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TABLE-TALK AND VARIETIES. 



warriors, receiving his presents, 

 entering into alliance with other 

 monarchs, or performing some sa- 

 cred duty. These representations 

 were inclosed in coloiu-ed borders 

 of elaborate and elegant design. 

 The emblematic tree, with winged 

 bulls, and monstrous animals, was 

 conspicuous amongst the ornaments. 

 At the upper end of the hall was 

 the colossal figure of the king in 

 adoration before the supreme deity, 

 or receiving from his eunuch the 

 holy cup. He was attended by 

 warriors bearing his arms, and by 

 the priests or presiding divinities. 

 His robes and those of his followers 

 were adorned with groups of figures, 

 animals and flowers, all painted 

 with brilliant colours. The stranger 

 trode upon alabaster slabs, each 

 bearing an inscription recording 

 the titles, genealogy, and achieve- 

 ments of the great king. Several 

 door - ways formed by gigantic 

 winged lions or bulls, or by figures 

 of guardian deities, led into other 

 apartments, which again opened 

 into more distant halls. In each 

 were new sculptures. On the walls 

 of some were processions of colossal 

 figures, armed me,n and eunuchs fol- 

 lowing the king, warriors laden with 

 spoil, leading prisoners, or bearing 

 presents and offerings to the gods. 

 On the walls of others were por- 

 trayed winged priests or presiding 

 divinities, standing before the sa- 

 cred trees. The ceiling was divided 

 into square compartments, painted 

 with flowers or figures of animals. 

 Some were inlaid with ivory, each 

 compartment being surrounded by 

 elegant borders and mouldings. 

 The rarest woods, in which the 

 cedar was conspicuous, were used 

 for the woodwork." 



For the practice of ceiling, or 

 panelling, or wainscoting with cedar 

 wood, reference is made by the 

 author to Zephaniah ii. 14, Jere- 

 miah xxii. 1-lj-l Kings vi. 15; 

 vii. 3. 



Thomas Coryat's story about ther 

 use of forks in Italy, and his intro- 

 duction of those cleanly and con- 

 venient implements into England, 

 whereby, and "for no other cause,"" 

 he obtained the nickname of Fur- 

 cifer, is very generally known. Tho- 

 following description of fans by the 

 same odd, fantastic traveller, which 

 goes to prove that paper fans 

 were not used in England at the 

 time of his tour (1608), and that 

 we borrowed them as well as forks 

 from the Italians, has been less 

 noticed. 



"Here I will mention a thing, 

 that although perhaps it will seeme 

 but frivolous to divers readers that 

 have already travelled in Italy, yet 

 because unto many that neither 

 have beene there, nor ever intend 

 to go thither while they live, it 

 will be a meere novelty, I will not 

 let it passe unmentioned. The first 

 Italian fannes that I saw in Italy 

 did I observe in this space betwixt 

 Pizighiton and Cremona ; but after- 

 wards I observed them common in 

 most places of Italy where I tra- 

 velled. These fannes both men and 

 women of the country doe carry, 

 to coole themselves withall in the 

 time of heat, by the often fanning 

 of their faces. Most of them are 

 very elegant and pretty things. 

 For whereas the fanne consisteth 

 of a painted piece of paper and a 

 little wooden handle ; the paper, 

 which is fastened into the top, is on- 

 both sides most curiously adorned 

 with excellent pictures, having 

 some witty Italian verses or fine 

 emblems written under them; or 

 of some notable Italian city, with 

 a briefe description thereof added 

 thereunto. These fannes are of 

 a meane price, for a man may buy 

 one of the fairest of them for so 

 much money as countervaileth 

 our English groate " (Coryat's 

 Crudities.) 



