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– a wild boar – кабан, вепрь
The entrance to these is by a handsome pair of iron gates, through a vestibule, supported by columns of the
Ionic order, with some antique busts in several niches; the principal are a Roman vestal, and a slave in the ac-
tion of picking a thorn out of his foot.
The staircase consists of three flights of stone steps, containing twelve in each flight, secured on the right
hand by twisting iron balustrades. Here, within a dome, is represented the story of Phaeton, petitioning Apollo
to permit him to drive the chariot of the sun; and at each corner of the ceiling, under the dome, is one of the
four elements.
Fire is represented by a woman sitting on a pile, with a flaming censor in her hand, and by her are a phoe-
nix and a salamander.
Earth is crowned with a chaplet of corn, and holds in one hand a wheat-sheaf, and in the other a cornuco-
pia.
Air is represented by a woman with her left hand on a peacock; a paroquet is by the peacock in a flying
posture, and on her right hand is perched a kingfisher.
Water is represented by a nereid holding a fish in her lap, with a dolphin, cod, eel, and other fish under her
feet. Each of the elements are further expressed by a variety of their characteristic emblems.
In the different parts of the ceiling are the winds supporting the clouds; and in the front is Aurora with her
nymphs in waiting, giving water to her horses. On the cornice are some of the signs of the Zodiac, with baskets
of flowers beautifully disposed.
Beneath the cornice are twelve azure columns, painted, of the Corinthian order; and on each hand, in large
compartments, is the transformation of Phaeton's sisters into poplar trees, with this inscription: ‘MAGNIS
TAMEN EXCIDIT AUSIS’. ‘He fell, however, in a great enterprise’; also the transformation of Cygnus into a
Swan. Between each pillar is a niche in which are represented geography, comedy, tragedy, epic poetry, sculp-
ture, painting, music, and the mathematics; all of which are painted in umber, and heightened with gold, so that
they appear to the eye like brass statues.
Over the door is a bust of Venus in black marble and on the front of the staircase is an oval, which gives a
view to the back staircase, which is adorned with the story of Meleager, killing the wild boar of Aetolia, and
giving the head to his mistress Atalanta.
The painting of the whole staircase was designed and executed by Sir James Thornhill, in the reigns of
Queen Anne and King George I.
QUEEN’S GUARD CHAMBER
Words and Expressions
– deity – божество, бог
– heathen – языческий
– a coving – свод
– a bayonet – штык
– a pike – копье, пика
– a bandoleer – патронташ
In this apartment, into which you first enter, the ceiling is adorned with Britannia, in the person of Queen
Catharine of Portugal, consort to Charles II, seated on a globe, bearing the arms of England and Portugal, the
four quarters of the earth, and their respective symbols, attended by deities, presenting their several offerings.
The signs of the Zodiac are on the outer part of this beautiful representation. In different parts of the ceiling are,
Mars, Venus, Juno, Minerva, and other heathen deities, with Zephyrs, Cupids, and other embellishments prop-
erly disposed.
On the coving over the door is Minerva, on the east side Achilles, on the south Juno with a peacock, and on
the west Venus with her doves.
Over the chimney is George, Prince of Denmark, on horseback, by Dahl, and views of shipping by Vande-
velde.
In this room are guns, bayonets, pikes, bandoleers, etc., and disposed in various beautiful forms, with a star
and garter, the Royal cypher, and other ornaments intermixed, cut in lime wood.
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