Ten thousand young married women, each hushing an infant to repose upon
the left breast to the sound of clarions and trumpets, emblematical of
the peaceful and quiet state of matrimony.
The banner of impudence.
Five thousand political mountebanks, contradicting each other, and
exerting themselves for the amusement of the people, who, however,
suffered rather severely from their mad tricks.
The second in command, explaining their system in an unknown tongue.
The emperor's juggler, who astonished the whole empire by his
extraordinary feats, and the rapidity with which he relieved them of all
the money in their pockets.
The banner of Love.
The celestial secretary, with goose-wings on his shoulders, goose-quills
in each hand, looking very much like a goose mounted on a mule, gaily
caparisoned in colours quadripartite, and covered with jingling brass
bells.
Five thousand old women, singing the praises of the said secretary and
taking snuff to the flourish of hautboys.
The prosperity of the celestial empire, carried by the court fool, in a
basket beautifully carved out of a wild cherry-stone; and guarded by
Fifty thousand archers of the red dragon battalion, picking their teeth
to soft music.
Ten thousand poets, each singing at the same time, and to a different
tune, his ode upon this joyful occasion.
The immortal poet of the age, attired in velvet to his feet, and
superbly ornamented with rings and chains of gold and precious stones.
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