^4 ON ANCIENT CASKETS OF IVORY AND WOOD. 



tacle or worthy to be looked at, Brengwain fair-breast, and 

 Marc stallion, 



II. A lady's casket of ivor}', the two sides wanting. Sub- 

 ject, the fabliau of the Comtesse de Vergy. Time of Edward 

 II. On the top, first, the mutual declaration of love between 

 Sir Agolane and the countess, who shews her little dog, and 

 of what service he might become. Then the countess 

 instructing her dog. Then her sending the dog to meet Sir 

 Agolane ; and iiis fondling the animal. Then the meeting of 

 these lovers in the orchard. Next, the declaration of a burn- 

 ing passion for Sir Agolane by the Dutchess of Burgundy. 

 Then her false accusation of him to her duke. His return to 

 the chamber of his countess. Then, the duke threatening 

 to put him to death unless he can prove the accusation false. 

 On the back, first, his leading the duke to the orchard ; then, 

 his placing the duke so as to see his courtship of Vergy. 

 Next, the duke assuring his dutchess of Agolane's innocence, 

 and last, the messenger from the dutchess bringing the letter 

 of invitation to the countess at the chateau de Vergy. On the 

 front, the lamentation of the countess at finding her secret 

 known, and her death. Then, the maid bringing Sir Agolane 

 to witness the sad event, and his stabbing himself. Next the 

 maid fetching the duke to see the sad catastrophe, and his 

 drawing out the sword for vengeance ; and, lastly, his punish- 

 ing the dutchess with instant death. 



III. A lady's casket of ivory, complete, of the time 

 of Edward II. The top contains the particulars of the siege 

 of the chateau d'amour, or, as it was also termed, the castle of 

 roses. In the left compartment is the castle, with ladies on 

 the battlements hurling down roses on their assailants, and 

 over the gateway an angel shooting with a long bow at the 

 son of a knight, who has his cross-bow charged with a rose. 

 Another knight is scaling the walls with a rope-ladder, while 

 two others are employed with a trepied, loading it with roses, 

 that by the force of this projectile they may make a decisive 

 impression on the fortress. In the right hand compartment, 

 the ladies are seen on the battlements, and over the gateway, 

 welcoming the knights, while two, on horseback, in front, are 

 about to engage two warriors completely armed, each party 

 fighting with a bunch of roses. The centre compartment 

 represents a joust where one of the combatants has his shield 

 charged with three roses ; the two trumpeters are perched up 

 in trees, and in an elevated box of trellis work, here and there 

 ornamented with hangings, appear those assembled to witness 

 the entertainment. The back of the box has the adventures 



