Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

160 HAMPTON COURT
Behind, on a raised dais, are seated three queens with
sceptres, and behind them is an open gallery, through
the windows of which numerous persons are surveying
the scene. Below, to the right and left, are many
others, some in conversation or dalliance, and some
playing on lutes and other instruments."
Many suggestions rise to the mind, but none gives
a wholly satisfactory explanation. Yet, like " what
song the sirens sung, or the name that Achilles bore
when he was among the women," we may hope, with
Sir Thomas Browne, that the secret is not past all
reasonable hope of discovery. Perhaps it is but a
variety of the story of the choice of Hercules; the
young lady offers pleasure, the elder wisdom, and the
Fates look on to decide the young man's career. Next
stand three delightful examples of old Flemish work,
dated circa 1470; three designs they are, out of a
set of six, it is said, illustrating Petrarch's triumph of
Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time, and Divinity.
Death, Fame, and Time stand here in triumph; they
have been here since Wolsey's day, nor is there trace
in the inventories of 1568 and 1649 of any other
of the series. The official description of these three
extremely interesting pieces is the best that can be
obtained.
1. 2?