PAINTED SUBTLETIES
202. [The Swan Knight.]
If
you wish to make the Swan Knight in his right, have 12 pieces of light
wood, with the 4 uprights stronger than the others. Assemble everything
and nail it very strongly. Have some lead sheets 3 feet in length and
as much in width (you will need at least 2 or 3 sheets of lead). Make
it in the shape of a little chest about a foot deep that can hold two
or 3 buckets of water. Make a little skiff of glued parchment in which
will be put the image of the Swan Knight.
You
need the likeness of a little swan made of glued parchment covered with
fine vair or white down. You need a little chain resembling gold hung
from the swan's neck and attached to the skiff within the lead box. For
the box attach 4 wheels to 4 [inverted] chevrons attached here and
there. You need some linen dyed like waves of water. Nail it to the top
of the box so that one does not see the men who will be underneath.
203. A tower.
If
you wish to make a tower covered with linen dyed as if it were masonry,
have 4 windows at the 4 corners of the tower. Have a likeness of
Saracens and Moors seeming to fire at a wild man who would assail them.
To make the wild man have a handsome man, tall and upright, clothed in
a linen robe, hose and shoes all joined together, with the robe covered
with [strands of] painted hemp. In the tower you need the figure of a
young valet disguised as a wild boy. He should have some leather balls
full of wadding or carded wool, dyed to resemble stones, for throwing
at the wild man.
204. To make the image of saint George and his virgin.
Make
a large terrace of pastry or light wood (like that from which one makes
pavises). Make the likeness of a saddled and bridled horse, with the
image of saint George on the horse, a dragon under the feet of the
horse, and the virgin holding the dragon tied by her girdle around its
neck.
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