Expression: backing king's colours

[Haihao]

Hi,

Could you please give me a help on the following passage?

Stephen seated himself noiselessly before the princely presence. Framed around the walls images of vanished horses stood in homage, their meek heads poised in air: lord Hastings’ Repulse, the duke of Westminster’s Shotover, the duke of Beaufort’s Ceylon, PRIX DE PARIS, 1866. Elfin riders sat them, watchful of a sign. He saw their speeds, backing king’s colours, and shouted with the shouts of vanished crowds.(Ulysses)

1. Is it possible that ‘backing king’s colours’ means ‘betting on English flags’, that is, ‘betting on English horses’? If so, does it suggest that every horse bore a flag then?

2. Does the second one suggest the crowds had already moved away but their shouts were heard by or still around the bettor/watcher?

Thank you!

Haihao

[Alan]

Hi Haihao,

The king’s colours is an expression, a representation if you like, indicating the symbol of the king’s authority. I feel that ‘backing’ in the sentence refers to ‘supporting’. The second part suggests to me that looking at the pictures he could imagine the sound of the crowds shouting at the time of scenes that were depicted.

I have a concern about the word ‘speeds’. Could this possibly be ‘steeds’ another word for horse?

Alan

[Haihao]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for your interpretation! That (for the second part) also reminded me of the ‘stream of consciousness’ way the author was fond to use in his works!

By the way, I checked up the text and the word was ‘speeds’.

Thanks again!

Haihao

[Alan]

Hi,

Forgive the nitpicking but the expression is fond of using.

Alan

[Haihao]

Oh, no nitpicking at all! Thanks again, Alan, for your correcting and that’s what I always really need.

Haihao