BULL-FIGHTS, 225 



fiseum itself; and the living manners are painted in 

 a diary of the times.* A convenient order of benches 

 was restored ; and a general proclamation, as far as 

 Rimini and Ravenna, invited the nobles to exercise 

 their skill and courage in this perilous adventure. 

 The Roman Jadies were marshalled in three squad- 

 rons, and seated in three balconies, which, on this 

 day, the 3d of September, were lined with scarlet 

 cloth. The fair Jacova di Rovere, led the matrons 

 from beyond the Tiber, a pure and native race, who 

 still represent the features and character of antiquity. 

 The remainder of the city was divided as usual be- 

 tween the Colonna and Ursini. The two factions 

 were proud of the number and beauty of their female 

 bands. The charms of Savella Ursini are mentioned 

 with praise ; and the Colonna regretted the absence 

 of the youngest of their house, who had sprained her 

 ancle in the garden of Nero's tower. The lots of the 

 champions were drawn by an old and respectable 

 citizen ; and they descended into the arena or pit to 

 encounter the wild bulls, on foot, as it should seem, 

 with a single spear. Amidst the crowd, our annalist 

 has selected the names, colours and devices of twenty 

 of the most conspicuous knights. Several of the 

 jiames are the most illustrious of Rome and the ec- 



* This extraordinary bull feast in the Coliseum, is de- 

 scribed from tradition rather than memory, by Ludovico 

 Buonconte Monaldesco, in the most ancient fragments of 

 Koman Annals (Muratori, Script. Rerum Italicarum, torn, 

 xii. p. 535, 536) ; and however fanciful they may seem, they 

 are deeply marked with the colours of truth an& nature. 

 P 



