proverbial wisdom, which Orlando, in As You Like It, designates by the phrase "right painted cloth."[115:D]
That "the arras figures[115:E]," though in general coarsely executed, had strongly impressed the mind of Shakspeare, and furnished him with no small portion of imagery and allusion, has been very satisfactorily established by Mr. Whiter, who remarks, that their "effects may be perpetually traced by the observing critic," even "when the poet himself is totally unconscious of this predominating influence."[115:F]
The manner of illuminating the halls and banquetting rooms of the Great at this period, was truly classical. We find that Homer, describing the palace of Alcinous, says—
"Youths forged of gold, at every table there,
Stood holding flaming torches;"[116:A]
and Lucretius, speaking of the Dome of the opulent, describes its walls with
"A thousand lamps irradiate, propt sublime
By frolic forms of youths in massy gold,
Flinging their splendours o'er the midnight feast."[116:B]
Similar to these were the