Mirrors

Cambuscan’s mirror. Sent to Cambuscanʹ by the King of Araby and Ind; it warned of the approach of ill-fortune, and told if love was returned. (Chaucer: Canterbury Tales; The Squire’s Tale.)

Lao’s mirror reflected the mind and its thoughts, as an ordinary mirror reflects the outward seeming. (Goldsmith: Citizen of the World, xlv.)

Merlin’s magic mirror, given by Merlin to King Ryence. It informed the king of treason, secret plots, and projected invasions. (Spenser: Faerie Queene, iii. 2.)

Reynard’s wonderful mirror. This mirror existed only in the brain of Master Fox; he told the queen-lion that whoever looked in it could see what was done a mile off. The wood of the frame was not subject to decay, being made of the same block as King Crampart’s magic horse. (Reynard the Fox, ch. xii.)

Vulcan’s mirror showed the past, the present, and the future. Sir John Davies tells us that Cupid gave the mirror to Antinʹous, and Antinous gave it to Penelopē, who saw therein “the court of Queen Elizabeth.”