DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68274#0280
Dutch and Flemish Furniture
Looking-Glasse. No question but a true Embleme of
politick hospitality ; for though to reflect yourself in
your own figure, 'tis yet no longer than while you are
there before it. When you are gone once, it flatters the
next commer, without the least remembrance that you
were ere there.
" The next are the vessels of the house marshalled
about the room like watchmen. All is neat as you were
in a Citizen's Wife's Cabinet ; for unless it be themselyes,
they let none of God's creatures lose anything of their
native beauty.
" Their houses, especially in their Cities, are the best
eye-beauties of their Country. For cost and sight, they
far exceed our English, but they want their magnificence.
Their lining is yet more rich than their outside ; not in
hangings, but pictures, which even the poorest are there
furnisht with. Not a cobler but has his toyes for orna-
ment. Were the knacks of all their homes set together,
there would not be such another Bartholomew-Faire in
Europe....
" Their beds are no other than land-cabines, high
enough to need a ladder or stairs. Up once, you are
walled in with Wainscot, and that is a good discretion to
avoid the trouble of making your will every night ; for
once falling out else would break your neck promptly.
But if you die in it this comfort you shall leave your
friends, that you dy'd in clean linen.
" Whatsoever their estates be, their houses must be
fair. Therefore from Amsterdam they have banisht
seacoale, lest it soyl their buildings, of which the statlier
sort are sometimes sententious, and in the front carry
184
Looking-Glasse. No question but a true Embleme of
politick hospitality ; for though to reflect yourself in
your own figure, 'tis yet no longer than while you are
there before it. When you are gone once, it flatters the
next commer, without the least remembrance that you
were ere there.
" The next are the vessels of the house marshalled
about the room like watchmen. All is neat as you were
in a Citizen's Wife's Cabinet ; for unless it be themselyes,
they let none of God's creatures lose anything of their
native beauty.
" Their houses, especially in their Cities, are the best
eye-beauties of their Country. For cost and sight, they
far exceed our English, but they want their magnificence.
Their lining is yet more rich than their outside ; not in
hangings, but pictures, which even the poorest are there
furnisht with. Not a cobler but has his toyes for orna-
ment. Were the knacks of all their homes set together,
there would not be such another Bartholomew-Faire in
Europe....
" Their beds are no other than land-cabines, high
enough to need a ladder or stairs. Up once, you are
walled in with Wainscot, and that is a good discretion to
avoid the trouble of making your will every night ; for
once falling out else would break your neck promptly.
But if you die in it this comfort you shall leave your
friends, that you dy'd in clean linen.
" Whatsoever their estates be, their houses must be
fair. Therefore from Amsterdam they have banisht
seacoale, lest it soyl their buildings, of which the statlier
sort are sometimes sententious, and in the front carry
184