3-052-342 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Tableaux Vivants: Una and the Lion, 1872. 'On the Christmas Eve just past, after some uproarious fun, there was a brief lull, broken by Susie, the second daughter of our host, asking, "What shall we do next?" Then, pointing to the print of "Una and the Lion," on the wall of the room a few of us happened just then to be in, she clapped her hands and screamed with delight, "O, I know! Look there! Uncle Jack, you shall be the lion and I will be Una...Mind, uncle, that you go properly on all fours, and please don't be too tame, but ramp and roar like a real live lion, while I hold you by the ear...as others of the children wished also to hear about it, Miss Susie, partly instructed by Uncle Jack, skimmed enough of the story so gloriously given in Spenser's "Fairy Queen" to explain the picture. Pursing up her lips, she went on thus: Once upon a time, Una, a good, lovely lady, was seeking her Redcross Knight, and, being very tired, she lay down in a shady place, which she made shine with her angel's face, when a lion rushed roaring out of a wood; but, seeing Una, his rage was turned into pity, and he kissed her weary feet and licked her lily hands. And when she went on her journey he followed her as a strong guard'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.