beautiful as angels, clad in the skins of the black fox, and playing upon ivory jew’s harps, all mounted upon coal-black steeds.
Twenty thousand niggers, ugly as devils, clad in the skins of the white polar bear, and sounding mellifluous catcalls, all mounted upon pure white Arabian horses.
All the first class mandarins of the celestial empire, turning up their eyes to heaven, and wishing that the procession was over.
All the second class mandarins of the celestial empire, choked with dust, and wishing the procession at the devil.
Twenty millions of the people, extolling the liberality of the great emperor, and crying out for bread.
Ten millions of women, who had lost their children in the crowd, and were crying out bitterly in their search.
Ten millions of children, who had lost their mothers in the crowd, and were crying out bitterly till they found them.
The remainder of the inhabitants of the celestial empire.
Such was the grand and pompous marriage procession, which employed the whole population, so that there were no spectators except three blind old women, who were so overcome with delight that, when it had passed, they bowed their heads and died.