Days with Sir Roger de Coverley | Page 4

for the occupations of trade and
commerce. As I think this is a point which cannot be too much
inculcated, I shall desire my reader to compare what I have here written
with what I have said in my twenty-first speculation.

THE PICTURE GALLERY.
I was this morning walking in the gallery when Sir Roger entered at the
end opposite to me, and advancing towards me, said he was glad to
meet me among his relations the De Coverleys, and hoped I liked the
conversation of so much good company, who were as silent as myself. I
knew he alluded to the pictures, and as he is a gentleman who does not
a little value himself upon his ancient descent, I expected he would
give me some account of them. We were now arrived at the upper-end
of the gallery, when the Knight faced towards one of the pictures, and
as we stood before it he entered into the matter, after his blunt way of
saying things, as they occur to his imagination, without regular
introduction, or care to preserve the appearance of chain of thought.
"It is," said he, "worth while to consider the force of dress; and how the
persons of one age differ from those of another, merely by that only.
One may observe also, that the general fashion of one age has been
followed by one particular set of people in another, and by them

preserved from one generation to another. Thus the vast jetting coat and
small bonnet, which was the habit in Harry the seventh's time, is kept
on in the yeomen of the guard; not without a good and politick view,
because they look a foot taller, and a foot and an half broader. Besides
that the cap leaves the face expanded, and consequently more terrible,
and fitter to stand at the entrances of palaces.
"This predecessor of ours, you see, is dressed after this manner, and his
cheeks would be no larger than mine, were he in a hat as I am. He was
the last man that won a prize in the tilt-yard (which is now a common
street before Whitehall). You see the broken lance that lies there by his
right foot; he shiver'd that lance of his adversary all to pieces; and
bearing himself, look you, Sir, in this manner, at the same time he came
within the target of the gentleman who rode against him, and taking
him with incredible force before him on the pommel of his saddle, he in
that manner rid the turnament over, with an air that shewed he did it
rather to perform the rule of the lists, than expose his enemy; however,
it appeared he knew how to make use of a victory, and with a gentle
trot he marched up to a gallery where their mistress sat (for they were
rivals) and let him down with laudable courtesy and pardonable
insolence. I don't know but it might be exactly where the coffee-house
is now.
"You are to know this my ancestor was not only of a military genius,
but fit also for the arts of peace, for he played on the bass-viol as well
as any gentleman at court; you see where his viol hangs by his
basket-hilt sword. The action at the tilt-yard you may be sure won the
fair lady, who was a maid of honour, and the greatest beauty of her
time; here she stands the next picture. You see, Sir, my
great-great-great-grandmother has on the new-fashion'd petticoat,
except that the modern is gather'd at the waist; my grandmother appears
as if she stood in a large drum, whereas the ladies now walk as if they
were in a go-cart. For all this lady was bred at court, she became an
excellent country-wife, she brought ten children, and when I shew you
the library, you shall see in her own hand (allowing for the difference
of the language) the best receipt now in England both for an
hasty-pudding and a white-pot.

"If you please to fall back a little, because 'tis necessary to look at the
three next pictures at one view; these are three sisters. She on the right
hand, who is so very beautiful, died a maid; the next to her, still
handsomer, had the same fate against her will; this homely thing in the
middle had both their portions added to her own, and was stolen by a
neighbouring gentleman, a man of stratagem and resolution, for he
poisoned three mastiffs to come at her, and knocked down two
deer-stealers in carrying her off. Misfortunes happen in all families: the
theft of this romp and so much money, was no great matter to our estate.
But the next heir that possessed it was this soft gentleman,