Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton; Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton [Editor]: The art of needle-work from the earliest ages: including some notices of the ancient historical tapestries (London: Henry Colburn Publishers, 1841)

8

INTRODUCTION.

decorated Religion ; she obeyed Charity; she served
Utility ; she aided Pleasure; she pranked out Fun ;
and she mingled with all and every circumstance of
life.
Many changes and chances has it been her lot to
behold. At one time honoured and courted, she
was the acknowledged and cherished guest of the
royal and noble. Then in gorgeous drapery, begem-
med with brilliants, bedropped with gold, she reigned
supreme in hall and palace ; or in silken tissue girt
she adorned the high-born maiden’s bower what time
the “ deeds of knighthood ” were “ in solemn canto”
told. In still more rich array, in kingly purple, in
regal tissue, in royal magnificence, she stood within
the altar’s sacred pale ; and her robes, rich in Tyrian
dye, and glittering with Ophir’s gold, swept the
hallowed pavement. When battle aroused the land
she inspirited the host. When the banner was un-
furled she pointed to the device which sent its mes-
sage home to every heart; she displayed the cipher
on the hero’s pennon which nerved him sooner to
relinquish life than it; she entwined those initials
in the scarf, the sight of which struck fresh ardour
into his breast.
But she fell into disrepute, and was rejected from
the halls of the noble. Still was she ever busy, ever
occupied, and not only were her services freely given
to all who required them, but given with such
winning grace that she required but to be once
known to be ever loved—so exquisitely did she
adapt herself to the peculiarities of all.
With flowing ringlets and silken robe, carolling
gaily as she worked, you would see her pinking the