Goa Account of the ancient Lapeftry embroidered by Queen Matilda: ~ 
fal poet knows how.to excel even in plain- 
‘tive and melancholy fubjects: © 
| OVERS GRAVES SUR UN HETRE. 
¢* Lorfque mon amante fidelle 
Ici‘viendra chercher Je frais, 
Zéphire, eflleure fes attraits 
‘Du jeu carefant dé ton aile. 
Et toi, Pornement de ces lieux, 
Bel arbre que fon nom décorey 
Ne révéle de tous mes veux ’ 
Que celui de l’y voir encore. 
t 
f * *e 
L URNE. 
“6 Du cercueil ou repofe Helotfe fidelle > 
Ce vafe renferme-un débris: 
Que ce monument vous rappelle 
Et fes malheurs‘et fes écrits, uf 
© vous, triftes amans, dont la mélancholie 
Cherche ici le filence et fuit Péclat du jour, 
Plaignez, plaignez les maux que nous caufe 
Pamour 
Mais confacrez-lui votre vie’? 
Noss mS Ge 
dccount of the ANCIENT TAPESTRY reprefenting the Invafion of England 
by Wittiam the Conqueror, embroidered by QurEN MATILDA. | 
FV AHIS Tapeftry, whichis at prefent 
4. exhibited tothe public, reprefents 
a feries of the events of one of the 
greateit and moft fortunate expeditions 
that ever was undertaken—The Conqueft 
of England, in 1066, by William the Baf- 
tard, Duke cf Normandy, afterwards 
diftinguijbed by the. Title of the Conqueror. 
This hiftorical monument is acknow- 
ledged by all - connoifieurs 2s con- 
temporary with the Conqueft ; and the 
tradition of the country in which it 
was found (not decreafed by the lapfe 
of feven centuries, ) attributes the work 
to Queen Matilda, the wife of Wil- 
liam. The tradition is, that the Prin- 
cefs, with the Ladies of her Court, 
wrought the feries of the events of this 
memorable. enterprize. If we may 
compare the rudenefs of the feudal 
times with the fimplicity of the heroic 
times of antiquity, we may alfo com- 
pare Matilda, who traces the conquet 
of England with her needle, with the 
Helen of Homer, who traced on canvas 
the exploits of the Trojans and of the: 
Greeks before Troy. 
This tapeftry, which is 214 feet in 
length, and eighteen inches in breadth, 
was exhibited from time immemorial, 
on certain days of the year, in the ca- 
thedral church of Bayeux. This fo- 
* Engravings of this tapeftry, which is 
wrought in thread and worfted of different 
colours, ona ground of white ftuff, are to be 
found in the fixth and eighth Volumes of the 
Academy of Belles Lettres, with an explana. 
tion by Lancelot ; and inthe firft and fecond 
Volumes of The French Monarchy, by Mont- - 
faucon. We have availed ourfelves, in this 
defcription, of feveral obfervations of thefe 
two learned men, © - 
lemn and periodical exhibition has, no 
doubt, contributed to preferve the tra- 
dition refpeciing the’ origin of this 
work. 4 mi 
- Latin infcriptions are placed at the 
head of each event ; and this tapeftry 
of Matilda may be confidered as deter- 
mining certain doubtful points in hif-. 
tory, and may correct thé errors, and 
fupply the defects, of the writers of the 
time. We thall give a thort account of 
each‘ of thefe events, °° 9 (7iuaaeet 
No. L.— Rex. Edward.— Edward King 
oC Of Englands gers Peameae 
Seated on his throne, commands 
Harold to depart fer Normandy, to an-, 
nounce to Duke William, that he bas 
named him.as fucceffor to the Englith 
throne.. Duke William was the near. 
relation of the King of England. The 
latter was already ailured of Williams’ 
intention to accept the crown, by the 
means of Robert, Archbifhap of Can- 
terbury, who betore this had been dH-" 
patched to the Duke with a fimilar mef- 
fapes aye oe peeiade daaaae he ala 
No. Il.—Harold, Dux Aaglrum, et [ut 
Milites, equitant ad Boe een 
Duke of the Englith, marches with: 
his Cavalry to Bofham, to embark. 
Here Harold is called the Duke of 
the Englifh. Cotemporary hiftorians’ 
{peak of him ‘as Duke of Wetlex, and> 
Earl of Kent. Thefe figures furnith 
curious obfervations relative to the 
coftume and manners of the times.—~ 
Harold marches with a falcon on bis 
hand, according to the cuftom of the 
great lords of the times; his dogs pre- 
cede him. His beard is fhaved; but he 
wears muftachios, which we do not per=’ 
: ceive in the figures of Frenchmen af 
the 
