Page:A Mainsail Haul - Masefield - 1913.djvu/51

Rh cabin beams were painted in designs of flowers, but always of red or crimson flowers, such as the rose or poppy, to symbolize love in her activity or weakness. Inlaid upon certain parts of the walls, such as those at the carved bed's head, were curious transcripts from Holy Writ, in praise of love, or verses of the amorous poets, such as Ovid or Petrarch. In each cabin was a cabinet, like a reliquary for richness, containing the precious books of love, written upon vellum, in coloured inks, by fine penmen to whom art was a religion. There might you see Messer Dante, or some rare scroll sealed in red wax, written in Greek, with the tale of Psyche. These books were bound in a green leather, to signify their immortality, while on the cover of each book some jeweller had fashioned a rose in tiny rubies, that typified the love of the saints.

Now about the decks of this wondrous galleon were stands of curious armour, all scrupulously bright. At her ports, which had every one a wreath of painted roses round it, were cannon of polished brass that shone like gold. Above these were the close fights, or strips of canvas, running the length