Page:The Mabinogion.djvu/73

46 Chaucer describes a bower in the same style, in his Flour and Leaf. It was composed of "sicamour and eglatere,"

Wrethen in fere so well and cunningly

That every branch and leafe grew by mesure

Plaine as a bord, of an height by and by."

The whole account which he gives us of the "pleasaunt herber" is very poetical, particularly the following beautiful lines, descriptive of the avenues of "okes" which led to it.

In which were okes great, streight as a line,

Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew

Was newly sprong, and an eight foot or nine

Every tree well fro his fellow grew,

With branches brode, laden with leves new.

That sprongen out agen the sunne-shene.

Some very red, and some a glad light grene."

—Page 4.

—The exact signification of the word Pali in the original is not quite obvious, as it sometimes seems to imply satin and sometimes velvet, according to the rank of the persons who are represented as wearing it. Nor is the question so immaterial as at first sight it may appear; for, in the best days of Chivalry, the most exact etiquette was observed by the different grades of society with regard to the materials of which their dress was composed. Ste. Palaye mentions that, on occasions where the Knights wore doth of damask, the Squires were restricted to dresses of satin; and where the Knights were clothed in velvet, the Squires could only appear in doth of damask. The colour of scarlet was permitted to be worn only by Knights. (I. 247, 283.)

—Page 4.

, in his work upon Archery, says that "bowstrings were composed from the sinews of beasts, and on that account are termed 'Nervus,' ." "It was customary for this purpose," says he, "to select the sinews of several of those kinds of animals remarkable for their strength or activity, such as Bulls, Lions, Stags, &c., and from those particular parts of each animal in which their respective strength was conceived to lie. From Bulls, the sinews about the back and shoulders were collected; and from Stags, they took those of the legs."