loo derbyshire tapestry. 



Grand Staircase. 



The first four pieces on the right ascending, brought here about 

 the year 1838, represent the story of Hero and Leander. Sir 

 Roger L'Estrange in his '' Fables and Stories Moralized," being a 

 second part of his " Fables of .'Esop " (Folio, Ed. 1699), writes : — 

 " Everybody has lieard of Hero and Leander, and of that unfortu- 

 nate Amour. The woman lived at Sestos, and the man at 

 Abydos, with the Hellespont (a small arm of the sea) betwixt 

 them. The history says that they were passionately in love, and 

 no coming together but by Leander's swimming over to her in 

 the night, by the benefit of a lamp that his mistress set up for his 

 guide. This way of intercourse served tliem well enough for a 

 while, but in the conclusion, the wind blew out the light, and the 

 poor youth was drowned in the storm. When Hero came next 

 morning to see the body hulling over to the other shore, she was 

 too generous to outlive her gallant, and so cast herself down from 

 the turret into the sea to bear him company. 



" 'I'he lamp upon this miscarriage was dedicated to Anteros, the 

 patron of injured lovers, and recommended to posterity with 

 this inscription upon it : — ' Let that happy couple, which upon 

 seven years' tryal of a marry'd state, shall declare upon their 

 consciences that they never repented their bargain, light up this 

 lamp again.' 



" This is a declaration now of two thousand years standing, and 

 yet from that time to this no mortal has ever so much as offered 

 to re-kindle this lamp." 



No. I. — The first hanging of this set has two figures, male and 

 female, standing a little in advance of the portico of a 

 stately temple. Cupid above, is discharging an arrow at 

 the lady. The landscape is very beautiful, and the general 

 design and colouring very attractive and pleasing. 



On the bottom margin is the Mortlake shield of 

 S. George, arg., a cross, giiks. 



No. 2. — A water scene, finely executed. There is much free- 

 dom and grace in the principal figures. The expression of 



I 



