CHAP. X. 



MIDDLE AGES. 285 



gold were to be seen ; and on the mast-heads 

 were either birds whose turning showed the 

 changes of the wind, or dragons of various forms 

 which threatened to breathe out fire. There were 

 to be seen human figures looking like life glit- 

 tering with gold and silver. Dolphins also were 

 seen of precious cast metal, and centaurs that 

 brought to remembrance the ancient fables. But 

 how shall I describe the sides of the vessels, 

 which were not only painted with various co- 

 lours, but swelled out with gold and silver orna- 

 ments ? The royal ship surpassed all the others 

 as far as the king in his appearance exceeded 

 his soldiers." In a subsequent passage, book ii. 

 when describing the landing, he says, "The ships 

 were so splendid that they seemed a flame of 

 fire, and blinded the eyes of the spectators : the 

 .gold glittered on the sides, and the wrought 

 silver work also that was mingled with it. Who 

 could look upon the lions of shining gold, who 

 on the human figures of cast electrum with their 

 golden faces, who on the dragons gleaming with 

 brilliant gold who could look on the carved 

 oxen that threatened death with their golden 

 horns who could behold all these objects with- 

 out fearing a king possessed of such might ?" 



There can be no doubt but some of the 

 wealth thus employed may have been acquired 

 from England and from France, who were each 

 at times induced to pay a tribute to the invading 



