Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/238

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stru&ure, rich in ornament, and crowned with ivy. Again imagination takes fire, again sLe darts back with the poet into ages that are passed, into the depth of the days of chivalry, and calls up the fair form of Kenilworth- Castle in its glory; the scene of mirth and of gallantry,

" Of pomp, and least, and revelry, With mask and antique pageantry ; " Where throngs of knights and barons bold, " In weeds of peace high triumphs hold, " With store of ladies, whose bright eyes >4 ' Raise influence, and judge the prize " Of wit or arms, which both contend i! To win her heart whom all commend."

Well calculated for such stately feasts and princely cheer was the Gothic hall, a grand apartment eighty-six feet long and forty-four feet wide, lighted by lofty arched windows of the most elegant pat- tern and costly workmanship; and every other part of the building bore a proportionate grandeur in architecture and dimensions. The great gate- house, built by Lord Leicester, is also extremely fine; it contains an apartment with its original decorations in oak compleat. The chimney-piece is particularly curious, the upper proportion carved wood, the lower alabaster, bearing the date 1 5 7 J , the initials of its proud but unfortunate builder, R. L.; these mottos Droit ct loyal Vi-vit post

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