Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/399

empire. He, therefore, called to him one more excellent in wisdom than the rest, and required of him to impart some rule by which he might attain his wishes. "Willingly, my lord," replied he; and immediately upon a wall he depicted the king, crowned, sitting on a throne and habited in a purple robe. His left hand supported a globe, while his right held a sceptre: above his head was a light burning. On the left was the queen crowned also, and clad in golden vesture. The other side was occupied by counsellors seated in chairs, and before them an open book. In front of these was an armed knight on horseback; having a helmet on his head, and a lance in his right hand. The shield covered him on the left and a sword hung by his side^[1]. His body was cased in mail having clasps^[2] upon the breast. Iron greaves protected his legs; spurs were upon his heels, and iron gauntlets on his hands. His horse, practised in war, was gorgeously trapped. Beneath the king were his depu-

1. "Ensem in dextera," says the original; but he could not hold both lance and sword in the same hand at once.
2. "Fibulas in pectore,"—meaning knobs perhaps.