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Page 36 text:
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Havergal College Magazine ON A REPLICA OF THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. ladies dear of long ago, With eyes and hands devoutly bent Upon your pious task intent — Your chronicle of war and woe — Ah, surely now and then the thread And needle paused o ' er blue and brown, While something brighter glimmer ' d down, A tribute to the valiant dead. And page and minstrel hushed awhile Of Senlac fight the chorus rude, And Norman Odo silent view ' d The broideries for his minster pile. Though twice four hundred years have roll ' d Since all your gentle work was done, Your daughters of the Western sun Greet you, and those your love made bold. Afar, in climes you never trod, Down the dim annals of our race, A record in our hearts we trace Of those who fell for home and God. THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY. In the public libraries of Bayeux, that somewhat decayed city of ancient Normandy, there is to be found very carefully preserved the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This wonderful piece of embroidery was formerly thought to have been executed by Queen Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror, or by the Em- press Matilda, daughter of Henry I., but the latest theory is that it was done by the Nuns of the Cathedral under the orders 34
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Page 37 text:
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Havergal College Magazine of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. In all probability it was used to decorate the nave of the Cathedral and because of the great quantities of similar work accomplished at that period, it was considered of no special value. For years it hung unheeded and unnoticed while great events were taking place. It saw Normandy become part of the Angevin Empire, then slip away from John ' s careless hands and finally become part of the realm of France. Great changes took place ; the tapestry still hung on the wall and gradually all work of its kind died out. All through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries tapestry was considered a lost art, except in the Roj al factories, till finally this great specimen was discovered and placed in the public libraries in Bayeux as a very valuable possession. There it may be seen to-day, its once brilliant colors now faded by the suns of time to a more subdued and delicate hue. This marvellous piece of needlework is on a band of linen two hundred and thirty feet long, but only twenty inches wide, and is divided up into seventy-two scenes, each supposed to illustrate some historical event in the conquest of England by William of Normandy. The drawing is rough and unfinished, with absolutely no pretence at perspective, but it is all the more quaint and interesting. Such an idea as giving people two whole legs if only one would do was unthought of, so we get a crowd of people amongst whom there are scarcely enough legs or arms for eacli head. The hind legs of a horse or any parts which are not so prominent are always worked in a lighter color — perspective being hinted at in this way. In the border there are numerous objects such as trees, weird looking animals and birds, and human beings or portions of them which look like heraldic signs. In the battle scenes the border is decorated with numerous arms and legs flying about ; and some poor heroes may be seen walking about without heads. Corresponding to a hunting scene there are birds, strange creatures whose species is doubtful, and to a sea voyage even stranger fish may be found. The story can easily be followed from the tapestry but the pious women thought to make it clearer by little explana- tory sentences in Dog Latin. The first scene on the tapestry represents Harold taking leave of Edward the Confessor, and his subsequent departure for Bosham with many faithful attendants. He then takes ship at the Sussex coast, very prudently removing his hose before embarking because he must needs walk a few steps through the water first. On landing, however (hose once again removed), he is taken prisoner by Guy, Earl of Ponthieu, and is sent to Beauraine, but William begs for his release. Then follows the mighty battle in which Harold helps William against the Earl of Bretagne, his oath never to interfere with William ' s suc- cession to the Confessor ' s throne and his final departure for 35
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