Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

238 A1·ts and C1·afts in tЬе Middle Ages

not as mнch dignity as ,vhen the stoпe is fully recognized. ТЬе Door of St. l\Iarcel has tЬе oldest carviпg on Not1·e Dame in Paгis. ТЬе plate repгesenting the iro11 work, iп Chapter IV., sho,vs the caгving on this pol'tal, ,vhich is the sаше that has Biscornette's faшous hiпges. The ceпtral figure of St. Marcel hiшself presents tlle saiпt in the act of reproving а naughty dragon whicl1 liad Ьаd the indiscгetion to devoш the body of а rich but wicked lady. The dragon is seen issнing froш the dismantled tomb of this unfOl'tunate peгson. Тlи dragon repeпted his act, wЬen the saiпt had finisl1ed admonishing l1im, and sho,ved his attacЬшent апd gratitude for thнs being led in paths of гectitude, Ьу following the saint fOl' fош miles, appai·ently \Yalking шuch as а seal ,voнld ,valk, beseccblng the saiпt to forgive him. But Магсеl ,vas fiгш, and punisl1ed the se1·pent, sayiпg to hiш: " Go fo1·tЬ and iпhaЫt the deserts or plunge tl1ysclf iпto tl1e sea; " апd, as St,. Patrick rid tЬе Celtic land of snakes, so St. Marcel seems to ЬаУе baпishccl clragoпs froш t'ai1· Francr. At CЬart1·es there are eigl1teeн Ьuпdred statнes, апd almost as many at Aшiens and at Rl1eims and Paris. One reason for thc sнpc1·iOI'ity of French figшe scнlpture iп the thirteenth century, over that existing in otl1er coнntries, is that tl1e Fгcncl1 used models. There has been pгeserved the skctcl1 book of а medi�Yal French arcl1itect, \'ilarc1 de Нопсошt, "'hich is fille<.l