Symbolic Medallions

At the conclusion of the final grand ballet , the naiads and dryads, according to their rank , chose a prince, lord or gentlemen and presented these ditinguished spectators with a symbolic medal.

The naiads, or water nymphs, presented medals symbolic of the sea:

Queen Louise gave King Henri III a large gold medal of a dolphin swimmimg in the sea. (Beaujoyeulx states that the court took this as a sign that God would soon provide for the happiness of the French realm.)

Mme. la Princess de Lorraine gave M. de Mercure the Siren.

Mme. de Nevers gave M. de Nevers a sea horse.

Mme. de Guise gave M. de Genevois Arion.

Mme. d'Aumalle gave the Marquis de Chausson a whale.

Mme. de Joyeuse gave the marquis de Pnt a sea monster.

Mme. la Maréchale de Retz gave M. d'Aumalle a triton.

Mme. de Larchant gave M. de Joyeuse a branch of coral.

Mme. du Pont gave M. de Bourdeille an oyster in the shell.

Mlle. de Bourdeille gave M. de Nevers a swordfish.

Mlle. de Cypierre gave M. de Luxembourg a shrimp.

The four dyrads presented the following gifts:

Mlle. de Victry gave M. Le Bastard an owl.

Mlle. de Surgères gave the Comte de Saulx a squirrel.

Mlle. de Lavernay gave the Compte de Maulevrier a stag.

Minerva (Mlle. de Chaumont) gave the Queen Mother Apollo.

Circe (Mlle. de Sainte Mesme) gave M. le Cardinal de Bourbon a book.

(MacClintock,p.98)