Roundabout Papers - Penn State University

Thackeraywith large tops, and gold spurs, on his head a black hatand dark-brown plumes. Behind him at the centre ofthe picture, is the standard-bearer, ‘Jacob Banning,’ inan easy martial attitude, hat in hand, his right hand onhis chair, his right leg on his left knee. He holds theflag of blue silk, in which the Virgin is embroidered,(such a silk! such a flag! such a piece of painting!)emblematic of the town of Amsterdam. The banner covershis shoulder, and he looks towards the spectatorfrankly and complacently.“The man behind him is probably one of the sergeants.His head is bare. He wears a cuirass, and yellow gloves,gray stockings, and boots with large tops, and kneecapsof cloth. He has a napkin on his knees, and in his hand apiece of ham, a slice of bread, and a knife. The old manbehind is probably ‘William the Drummer.’ He has his hatin his right hand, and in his left a gold-footed wineglass,filled with white wine. He wears a red scarf, and a blacksatin doublet, with little slashes of yellow silk. Behindthe drummer, two matchlock-men are seated at the endof the table. One in a large black habit, a napkin on hisknee, a hausse-col of iron, and a linen scarf and collar.He is eating with his knife. The other holds a long glassof white wine. Four musketeers, with different shapedhats, are behind these, one holding a glass, the threeothers with their guns on their shoulders. Other guestsare placed between the personage who is giving the toastand the standard-bearer. One with his hat off, and hishand uplifted, is talking to another. The second is carvinga fowl. A third holds a silver plate; and another, inthe background, a silver flagon, from which he fills acup. The corner behind the captain is filled by two seatedpersonages, one of whom is peeling an orange. Two othersare standing, armed with halberts, of whom one holdsa plumed hat. Behind him are other three individuals,one of them holding a pewter pot, on which the name‘Poock,’ the landlord of the ‘Hotel Doele,’ is engraved. Atthe back, a maid-servant is coming in with a pasty,crowned with a turkey. Most of the guests are listeningto the captain. From an open window in the distance,the facades of two houses are seen, surmounted by stonefigures of sheep.”189