72 The Banquet 



14. The fourteenth meat-course was of capons and fowls in 

 red sauce and green, with oranges. The fish-course was of 

 tench turned inside out. — The gifts were six great tilting- 

 steeds with gilded headstalls,^^ reins of crimson velvet, and 

 housings of crimson velvet, adorned with buttons, bosses, and 

 tassels, all of gold. 



15. The fifteenth meat-course was of peacocks,®^ with cabbage, 

 French beans, and pickled ox-tongue. The fish-course was of 

 carp. — The gifts were a doublet and hood of satin covered 

 with pearls, and with a large flower wrought of pearls on the 

 hood. Over all was a cloak lined with ermine, as was the hood, 

 and also covered with pearls.®^ All these garments were carried 

 to England.^2 



16. The sixteenth meat-course was of roasted rabbits, pea- 

 cocks, fieldfares( P),**^ and ducklings. The fish-course was of 

 roasted eels. — The gifts were a beautiful great silver basin, 

 with an emerald, a clasp,®* a ruby, a diamond, a large pearl set 

 in a ring, and five silver belts (including one given after the 

 day of the feast), gilded and enameled.®^ 



17. The seventeenth course was of junkets and cheese. — The 

 gifts were twelve splendid fat cattle. 



18. The eighteenth course was of fruit, including cherries. — 

 The gifts were two handsome coursers belonging to the Count 

 of Vertu (Gian Galeazzo), one of which was named Lion, and 

 the other Abbot. On the barons and gentlemen of the Duke 



^This is the realization of a poetic fiction (Virgil, Aln. 8. 168) : 

 Frenaque bina meus quae nunc habet aurea Pallas. 

 Cf . Chaucer, K. T. 1648-9 : 



The fomy stedes on the golden brydel 

 Gnawynge. 



^But Cron. Monf.: pipioni; Alip. : piccioni. 



®^ Cron. Monf. extends this : Toi fu presentato uno mantelletto suffulto 

 et fodrato d'armellino, uno farsetto et uno capucio di raso, quali tutti 

 erano coperti de pelle [i. e. perle], poi uno manto et uno capucio facti a 

 fascie, omali de perle.' 



^ So only Cron. Monf. 



^Cesani, cisoni. 



°*Alip. has: a clasp of diamond and ruby, with a pearl. 



^"^ Cron. Monf. adds: two beautiful jewels wrought of pearls, balas 

 rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and other costly gems. 



