第16章

Varneykneeleddown，andreplied，withalookofthemostprofoundcontrition，"TherehadbeensomelovepassagesbetwixthimandMistressAmyRobsart。"

Leicester\'sfleshquiveredwithindignationasheheardhisdependantmakethisavowal，andforonemomenthemannedhimselftostepforward，and，biddingfarewelltothecourtandtheroyalfavour，confessthewholemysteryofthesecretmarriage。ButhelookedatSussex，andtheideaofthetriumphantsmilewhichwouldclothehischeekuponhearingtheavowalsealedhislips。

"Notnow，atleast，"hethought，"orinthispresence，willI

affordhimsorichatriumph。"Andpressinghislipsclosetogether，hestoodfirmandcollected，attentivetoeachwordwhichVarneyuttered，anddeterminedtohidetothelastthesecretonwhichhiscourt—favourseemedtodepend。Meanwhile，theQueenproceededinherexaminationofVarney。

"Lovepassages！"saidshe，echoinghislastwords;"whatpassages，thouknave？andwhynotaskthewench\'shandfromherfather，ifthouhadstanyhonestyinthyloveforher？"

"AnitpleaseyourGrace，"saidVarney，stillonhisknees，"I

darednotdoso，forherfatherhadpromisedherhandtoagentlemanofbirthandhonour——Iwilldohimjustice，thoughI

knowhebearsmeill—will——oneMasterEdmundTressilian，whomI

nowseeinthepresence。"

"Soh！"repliedtheQueen。"Andwhatwasyourrighttomakethesimplefoolbreakherworthyfather\'scontract，throughyourlovePASSAGES，asyourconceitandassurancetermsthem？"

"Madam，"repliedVarney，"itisinvaintopleadthecauseofhumanfrailtybeforeajudgetowhomitisunknown，orthatoflovetoonewhoneveryieldstothepassion"——hepausedaninstant，andthenadded，inaverylowandtimidtone——"whichsheinflictsuponallothers。"

Elizabethtriedtofrown，butsmiledinherowndespite，assheanswered，"Thouartamarvellouslyimpudentknave。Artthoumarriedtothegirl？"

Leicester\'sfeelingsbecamesocomplicatedandsopainfullyintense，thatitseemedtohimasifhislifewastodependontheanswermadebyVarney，who，afteramoment\'srealhesitation，answered，"Yes。"

"Thoufalsevillain！"saidLeicester，burstingforthintorage，yetunabletoaddanotherwordtothesentencewhichhehadbegunwithsuchemphaticpassion。

"Nay，mylord，"saidtheQueen，"wewill，byyourleave，standbetweenthisfellowandyouranger。Wehavenotyetdonewithhim。——Knewyourmaster，myLordofLeicester，ofthisfairworkofyours？Speaktruth，Icommandthee，andIwillbethywarrantfromdangeroneveryquarter。"

"Graciousmadam，"saidVarney，"tospeakHeaven\'struth，mylordwasthecauseofthewholematter。"

"Thouvillain，wouldstthoubetrayme？"saidLeicester。

"Speakon，"saidtheQueenhastily，hercheekcolouring，andhereyessparkling，assheaddressedVarney——"speakon。Herenocommandsareheardbutmine。"

"Theyareomnipotent，graciousmadam，"repliedVarney;"andtoyoutherecanbenosecrets。——YetIwouldnot，"headded，lookingaroundhim，"speakofmymaster\'sconcernstootherears。"

"Fallback，mylords，"saidtheQueentothosewhosurroundedher，"anddoyouspeakon。WhathaththeEarltodowiththisguiltyintrigueofthine？See，fellow，thatthoubeliesthimnot！"

"Farbeitfrommetotraducemynoblepatron，"repliedVarney;

"yetIamcompelledtoownthatsomedeep，overwhelming，yetsecretfeelinghathoflatedweltinmylord\'smind，hathabstractedhimfromthecaresofthehouseholdwhichhewaswonttogovernwithsuchreligiousstrictness，andhathleftusopportunitiestodofollies，ofwhichtheshame，asinthiscase，partlyfallsuponourpatron。Withoutthis，Ihadnothadmeansorleisuretocommitthefollywhichhasdrawnonmehisdispleasure——theheaviesttoendurebymewhichIcouldbyanymeansincur，savingalwaystheyetmoredreadedresentmentofyourGrace。"

"Andinthissense，andnoother，hathhebeenaccessorytothyfault？"saidElizabeth。

"Surely，madam，innoother，"repliedVarney;"butsincesomewhathathchancedtohim，hecanscarcebecalledhisownman。Lookathim，madam，howpaleandtremblinghestands！howunlikehisusualmajestyofmanner！——yetwhathashetofearfromaughtI

cansaytoyourHighness？Ah！madam，sincehereceivedthatfatalpacket！"

"Whatpacket，andfromwhence？"saidtheQueeneagerly。

"Fromwhence，madam，Icannotguess;butIamsoneartohispersonthatIknowhehaseversinceworn，suspendedaroundhisneckandnexttohisheart，thatlockofhairwhichsustainsasmallgoldenjewelshapedlikeaheart。Hespeakstoitwhenalone——hepartsnotfromitwhenhesleeps——noheatheneverworshippedanidolwithsuchdevotion。"

"Thouartapryingknavetowatchthymastersoclosely，"saidElizabeth，blushing，butnotwithanger;"andatattlingknavetotelloveragainhisfooleries。——Whatcolourmightthebraidofhairbethatthoupratestof？"

Varneyreplied，"Apoet，madam，mightcallitathreadfromthegoldenwebwroughtbyMinerva;buttomythinkingitwaspalerthaneventhepurestgold——morelikethelastpartingsunbeamofthesoftestdayofspring。"

"Why，youareapoetyourself，MasterVarney，"saidtheQueen，smiling。"ButIhavenotgeniusquickenoughtofollowyourraremetaphors。Lookroundtheseladies——isthere"——（shehesitated，andendeavouredtoassumeanairofgreatindifference）——"istherehere，inthispresence，anylady，thecolourofwhosehairremindstheeofthatbraid？Methinks，withoutpryingintomyLordofLeicester\'samoroussecrets，IwouldfainknowwhatkindoflocksarelikethethreadofMinerva\'sweb，orthe——whatwasit？——thelastraysoftheMay—daysun。"

Varneylookedroundthepresence—chamber，hiseyetravellingfromoneladytoanother，untilatlengthitrestedupontheQueenherself，butwithanaspectofthedeepestveneration。"Iseenotresses，"hesaid，"inthispresence，worthyofsuchsimilies，unlesswhereIdarenotlookonthem。"

"How，sirknave？"saidtheQueen;"dareyouintimate——"

"Nay，madam，"repliedVarney，shadinghiseyeswithhishand，"itwasthebeamsoftheMay—daysunthatdazzledmyweakeyes。"

"Goto——goto，"saidtheQueen;"thouartafoolishfellow"——andturningquicklyfromhimshewalkeduptoLeicester。

Intensecuriosity，mingledwithallthevarioushopes，fears，andpassionswhichinfluencecourtfaction，hadoccupiedthepresence—chamberduringtheQueen\'sconferencewithVarney，asifwiththestrengthofanEasterntalisman。Mensuspendedevery，eventheslightestexternalmotion，andwouldhaveceasedtobreathe，hadNaturepermittedsuchanintermissionofherfunctions。Theatmospherewascontagious，andLeicester，whosawallaroundwishingorfearinghisadvancementorhisfallforgotallthatlovehadpreviouslydictated，andsawnothingfortheinstantbutthefavourordisgracewhichdependedonthenodofElizabethandthefidelityofVarney。Hesummonedhimselfhastily，andpreparedtoplayhispartinthescenewhichwasliketoensue，when，ashejudgedfromtheglanceswhichtheQueenthrewtowardshim，Varney\'scommunications，betheywhattheymight，wereoperatinginhisfavour。Elizabethdidnotlongleavehimindoubt;forthemorethanfavourwithwhichsheaccostedhimdecidedhistriumphintheeyesofhisrival，andoftheassembledcourtofEngland。"ThouhastapratingservantofthissameVarney，mylord，"shesaid;"itisluckyyoutrusthimwithnothingthatcanhurtyouinouropinion，forbelieveme，hewouldkeepnocounsel。"

"FromyourHighness，"saidLeicester，droppinggracefullyononeknee，"itweretreasonheshould。Iwouldthatmyheartitselflaybeforeyou，barerthanthetongueofanyservantcouldstripit。"

"What，mylord，"saidElizabeth，lookingkindlyuponhim，"istherenoonelittlecorneroverwhichyouwouldwishtospreadaveil？Ah！Iseeyouareconfusedatthequestion，andyourQueenknowssheshouldnotlooktoodeeplyintoherservants\'

motivesfortheirfaithfulduty，lestsheseewhatmight，oratleastoughtto，displeaseher。"

Relievedbytheselastwords，Leicesterbrokeoutintoatorrentofexpressionsofdeepandpassionateattachment，whichperhaps，atthatmoment，werenotaltogetherfictitious。ThemingledemotionswhichhadatfirstovercomehimhadnowgivenwaytotheenergeticvigourwithwhichhehaddeterminedtosupporthisplaceintheQueen\'sfavour;andneverdidheseemtoElizabethmoreeloquent，morehandsome，moreinteresting，thanwhile，kneelingatherfeet，heconjuredhertostriphimofallhisdower，buttoleavehimthenameofherservant。——"TakefromthepoorDudley，"heexclaimed，"allthatyourbountyhasmadehim，andbidhimbethepoorgentlemanhewaswhenyourGracefirstshoneonhim;leavehimnomorethanhiscloakandhissword，butlethimstillboasthehas——whatinwordordeedheneverforfeited——theregardofhisadoredQueenandmistress！"

"No，Dudley！"saidElizabeth，raisinghimwithonehand，whilesheextendedtheotherthathemightkissit。"Elizabethhathnotforgottenthat，whilstyouwereapoorgentleman，despoiledofyourhereditaryrank，shewasaspooraprincess，andthatinhercauseyouthenventuredallthatoppressionhadleftyou——

yourlifeandhonour。Rise，mylord，andletmyhandgo——rise，andbewhatyouhaveeverbeen，thegraceofourcourtandthesupportofourthrone！Yourmistressmaybeforcedtochideyourmisdemeanours，butneverwithoutowningyourmerits。——AndsohelpmeGod，"sheadded，turningtotheaudience，who，withvariousfeelings，witnessedthisinterestingscene——"sohelpmeGod，gentlemen，asIthinkneversovereignhadatruerservantthanI

haveinthisnobleEarl！"

AmurmurofassentrosefromtheLeicestrianfaction，whichthefriendsofSussexdarednotoppose。Theyremainedwiththeireyesfixedontheground，dismayedaswellasmortifiedbythepublicandabsolutetriumphoftheiropponents。Leicester\'sfirstuseofthefamiliaritytowhichtheQueenhadsopubliclyrestoredhimwastoaskhercommandsconcerningVarney\'soffence。

"although，"hesaid，"thefellowdeservesnothingfrommebutdispleasure，yet，mightIpresumetointercede——"

"Intruth，wehadforgottenhismatter，"saidtheQueen;"anditwasilldoneofus，whoowejusticetoourmeanestaswellastoourhighestsubject。Wearepleased，mylord，thatyouwerethefirsttorecallthemattertoourmemory。——WhereisTressilian，theaccuser？——lethimcomebeforeus。"

Tressilianappeared，andmadealowandbeseemingreference。Hisperson，aswehaveelsewhereobserved，hadanairofgraceandevenofnobleness，whichdidnotescapeQueenElizabeth\'scriticalobservation。Shelookedathimwith，attentionashestoodbeforeherunabashed，butwithanairofthedeepestdejection。

"Icannotbutgrieveforthisgentleman，"shesaidtoLeicester。

"Ihaveinquiredconcerninghim，andhispresenceconfirmswhatI

heard，thatheisascholarandasoldier，wellaccomplishedbothinartsandarms。Wewomen，mylord，arefancifulinourchoice——Ihadsaidnow，tojudgebytheeye，therewasnocomparisontobeheldbetwixtyourfollowerandthisgentleman。ButVarneyisawell—spokenfellow，and，tosaytruth，thatgoesfarwithusoftheweakersex。——lookyou，MasterTressilian，aboltlostisnotabowbroken。Yourtrueaffection，asIwillholdittobe，hathbeen，itseems，butillrequited;butyouhavescholarship，andyouknowtherehavebeenfalseCressidastobefound，fromtheTrojanwardownwards。Forget，goodsir，thisLadyLighto\'Love——teachyouraffectiontoseewithawisereye。Thiswesaytoyou，morefromthewritingsoflearnedmenthanourownknowledge，being，asweare，farremovedbystationandwillfromtheenlargementofexperienceinsuchidletoysofhumorouspassion。Forthisdame\'sfather，wecanmakehisgriefthelessbyadvancinghisson—in—lawtosuchstationasmayenablehimtogiveanhonourablesupporttohisbride。Thoushaltnotbeforgottenthyself，Tressilian——followourcourt，andthoushaltseethatatrueTroilushathsomeclaimonourgrace。Thinkofwhatthatarch—knaveShakespearesays——aplagueonhim，histoyscomeintomyheadwhenIshouldthinkofothermatters。Stay，howgoesit？

\'Cressidwasyours，tiedwiththebondsofheaven;

Thesebondsofheavenareslipt，dissolved，andloosed，Andwithanotherknotfivefingerstied，ThefragmentsofherfaithareboundtoDiomed。\'

Yousmile，myLordofSouthampton——perchanceImakeyourplayer\'sversehaltthroughmybadmemory。Butletitsufficelettherebenomoreofthismadmatter。"

AndasTressiliankeptthepostureofonewhowouldwillinglybeheard，though，atthesametime，expressiveofthedeepestreverence，theQueenaddedwithsomeimpatience，"Whatwouldthemanhave？Thewenchcannotwedbothofyou？Shehasmadeherelection——notawiseoneperchance——butsheisVarney\'sweddedwife。"

"Mysuitshouldsleepthere，mostgraciousSovereign，"saidTressilian，"andwithmysuitmyrevenge。ButIholdthisVarney\'swordnogoodwarrantforthetruth。"

"Hadthatdoubtbeenelsewhereurged，"answeredVarney，"mysword——"

"THYsword！"interruptedTressilianscornfully;"withherGrace\'sleave，myswordshallshow——"

"Peace，youknaves，both！"saidtheQueen;"knowyouwhereyouare？——Thiscomesofyourfeuds，mylords，"sheadded，lookingtowardsLeicesterandSussex;"yourfollowerscatchyourownhumour，andmustbandyandbrawlinmycourtandinmyverypresence，likesomanyMatamoros。——Lookyou，sirs，hethatspeaksofdrawingswordsinanyotherquarrelthanmineorEngland\'s，byminehonour，I\'llbracelethimwithironbothonwristandankle！"Shethenpausedaminute，andresumedinamildertone，"Imustdojusticebetwixttheboldandmutinousknavesnotwithstanding。——MyLordofLeicester，willyouwarrantwithyourhonour——thatis，tothebestofyourbelief——thatyourservantspeakstruthinsayinghehathmarriedthisAmyRobsart？"

Thiswasahome—thrust，andhadnearlystaggeredLeicester。Buthehadnowgonetoofartorecede，andanswered，afteramoment\'shesitation，"Tothebestofmybelief——indeedonmycertainknowledge——sheisaweddedwife。"

"Graciousmadam，"saidTressilian，"mayIyetrequesttoknow，whenandunderwhatcircumstancesthisallegedmarriage——"

"Out，sirrah，"answeredtheQueen;"ALLEGEDmarriage！HaveyounotthewordofthisillustriousEarltowarrantthetruthofwhathisservantsays？Butthouartaloser——thinkestthyselfsuchatleast——andthoushalthaveindulgence;wewilllookintothematterourselfmoreatleisure。——MyLordofLeicester，I

trustyourememberwemeantotastethegoodcheerofyourCastleofKenilworthonthisweekensuing。Wewillprayyoutobidourgoodandvaluedfriend，theEarlofSussex，toholdcompanywithusthere。"

"IfthenobleEarlofSussex，"saidLeicester，bowingtohisrivalwiththeeasiestandwiththemostgracefulcourtesy，"willsofarhonourmypoorhouse，IwillholditanadditionalproofoftheamicableregarditisyourGrace\'sdesireweshouldentertaintowardseachother。"

Sussexwasmoreembarrassed。"Ishould，"saidhe，"madam，bebutaclogonyourgayerhours，sincemylatesevereillness。"

"Andhaveyoubeenindeedsoveryill？"saidElizabeth，lookingonhimwithmoreattentionthanbefore;"youare，infaith，strangelyaltered，anddeeplyamIgrievedtoseeit。Butbeofgoodcheer——wewillourselveslookafterthehealthofsovaluedaservant，andtowhomweowesomuch。Mastersshallorderyourdiet;andthatweourselvesmayseethatheisobeyed，youmustattendusinthisprogresstoKenilworth。"

Thiswassaidsoperemptorily，andatthesametimewithsomuchkindness，thatSussex，howeverunwillingtobecometheguestofhisrival，hadnoresourcebuttobowlowtotheQueeninobediencetohercommands，andtoexpresstoLeicester，withbluntcourtesy，thoughmingledwithembarrassment，hisacceptanceofhisinvitation。AstheEarlsexchangedcomplimentsontheoccasion，theQueensaidtoherHighTreasurer，"Methinks，mylord，thecountenancesoftheseourtwonoblepeersresemblethoseofthetwofamedclassicstreams，theonesodarkandsad，theothersofairandnoble。MyoldMasterAschamwouldhavechidmeforforgettingtheauthor。ItisCaesar，asIthink。

SeewhatmajesticcalmnesssitsonthebrowofthenobleLeicester，whileSussexseemstogreethimasifhedidourwillindeed，butnotwillingly。"

"ThedoubtofyourMajesty\'sfavour，"answeredtheLordTreasurer，"mayperchanceoccasionthedifference，whichdoesnot——aswhatdoes？——escapeyourGrace\'seye。"

"Suchdoubtwereinjurioustous，mylord，"repliedtheQueen。

"Weholdbothtobenearanddeartous，andwillwithimpartialityemploybothinhonourableserviceforthewealofourkingdom。Butwewillbreaktheirfurtherconferenceatpresent。——MyLordsofSussexandLeicester，wehaveawordmorewithyou。\'TressilianandVarneyarenearyourpersons——youwillseethattheyattendyouatKenilworth。AndasweshallthenhavebothParisandMenelauswithinourcall，sowewillhavethesamefairHelenalso，whoseficklenesshascausedthisbroil。——

Varney，thywifemustbeatKenilworth，andforthcomingatmyorder。——MyLordofLeicester，weexpectyouwilllooktothis。"

TheEarlandhisfollowerbowedlowandraisedtheirheads，withoutdaringtolookattheQueen，orateachother，forbothfeltattheinstantasifthenetsandtoilswhichtheirownfalsehoodhadwovenwereintheactofclosingaroundthem。TheQueen，however，observednottheirconfusion，butproceededtosay，"MyLordsofSussexandLeicester，werequireyourpresenceattheprivy—counciltobepresentlyheld，wheremattersofimportancearetobedebated。Wewillthentakethewaterforourdivertisement，andyou，mylords，willattendus。——Andthatremindsusofacircumstance。——Doyou，SirSquireoftheSoiledCassock"（distinguishingRaleighbyasmile），"failnottoobservethatyouaretoattendusonourprogress。Youshallbesuppliedwithsuitablemeanstoreformyourwardrobe。"

Andsoterminatedthiscelebratedaudience，inwhich，asthroughoutherlife，Elizabethunitedtheoccasionalcapriceofhersexwiththatsenseandsoundpolicyinwhichneithermannorwomaneverexcelledher。

CHAPTERXVII。

Well，then——ourcourseischosen——spreadthesail——

Heaveoftthelead，andmarkthesoundingswell——

Looktothehelm，goodmaster——manyashoalMarksthissterncoast，androcks，wheresitstheSiren，Who，likeambition，luresmentotheirruin。THESHIPWRECK。

Duringthebriefintervalthattookplacebetwixtthedismissaloftheaudienceandthesittingoftheprivy—council，Leicesterhadtimetoreflectthathehadthatmorningsealedhisownfate。

"Itwasimpossibleforhimnow，"hethought，"afterhaving，inthefaceofallthatwashonourableinEngland，pledgedhistruth（thoughinanambiguousphrase）forthestatementofVarney，tocontradictordisavowit，withoutexposinghimself，notmerelytothelossofcourt—favour，buttothehighestdispleasureoftheQueen，hisdeceivedmistress，andtothescornandcontemptatonceofhisrivalandofallhiscompeers。"Thiscertaintyrushedatonceonhismind，togetherwithallthedifficultieswhichhewouldnecessarilybeexposedtoinpreservingasecretwhichseemednowequallyessentialtohissafety，tohispower，andtohishonour。Hewassituatedlikeonewhowalksuponicereadytogivewayaroundhim，andwhoseonlysafetyconsistsinmovingonwards，byfirmandunvacillatingsteps。TheQueen\'sfavour，topreservewhichhehadmadesuchsacrifices，mustnowbesecuredbyallmeansandatallhazards;itwastheonlyplankwhichhecouldclingtointhetempest。Hemustsettlehimself，therefore，tothetaskofnotonlypreserving，butaugmentingtheQueen\'spartiality——hemustbethefavouriteofElizabeth，oramanutterlyshipwreckedinfortuneandinhonour。Allotherconsiderationsmustbelaidasideforthemoment，andherepelledtheintrusivethoughtswhichforcedonhismindtheimageof，Amy，bysayingtohimselftherewouldbetimetothinkhereafterhowhewastoescapefromthelabyrinthultimately，sincethepilotwhoseesaScyllaunderhisbowsmustnotforthetimethinkofthemoredistantdangersofCharybdis。

InthismoodtheEarlofLeicesterthatdayassumedhischairatthecounciltableofElizabeth;andwhenthehoursofbusinesswereover，inthissamemooddidheoccupyanhonouredplacenearherduringherpleasureexcursionontheThames。Andneverdidhedisplaytomoreadvantagehispowersasapoliticianofthefirstrank，orhispartsasanaccomplishedcourtier。

Itchancedthatinthatday\'scouncilmatterswereagitatedtouchingtheaffairsoftheunfortunateMary，theseventhyearofwhosecaptivityinEnglandwasnowindolefulcurrency。TherehadbeenopinionsinfavourofthisunhappyprincesslaidbeforeElizabeth\'scouncil，andsupportedwithmuchstrengthofargumentbySussexandothers，whodweltmoreuponthelawofnationsandthebreachofhospitalitythan，howeversoftenedorqualified，wasagreeabletotheQueen\'sear。Leicesteradoptedthecontraryopinionwithgreatanimationandeloquence，anddescribedthenecessityofcontinuingthesevererestraintoftheQueenofScots，asameasureessentialtothesafetyofthekingdom，andparticularlyofElizabeth\'ssacredperson，thelightesthairofwhosehead，hemaintained，ought，intheirlordships\'estimation，tobematterofmoredeepandanxiousconcernthanthelifeandfortunesofarival，who，aftersettingupavainandunjustpretencetothethroneofEngland，wasnow，evenwhileinthebosomofhercountry，theconstanthopeandthemeofencouragementtoallenemiestoElizabeth，whetherathomeorabroad。Heendedbycravingpardonoftheirlordships，ifinthezealofspeechhehadgivenanyoffence，buttheQueen\'ssafetywasathemewhichhurriedhimbeyondhisusualmoderationofdebate。

Elizabethchidhim，butnotseverely，fortheweightwhichheattachedundulytoherpersonalinterests;yetsheownedthat，sinceithadbeenthepleasureofHeaventocombinethoseinterestswiththewealofhersubjects，shedidonlyherdutywhensheadoptedsuchmeasuresofself—preservationascircumstancesforceduponher;andifthecouncilintheirwisdomshouldbeofopinionthatitwasneedfultocontinuesomerestraintonthepersonofherunhappysisterofScotland，shetrustedtheywouldnotblameherifsherequestedoftheCountessofShrewsburytouseherwithasmuchkindnessasmightbeconsistentwithhersafekeeping。Andwiththisintimationofherpleasurethecouncilwasdismissed。

Neverwasmoreanxiousandreadywaymadefor"myLordofLeicester，"thanashepassedthroughthecrowdedanteroomstogotowardstheriver—side，inordertoattendherMajestytoherbarge——neverwasthevoiceoftheusherslouder，to"makeroom，makeroomforthenobleEarl"——neverwerethesesignalsmorepromptlyandreverentlyobeyed——neverweremoreanxiouseyesturnedonhimtoobtainaglanceoffavour，orevenofmererecognition，whiletheheartofmanyahumblefollowerthrobbedbetwixtthedesiretoofferhiscongratulations，andthefearofintrudinghimselfonthenoticeofonesoinfinitelyabovehim。

Thewholecourtconsideredtheissueofthisday\'saudience，expectedwithsomuchdoubtandanxiety，asadecisivetriumphonthepartofLeicester，andfeltassuredthattheorbofhisrivalsatellite，ifnotaltogetherobscuredbyhislustre，mustrevolvehereafterinadimmerandmoredistantsphere。Sothoughtthecourtandcourtiers，fromhightolow;andtheyactedaccordingly。

Ontheotherhand，neverdidLeicesterreturnthegeneralgreetingwithsuchreadyandcondescendingcourtesy，orendeavourmoresuccessfullytogather（inthewordsofonewhoatthatmomentstoodatnogreatdistancefromhim）"goldenopinionsfromallsortsofmen。"

ForallthefavouriteEarlhadabowasmileatleast，andoftenakindword。Mostofthesewereaddressedtocourtiers，whosenameshavelonggonedownthetideofoblivion;butsome，tosuchassoundstrangelyinourears，whenconnectedwiththeordinarymattersofhumanlife，abovewhichthegratitudeofposterityhaslongelevatedthem。AfewofLeicester\'sinterlocutorysentencesranasfollows:——

"Poynings，goodmorrow;andhowdoesyourwifeandfairdaughter？

Whycometheynottocourt？——Adams，yoursuitisnaught;theQueenwillgrantnomoremonopolies。ButImayserveyouinanothermatter。——MygoodAldermanAylford，thesuitoftheCity，affectingQueenhithe，shallbeforwardedasfarasmypoorinterestcanserve。——MasterEdmundSpenser，touchingyourIrishpetition，Iwouldwillinglyaidyou，frommylovetotheMuses;

butthouhastnettledtheLordTreasurer。"

"Mylord，"saidthepoet，"wereIpermittedtoexplain——"

"Cometomylodging，Edmund，"answeredtheEarl"notto—morrow，ornextday，butsoon。——Ha，WillShakespeare——wildWill！——thouhastgivenmynephewPhilipSidney，love—powder;hecannotsleepwithoutthyVenusandAdonisunderhispillow！WewillhavetheehangedfortheveriestwizardinEurope。Harkthee，madwag，I

havenotforgottenthymatterofthepatent，andofthebears。"

ThePLAYERbowed，andtheEarlnoddedandpassedon——sothatagewouldhavetoldthetale;inours，perhaps，wemightsaytheimmortalhaddonehomagetothemortal。Thenextwhomthefavouriteaccostedwasoneofhisownzealousdependants。

"Hownow，SirFrancisDenning，"hewhispered，inanswertohisexultingsalutation，"thatsmilehathmadethyfaceshorterbyone—thirdthanwhenIfirstsawitthismorning。——What，MasterBowyer，standyouback，andthinkyouIbearmalice？Youdidbutyourdutythismorning;andifIrememberaughtofthepassagebetwixtus，itshallbeinthyfavour。"

ThentheEarlwasapproached，withseveralfantasticcongees，byapersonquaintlydressedinadoubletofblackvelvet，curiouslyslashedandpinkedwithcrimsonsatin。Alongcock\'sfeatherinthevelvetbonnet，whichheheldinhishand，andanenormousruff;stiffenedtotheextremityoftheabsurdtasteofthetimes，joinedwithasharp，lively，conceitedexpressionofcountenance，seemedtobodyforthavain，harebrainedcoxcomb，andsmallwit;whiletherodheheld，andanassumptionofformalauthority，appearedtoexpresssomesenseofofficialconsequence，whichqualifiedthenaturalpertnessofhismanner。

Aperpetualblush，whichoccupiedratherthesharpnosethanthethincheekofthispersonage，seemedtospeakmoreof"goodlife，"asitwascalled，thanofmodesty;andthemannerinwhichheapproachedtotheEarlconfirmedthatsuspicion。

"Goodeventoyou，MasterRobertLaneham，"saidLeicester，andseemeddesiroustopassforward，withoutfurtherspeech。

"Ihaveasuittoyournoblelordship，"saidthefigure，boldlyfollowinghim。

"Andwhatisit，goodmasterkeeperofthecouncil—chamberdoor？"

"CLERKofthecouncil—chamberdoor，"saidMasterRobertLaneham，withemphasis，bywayofreply，andofcorrection。

"Well，qualifythineofficeasthouwilt，man，"repliedtheEarl;

"whatwouldstthouhavewithme？"

"Simply，"answeredLaneham，"thatyourlordshipwouldbe，asheretofore，mygoodlord，andprocuremelicensetoattendtheSummerProgressuntoyourlordship\'smostbeautifulandall—to—

be—unmatchedCastleofKenilworth。"

"Towhatpurpose，goodMasterLaneham？"repliedtheEarl;

"bethinkyou，myguestsmustneedsbemany。"

"Notsomany，"repliedthepetitioner，"butthatyournoblenesswillwillinglyspareyouroldservitorhiscribandhismess。

Bethinkyou，mylord，hownecessaryisthisrodofminetofrightawayallthoselisteners，whoelsewouldplayatbo—peepwiththehonourablecouncil，andbesearchingforkeyholesandcranniesinthedoorofthechamber，soastorendermystaffasneedfulasafly—flapinabutcher\'sshop。"

"Methinksyouhavefoundoutafly—blowncomparisonforthehonourablecouncil，MasterLaneham，"saidtheEarl;"butseeknotabouttojustifyit。CometoKenilworth，ifyoulist;therewillbestoreoffoolstherebesides，andsoyouwillbefitted。"