thel2300.jpg 0.2727754237288136 E-M 0 1 128 182 E E: The figure leaning against the vertical of B in "Book" may be holding a book or tablet. A seated human figure, perhaps reading or writing in a book or tablet, sits and leans against the vertical of the letter B in the word "Book." A vine or miniature tree arches over the figure seated and leaning against the B of the word "Book." 128 1 113 183 F F: The figure within the second O of "Book" holds a shepherd's crook. The figure within the second O of "Book" wears a hat. A human figure, probably male, stands within the second O of "Book." He wears a hat and holds a shepherd's crook. Flame-like leaves spring from the first O of the word "Book." 2 2 356 182 EFG EFG: Vines or tendrils grow from all four letters of the word "Book." 0 185 128 157 H H: A young man, apparently nude, climbs the vertical of the letter T in "Thel." 129 185 113 157 I I: A gowned young woman stands on the foot of the left vertical of the letter H in "Thel." She raises both arms above her head. A gowned young woman stands on the horizontal of the letter H in "Thel." She raises both arms above her head. A very small figure stands just to the right of the second vertical of the H in "Thel." 243 185 113 156 J J: The angel seated on the horizontal of L in "Thel" holds a book or tablet. A figure, possibly female, hovers above the letters E and L of "Thel." Her legs extend to the left; her arms are raised horizontally. There may be a small object in her left hand. Her right leg may be bent at the knee, with the lower leg behind her. An angel with large wings sits on the horizontal, and leans against the vertical, of the letter L of "Thel." The figure holds a book or tablet. 1 186 243 156 HI HI: A bird, wings extended, soars left of the word "of" in the title. 129 187 229 152 IJ IJ: A bird, wings extended, soars right of the word "of" in the title. 3 186 351 152 HIJ HIJ: Slender vines twine about the letters of "Thel." Two form empty spirals. 128 344 119 168 L L: A youthful female hovers to the left of an open flower. She wears a gown, or perhaps only a skirt. She raises both arms above her head as a nude male embraces her waist. Her legs are spread apart as though she were striding to the left. Strands of her long hair can be seen left of her right arm and perhaps right of her torso. A nude, apparently youthful, man hovers to the left of an open flower and embraces a young woman around her waist. His legs are spread apart. 130 344 227 168 LM LM: Two open flowers and one bud bloom from the slender stems of a plant. These flowers may be the pasqueflower (anemone pulsatilla). They seem to be blown to the left by a gentle wind. The plant's large leaves bend to the ground. Three stems bearing spiky leaves or the remnants of blossoms grow from the plant, lower right. These stems or decayed flowers look like grain tassels. A-D 0 1 357 239 AB AB: The title words are integrated into the full-page design.

THE BOOK of THEL

163 2 194 238 B B: A flower, similar in shape to the much larger ones below, blooms from the K of the word "Book." Two long stamens curve upwards from the flower. 0 240 164 272 C C: Thel holds a large shepherd's crook. Thel, wearing a gown and holding a shepherd's crook, stands in a delicate contrapposto posture and looks upon the figures and flowers on the right. Her long hair cascades down her neck, touching her right shoulder; the hem of her gown curls about her feet and over the ground. N 1 2 356 512 N N: A slender tree, entwined with a vine, arches protectively over the title words and major pictorial motifs. This combination of motifs and their position suggests a tombstone. Two birds and a human figure soar in the sky; seven other human forms, one winged, rest or climb among the title letters. Thel, wearing a long gown and holding a shepherd's crook, stands lower left and gazes at a nude man embracing a woman around the waist. The latter wears a gown or at least a skirt and raises her arms. These small figures seem to emerge from the large, bowl-like flowers lower center and right. The leaves of this plant and a flower bud complete the design lower center and right. The design does not directly illustrate a scene in the text, but the figures embracing above the flowers may suggest the raptures of the Cloud and thefair eyed dew during their courtship.