We know
these to be the personages represented, because two inscriptions tell us
so. To the one supporting the King's right hand: "Huius VODALRICVS cor
regis signet et actus." To the other: "EMMERANVS ei faveat solamine
dulci." The Christ is seated on a rainbow within a cusped aureola or
"amande" of several bands of different colours, on the central one being
inscribed in a mixture of Greek and Latin characters--one of the new
fashions brought in by the Greek revival:
"Clemens XPE tuo longum da vivere XPIC to:
Ut tibi devotus non perdat temporis usus."
Some writers have thought this to be a picture of the Emperor's
apotheosis, and that the crown is that of Life or Immortality; but such
is certainly not the import of the above verses.
"O gentle Christ give to thy Christ long to live
That devoted to Thee he may not lose the use of time."
Besides, two angels on either side Christ precipitately bestow on the
Emperor the spear and sword of a temporal sovereignty. Round the Emperor
are the words: "Ecce coronatur divinitus atque beatur. Rex pius
Heinricus proavorum stirp(e) polosus," all which can scarcely refer to
anything but his German Empire.
The expression, "give to thy Christ," is an allusion to the Hebrew usage
of calling the king the "anointed" or the "Christ.
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