"Giglio in the Diligence" — Forty-second illustration by W. M. Thackeray for "The Rose and The Ring" (1855)

Giglio in the Diligence

W. M. Thackeray

1855

Wood engraving, probably by William Linton

5 cm high by 3.1 cm wide (1 ½ by 1 ¼ inches), vignetted

Descriptive headlines: "As Becomes His Lineage Knightly / Master Giglio Acts Politely" (pp. 376-377).

Forty-second illustration for The Rose and The Ring, p. 377.

Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Passage Illustrated: Travelling by Coach Incognito in a Cloth Cap

The vulgar traveller got down only at the next station, and Giglio took his place again, and talked to the person next to him. She appeared to be a most agreeable, well-informed, and entertaining female. They travelled together till night, and she gave Giglio all sorts of things out of the bag which she carried, and which indeed seemed to contain the most wonderful collection of articles. He was thirsty — out there came a pint bottle of Bass’s pale ale, and a silver mug! Hungry — she took out a cold fowl, some slices of ham, bread, salt, and a most delicious piece of cold plum-pudding, and a little glass of brandy afterwards.

As they travelled, this plain-looking, queer woman talked to Giglio on a variety of subjects, in which the poor Prince showed his ignorance as much as she did her capacity. He owned, with many blushes, how ignorant he was; on which the lady said, "My dear Gigl — my good Mr. Giles, you are a young man, and have plenty of time before you. You have nothing to do but to improve yourself. Who knows but that you may find use for your knowledge some day? When—when you may be wanted at home, as some people may be."

"Good heavens, madam!" says he, "do you know me?" [Chapter XIV, "What Became of Giglio," 377]

Commentary: Dipping into the Sack of Fortunatus, a Useful Stage Property

And just how has this plain but knowledgeable traveller with the magic sack of provisions penetrated the disguise of "Mr. Giles"? By her subsequent references to attending christenings and improving people through hardship, Giglio's travelling companion must be none other than the Pantomime Fairy, Blackstick, introduced in Chapter IV, "How Blackstick was Not Asked to the Princess Angelica's Christening."

Thackeray makes good use here of the Sack of Fortunatus, a magic bag that appears in a number of myths and legends over centuries. Andrew Lang retold the tale entitled "Fortunates and His Purse" in The Grey Fairy Book (1905), but the original telling of this old European folk-tale was first published in 1509. In that ur-text, a fairy offers Fortunatus the choice between wisdom, strength, longevity, wealth, health, and beauty. When he decides upon riches, the fairy gives him a purse that always contains ten pieces of gold, and will continue to replenish itself no matter how much he spends.

Bibliography

Furniss, Harry. The Rose and The Ring; or, The History of Prince Giglio and the Prince Bulbo. William Makepeace Thackeray's Christmas Books. With illustrations by the author and Harry Furniss. The Harry Furniss Centenary Edition. London: Macmillan and Co., 1911. Pp. 287-428.

Titmarsh, M. A. [W. M. Thackeray].The Rose and The Ring. London: Smith, Elder, 1855.

Created 8 August 2022