\"True——verytrue，\"answeredWayland，forheitwas;\"anexcellentdevice，butmethinkssomethingdangerous——for，sayFostershouldreturn？\"
\"Verypossibleindeed，\"repliedthehost。
\"Orsay，\"continuedWay]and，\"theladyshouldrendermecoldthanksformyexertions？\"
\"Asisnotunlikely，\"repliedGilesGosling。\"ImarvelMasterTressilianwilltakesuchheedofherthatcaresnotforhim。\"
\"IneithercaseIwerefoullysped，\"saidWayland，\"andthereforeIdonot，onthewhole，muchrelishyourdevice。\"
\"Nay，buttakemewithyou，goodmasterserving—man，\"repliedminehost。\"Thisisyourmaster\'sbusiness，andnotmine:，youbestknowtherisktobeencountered，orhowfaryouarewillingtobraveit。Butthatwhichyouwillnotyourselfhazard，youcannotexpectotherstorisk。\"
\"Hold，hold，\"saidWayland;\"tellmebutonething——goesyonderoldmanuptoCumnor？\"
\"Surely，Ithinkso？\"saidthelandlord;\"theirservantsaidhewastotaketheirbaggagethither。Buttheale—taphasbeenaspotentforhimasthesack—spigothasbeenforMichael。\"
\"Itisenough，\"saidWayland，assuminganairofresolution。\"I
willthwartthatoldvillain\'sprojects;myaffrightathisbalefulaspectbeginstoabate，andmyhatredtoarise。Helpmeonwithmypack，goodminehost。——Andlooktothyself，oldAlbumazar;thereisamalignantinfluenceinthyhoroscope，anditgleamsfromtheconstellationUrsaMajor。\"
Sosaying，heassumedhisburden，and，guidedbythelandlordthroughtheposterngateoftheBlackBear，tookthemostprivatewayfromthenceuptoCumnorPlace。
CHAPTERXX。
CLOWN。Youhaveofthesepedlars，thathavemorein\'emthanyou\'dthink，sister。——WINTER\'STALE，ACTIV。，SCENE3。
InhisanxietytoobeytheEarl\'srepeatedchargesofsecrecy，aswellasfromhisownunsocialandmiserlyhabits，AnthonyFosterwasmoredesirous，byhismodeofhousekeeping，toescapeobservationthantoresistintrusivecuriosity。Thus，insteadofanumeroushousehold，tosecurehischarge，anddefendhishouse，hestudiedasmuchaspossibletoeludenoticebydiminishinghisattendants;sothat，unlesswhentherewerefollowersoftheEarl，orofVarney，inthemansion，oneoldmaledomestic，andtwoagedcrones，whoassistedinkeepingtheCountess\'sapartmentsinorder，weretheonlyservantsofthefamily。
ItwasoneoftheseoldwomenwhoopenedthedoorwhenWaylandknocked，andansweredhispetition，tobeadmittedtoexhibithiswarestotheladiesofthefamily，withavolleyofvituperation，couchedinwhatistherecalledtheJOWRINGdialect。Thepedlarfoundthemeansofcheckingthisvociferationbyslippingasilvergroatintoherhand，andintimatingthepresentofsomestuffforacoif，iftheladywouldbuyofhiswares。
\"Godieldthee，formineisawinlittocks。Slocketwiththypackintogharn，mon——herwalksingharn。\"Intothegardensheusheredthepedlaraccordingly，andpointingtoanold，ruinousgardenhouse，said，\"Yonderbe\'sher，mon——yonderbe\'sher。Zhewillbuychangesanzheloikesstuffs。\"
\"ShehasleftmetocomeoffasImay，\"thoughtWayland，asheheardthehagshutthegarden—doorbehindhim。\"Buttheyshallnotbeatme，andtheydarenotmurderme，forsolittletrespass，andbythisfairtwilight。Hangit，Iwillon——abravegeneralneverthoughtofhisretreattillhewasdefeated。Iseetwofemalesintheoldgarden—houseyonder——buthowtoaddressthem？
Stay——WillShakespeare，bemyfriendinneed。IwillgivethematasteofAutolycus。\"Hethensung，withagoodvoice，andbecomingaudacity，thepopularplayhouseditty，——
\"Lawnaswhiteasdrivensnow，Cyprusblackase\'erwascrow，Glovesassweetasdamaskroses，Masksforfacesandfornoses。\"
\"Whathathfortunesentushereforanunwontedsight，Janet？\"
saidthelady。
\"Oneofthosemerchantsofvanity，calledpedlars，\"answeredJanet，demurely，\"whouttershislightwaresinlightermeasures。
ImarveloldDorcaslethimpass。\"
\"Itisaluckychance，girl，\"saidtheCountess;\"weleadaheavylifehere，andthismaywhileoffawearyhour。\"
\"Ay，mygraciouslady，\"saidJanet;\"butmyfather？\"
\"Heisnotmyfather，Janet，norIhopemymaster，\"answeredthelady。\"Isay，callthemanhither——Iwantsomethings。\"
\"Nay，\"repliedJanet，\"yourladyshiphasbuttosaysointhenextpacket，andifEnglandcanfurnishthemtheywillbesent。
Therewillcomemischiefon\'t——pray，dearestlady，letmebidthemanbegone！\"
\"Iwillhavetheebidhimcomehither，\"saidtheCountess;——\"orstay，thouterrifiedfool，Iwillbidhimmyself，andsparetheeachiding。\"
\"Ah！well—a—day，dearestlady，ifthatweretheworst，\"saidJanetsadly;whiletheladycalledtothepedlar，\"Goodfellow，stepforward——undothypack;ifthouhastgoodwares，chancehassenttheehitherformyconvenienceandthyprofit。\"
\"Whatmayyourladyshippleasetolack？\"saidWayland，unstrappinghispack，anddisplayingitscontentswithasmuchdexterityasifhehadbeenbredtothetrade。Indeedhehadoccasionallypursueditinthecourseofhisrovinglife，andnowcommendedhiswareswithallthevolubilityofatrader，andshowedsomeskillinthemainartofplacingpricesuponthem。
\"WhatdoIpleasetolack？\"saidthelady，\"why，consideringI
havenotforsixlongmonthsboughtoneyardoflawnorcambric，oronetrinket，themostinconsiderable，formyownuse，andatmyownchoice，thebetterquestionis，Whathastthougottosell？Layasideformethatcambricpartletandpairofsleeves——andthoseroundellsofgoldfringe，drawnoutwithcyprus——andthatshortcloakofcherry—colouredfinecloth，garnishedwithgoldbuttonsandloops;——isitnotofanabsolutefancy，Janet？\"
\"Nay，mylady，\"repliedJanet，\"ifyouconsultmypoorjudgment，itis，methinks，over—gaudyforagracefulhabit。\"
\"Now，outuponthyjudgment，ifitbenobrighter，wench，\"saidtheCountess。\"Thoushaltwearitthyselfforpenance\'sake;andIpromisetheethegoldbuttons，beingsomewhatmassive，willcomfortthyfather，andreconcilehimtothecherry—colouredbody。Seethathesnapthemnotaway，Janet，andsendthemtobearcompanywiththeimprisonedangelswhichhekeepscaptiveinhisstrong—box。\"
\"MayIprayyourladyshiptosparemypoorfather？\"saidJanet。
\"Nay，butwhyshouldanyonesparehimthatissosparingofhisownnature？\"repliedthelady。——\"Well，buttoourgear。Thatheadgarnitureformyself，andthatsilverbodkinmountedwithpearl;andtakeofftwogownsofthatrussetclothforDorcasandAlison，Janet，tokeeptheoldwretcheswarmagainstwintercomes。——Andstay——hastthounoperfumesandsweetbags，oranyhandsomecastingbottlesofthenewestmode？\"
\"WereIapedlarinearnest，Iwereamademerchant，\"thoughtWayland，ashebusiedhimselftoanswerthedemandswhichshethrongedoneonanother，withtheeagernessofayoungladywhohasbeenlongsecludedfromsuchapleasingoccupation。\"Buthowtobringhertoamoment\'sseriousreflection？\"Thenasheexhibitedhischoicestcollectionofessencesandperfumes，heatoncearrestedherattentionbyobservingthatthesearticleshadalmostrisentodoublevaluesincethemagnificentpreparationsmadebytheEarlofLeicestertoentertaintheQueenandcourtathisprincelyCastleofKenilworth。
\"Ha！\"saidtheCountesshastily;\"thatrumour，then，istrue，Janet。\"
\"Surely，madam，\"answeredWayland;\"andImarvelithathnotreachedyournobleladyship\'sears。TheQueenofEnglandfeastswiththenobleEarlforaweekduringtheSummer\'sProgress;andtherearemanywhowilltellyouEnglandwillhaveaking，andEngland\'sElizabeth——Godsaveher！——ahusband，eretheProgressbeover。\"
\"Theylielikevillains！\"saidtheCountess，burstingforthimpatiently。
\"ForGod\'ssake，madam，consider，\"saidJanet，tremblingwithapprehension;\"whowouldcumberthemselvesaboutpedlar\'stidings？\"
\"Yes，Janet！\"exclaimedtheCountess;\"right，thouhastcorrectedmejustly。Suchreports，blightingthereputationofEngland\'sbrightestandnoblestpeer，canonlyfindcurrencyamongstthemean，theabject，andtheinfamous！\"
\"MayIperish，lady，\"saidWaylandSmith，observingthatherviolencedirecteditselftowardshim，\"ifIhavedoneanythingtomeritthisstrangepassion！Ihavesaidbutwhatmanymensay。\"
BythistimetheCountesshadrecoveredhercomposure，andendeavoured，alarmedbytheanxioushintsofJanet，tosuppressallappearanceofdispleasure。\"Iwereloath，\"shesaid，\"goodfellow，thatourQueenshouldchangethevirginstylesodeartousherpeople——thinknotofit。\"Andthen，asifdesiroustochangethesubject，sheadded，\"Andwhatisthispaste，socarefullyputupinthesilverbox？\"assheexaminedthecontentsofacasketinwhichdrugsandperfumeswerecontainedinseparatedrawers。
\"Itisaremedy，Madam，foradisorderofwhichItrustyourladyshipwillneverhavereasontocomplain。Theamountofasmallturkey—bean，swalloweddailyforaweek，fortifiestheheartagainstthoseblackvapourswhicharisefromsolitude，melancholy，unrequitedaffection，disappointedhope——\"
\"Areyouafool，friend？\"saidtheCountesssharply;\"ordoyouthink，becauseIhavegood—naturedlypurchasedyourtrumperygoodsatyourroguishprices，thatyoumayputanygulleryyouwillonme？Whoeverheardthataffectionsoftheheartwerecuredbymedicinesgiventothebody？\"
\"Underyourhonourablefavour，\"saidWayland，\"Iamanhonestman，andIhavesoldmygoodsatanhonestprice。Astothismostpreciousmedicine，whenItolditsqualities，Iaskedyounottopurchaseit，sowhyshouldIlietoyou？Isaynotitwillcurearootedaffectionofthemind，whichonlyGodandtimecando;butIsaythatthisrestorativerelievestheblackvapourswhichareengenderedinthebodyofthatmelancholywhichbroodethonthemind。Ihaverelievedmanywithit，bothincourtandcity，andoflateoneMasterEdmundTressilian，aworshipfulgentlemaninCornwall，who，onsomeslightreceived，itwastoldme，wherehehadsethisaffections，wasbroughtintothatstateofmelancholywhichmadehisfriendsalarmedforhislife。\"
Hepaused，andtheladyremainedsilentforsometime，andthenasked，withavoicewhichshestroveinvaintorenderfirmandindifferentinitstone，\"Isthegentlemanyouhavementionedperfectlyrecovered？\"
\"Passably，madam，\"answeredWayland;\"hehathatleastnobodilycomplaint。\"
\"Iwilltakesomeofthemedicine，Janet，\"saidtheCountess。\"I
toohavesometimesthatdarkmelancholywhichovercloudsthebrain。\"
\"Youshallnotdoso，madam，\"saidJanet;\"whoshallanswerthatthisfellowvendswhatiswholesome？\"
\"Iwillmyselfwarrantmygoodfaith，\"saidWayland;andtakingapartofthemedicine，heswalloweditbeforethem。TheCountessnowboughtwhatremained，asteptowhichJanet，byfurtherobjections，onlydeterminedherthemoreobstinately。Sheeventookthefirstdoseupontheinstant，andprofessedtofeelherheartlightenedandherspiritsaugmented——aconsequencewhich，inallprobability，existedonlyinherownimagination。Theladythenpiledthepurchasesshehadmadetogether，flungherpursetoJanet，anddesiredhertocomputetheamount，andtopaythepedlar;whilesheherself，asiftiredoftheamusementsheatfirstfoundinconversingwithhim，wishedhimgoodevening，andwalkedcarelesslyintothehouse，thusdeprivingWaylandofeveryopportunitytospeakwithherinprivate。Hehastened，however，toattemptanexplanationwithJanet。
\"Maiden，\"hesaid，\"thouhastthefaceofonewhoshouldlovehermistress。Shehathmuchneedoffaithfulservice。\"
\"Andwelldeservesitatmyhands，\"repliedJanet;\"butwhatofthat？\"
\"Maiden，IamnotaltogetherwhatIseem，\"saidthepedlar，loweringhisvoice。
\"Thelessliketobeanhonestman，\"saidJanet。
\"Themoreso，\"answeredWayland，\"sinceIamnopedlar。\"
\"Gettheegonetheninstantly，orIwillcallforassistance，\"
saidJanet;\"myfathermusterethisbereturned。\"
\"Donotbesorash，\"saidWayland;\"youwilldowhatyoumayrepentof。Iamoneofyourmistress\'sfriends;andshehadneedofmore，notthatthoushouldstruinthoseshehath。\"
\"HowshallIknowthat？\"saidJanet。
\"Lookmeintheface，\"saidWaylandSmith，\"andseeifthoudostnotreadhonestyinmylooks。\"
Andintruth，thoughbynomeanshandsome，therewasinhisphysiognomythesharp，keenexpressionofinventivegeniusandpromptintellect，which，joinedtoquickandbrillianteyes，awell—formedmouth，andanintelligentsmile，oftengivesgraceandinteresttofeatureswhicharebothhomelyandirregular。
Janetlookedathimwiththeslysimplicityofhersect，andreplied，\"Notwithstandingthyboastedhonesty，friend，andalthoughIamnotaccustomedtoreadandpassjudgmentonsuchvolumesasthouhastsubmittedtomyperusal，IthinkIseeinthycountenancesomethingofthepedlar—somethingofthepicaroon。\"
\"Onasmallscale，perhaps，\"saidWaylandSmith，laughing。\"Butthisevening，orto—morrow，willanoldmancomehitherwiththyfather，whohasthestealthystepofthecat，theshrewdandvindictiveeyeoftherat，thefawningwileofthespaniel，thedeterminedsnatchofthemastiff——ofhimbeware，foryourownsakeandthatofyourdistress。Seeyou，fairJanet，hebringsthevenomoftheaspicundertheassumedinnocenceofthedove。
WhatprecisemischiefhemeditatestowardsyouIcannotguess，butdeathanddiseasehaveeverdoggedhisfootsteps。Saynoughtofthistothymistress;myartsuggeststomethatinherstatethefearofevilmaybeasdangerousasitsoperation。Butseethatshetakemyspecific，for\"（heloweredhisvoice，andspokelowbutimpressivelyinherear）\"itisanantidoteagainstpoison。——Hark，theyenterthegarden！\"
Ineffect，asoundofnoisymirthandloudtalkingapproachedthegardendoor，alarmedbywhichWaylandSmithsprungintothemidstofathicketofovergrownshrubs，whileJanetwithdrewtothegarden—housethatshemightnotincurobservation，andthatshemightatthesametimeconceal，atleastforthepresent，thepurchasesmadefromthesupposedpedlar，whichlayscatteredonthefloorofthesummer—house。
Janet，however，hadnooccasionforanxiety。Herfather，hisoldattendant，LordLeicester\'sdomestic，andtheastrologer，enteredthegardenintumultandinextremeperplexity，endeavouringtoquietLambourne，whosebrainhadnowbecomecompletelyfiredwithliquor，andwhowasoneofthoseunfortunatepersonswho，beingoncestirredwiththevinousstimulus，donotfallasleeplikeotherdrunkards，butremainpartiallyinfluencedbyitformanyhours，untilatlength，bysuccessivedraughts，theyareelevatedintoastateofuncontrollablefrenzy。Likemanymeninthisstatealso，Lambourneneitherlostthepowerofmotion，speech，orexpression;but，onthecontrary，spokewithunwontedemphasisandreadiness，andtoldallthatatanothertimehewouldhavebeenmostdesiroustokeepsecret。
\"What！\"ejaculatedMichael，atthefullextentofhisvoice，\"amItohavenowelcome，nocarouse，whenIhavebroughtfortunetoyourold，ruinousdog—houseintheshapeofadevil\'sally，thatcanchangeslate—shiversintoSpanishdollars？——Here，you，TonyFire—the—Fagot，Papist，Puritan，hypocrite，miser，profligate，devil，compoundedofallmen\'ssins，bowdownandreverencehimwhohasbroughtintothyhousetheverymammonthouworshippest。\"
\"ForGod\'ssake，\"saidFoster，\"speaklow——comeintothehouse——
thoushalthavewine，orwhateverthouwilt。\"
\"No，oldpuckfoist，Iwillhaveithere，\"thunderedtheinebriatedruffian——\"here，ALFRESCO，astheItalianhathit。No，no，Iwillnotdrinkwiththatpoisoningdevilwithindoors，tobechokedwiththefumesofarsenicandquick—silver;IlearnedfromvillainVarneytobewareofthat。\"
\"Fetchhimwine，inthenameofallthefiends！\"saidthealchemist。
\"Aha！andthouwouldstspiceitforme，oldTruepenny，wouldstthounot？Ay，Ishouldhavecopperas，andhellebore，andvitriol，andaquafortis，andtwentydevilishmaterialsbubblinginmybrain—panlikeacharmtoraisethedevilinawitch\'scauldron。Handmetheflaskthyself，oldTonyFire—the—Fagot——andletitbecool——Iwillhavenowinemulledatthepileoftheoldburntbishops。Orstay，letLeicesterbekingifhewill——good——
andVarney，villainVarney，grandvizier——why，excellent！——andwhatshallIbe，then？——why，emperor——EmperorLambourne！Iwillseethischoicepieceofbeautythattheyhavewalledupherefortheirprivatepleasures;Iwillhaveherthisverynighttoservemywine—cupandputonmynightcap。Whatshouldafellowdowithtwowives，werehetwentytimesanEarl？Answermethat，Tonyboy，youoldreprobate，hypocriticaldog，whomGodstruckoutofthebookoflife，buttormentedwiththeconstantwishtoberestoredtoit——youoldbishop—burning，blasphemousfanatic，answermethat。\"
\"Iwillstickmyknifetothehaftinhim，\"saidFoster，inalowtone，whichtrembledwithpassion。
\"FortheloveofHeaven，noviolence！\"saidtheastrologer。\"Itcannotbutbelookedcloselyinto。——Here，honestLambourne，wiltthoupledgemetothehealthofthenobleEarlofLeicesterandMasterRichardVarney？\"
\"Iwill，mineoldAlbumazar——Iwill，mytrustyvenderofratsbane。Iwouldkissthee，minehonestinfractoroftheLexJulia（astheysaidatLeyden），didstthounotflavoursodamnablyofsulphur，andsuchfiendishapothecary\'sstuff。——Heregoesit，upseyes——toVarneyandLeicestertwomorenoblemountingspirits——andmoredark—seeking，deep—diving，high—
flying，malicious，ambitiousmiscreants——well，Isaynomore，butIwillwhetmydaggeronhisheart—sponethatrefusestopledgeme！Andso，mymasters——\"
Thusspeaking，Lambourneexhaustedthecupwhichtheastrologerhadhandedtohim，andwhichcontainednotwine，butdistilledspirits。Hesworehalfanoath，droppedtheemptycupfromhisgrasp，laidhishandonhisswordwithoutbeingabletodrawit，reeled，andfellwithoutsenseormotionintothearmsofthedomestic，whodraggedhimofftohischamber，andputhimtobed。
Inthegeneralconfusion，Janetregainedherlady\'schamberunobserved，tremblinglikeanaspenleaf，butdeterminedtokeepsecretfromtheCountessthedreadfulsurmiseswhichshecouldnothelpentertainingfromthedrunkenravingsofLambourne。Herfears，however，thoughtheyassumednocertainshape，keptpacewiththeadviceofthepedlar;andsheconfirmedhermistressinherpurposeoftakingthemedicinewhichhehadrecommended，fromwhichitisprobableshewouldotherwisehavedissuadedher。
NeitherhadtheseintimationsescapedtheearsofWayland，whoknewmuchbetterhowtointerpretthem。HefeltmuchcompassionatbeholdingsolovelyacreatureastheCountess，andwhomhehadfirstseeninthebosomofdomestichappiness，exposedtothemachinationsofsuchagangofvillains。Hisindignation，too，hadbeenhighlyexcitedbyhearingthevoiceofhisoldmaster，againstwhomhefelt，inequaldegree，thepassionsofhatredandfear。Henourishedalsoaprideinhisownartandresources;
and，dangerousasthetaskwas，hethatnightformedadeterminationtoattainthebottomofthemystery，andtoaidthedistressedlady，ifitwereyetpossible。FromsomewordswhichLambournehaddroppedamonghisravings，Waylandnow，forthefirsttime，feltinclinedtodoubtthatVarneyhadactedentirelyonhisownaccountinwooingandwinningtheaffectionsofthisbeautifulcreature。Fameassertedofthiszealousretainerthathehadaccommodatedhislordinformerloveintrigues;anditoccurredtoWaylandSmiththatLeicesterhimselfmightbethepartychieflyinterested。HermarriagewiththeEarlhecouldnotsuspect;buteventhediscoveryofsuchapassingintriguewithaladyofMistressAmyRobsart\'srankwasasecretofthedeepestimportancetothestabilityofthefavourite\'spoweroverElizabeth。\"IfLeicesterhimselfshouldhesitatetostiflesucharumourbyverystrangemeans，\"saidhetohimself，\"hehasthoseabouthimwhowoulddohimthatfavourwithoutwaitingforhisconsent。IfIwouldmeddleinthisbusiness，itmustbeinsuchguiseasmyoldmasteruseswhenhecompoundshismannaofSatan，andthatiswithaclosemaskonmyface。SoIwillquitGilesGoslingto—morrow，andchangemycourseandplaceofresidenceasoftenasahuntedfox。IshouldliketoseethislittlePuritan，too，oncemore。ShelooksbothprettyandintelligenttohavecomeofsuchacaitiffasAnthonyFire—the—
Fagot。\"
GilesGoslingreceivedtheadieusofWaylandratherjoyfullythanotherwise。ThehonestpublicansawsomuchperilincrossingthecourseoftheEarlofLeicester\'sfavouritethathisvirtuewasscarceabletosupporthiminthetask，andhewaswellpleasedwhenitwaslikelytoberemovedfromhisshouldersstill，however，professinghisgood—will，andreadiness，incaseofneed，todoMr。Tressilianorhisemissaryanyservice，insofarasconsistedwithhischaracterofapublican。
CHAPTERXXI。
Vaultingambition，thato\'erleapsitself，Andfallsont\'otherside。MACBETH。
ThesplendouroftheapproachingrevelsatKenilworthwasnowtheconversationthroughallEngland;andeverythingwascollectedathome，orfromabroad，whichcouldaddtothegaietyorgloryofthepreparedreceptionofElizabethatthehouseofhermostdistinguishedfavourite，MeantimeLeicesterappeareddailytoadvanceintheQueen\'sfavour。Hewasperpetuallybyhersideincouncil——willinglylistenedtointhemomentsofcourtlyrecreation——favouredwithapproacheseventofamiliarintimacy——
lookeduptobyallwhohadaughttohopeatcourt——courtedbyforeignministerswiththemostflatteringtestimoniesofrespectfromtheirsovereigns，——theALTEREGO，asitseemed，ofthestatelyElizabeth，whowasnowverygenerallysupposedtobestudyingthetimeandopportunityforassociatinghim，bymarriage，intohersovereignpower。
Amidsuchatideofprosperity，thisminionoffortuneandoftheQueen\'sfavourwasprobablythemostunhappymanintherealmwhichseemedathisdevotion。HehadtheFairyKing\'ssuperiorityoverhisfriendsanddependants，andsawmuchwhichtheycouldnot。Thecharacterofhismistresswasintimatelyknowntohim。Itwashisminuteandstudiedacquaintancewithherhumours，aswellashernoblefaculties，which，joinedtohispowerfulmentalqualities，andhiseminentexternalaccomplishments，hadraisedhimsohighinherfavour;anditwasthatveryknowledgeofherdispositionwhichledhimtoapprehendateveryturnsomesuddenandoverwhelmingdisgrace。Leicesterwaslikeapilotpossessedofachartwhichpointsouttohimallthepeculiaritiesofhisnavigation，butwhichexhibitssomanyshoals，breakers，andreefsofrocks，thathisanxiouseyereapslittlemorefromobservingthemthantobeconvincedthathisfinalescapecanbelittleelsethanmiraculous。
Infact，QueenElizabethhadacharacterstrangelycompoundedofthestrongestmasculinesense，withthosefoibleswhicharechieflysupposedpropertothefemalesex。Hersubjectshadthefullbenefitofhervirtues，whichfarpredominatedoverherweaknesses;buthercourtiers，andthoseaboutherperson，hadoftentosustainsuddenandembarrassingturnsofcaprice，andthesalliesofatemperwhichwasbothjealousanddespotic。Shewasthenursing—motherofherpeople，butshewasalsothetruedaughterofHenryVIII。;andthoughearlysufferingsandanexcellenteducationhadrepressedandmodified，theyhadnotaltogetherdestroyed，thehereditarytemperofthat\"hard—ruledking。\"\"Hermind，\"saysherwittygodson，SirJohnHarrington，whohadexperiencedboththesmilesandthefrownswhichhedescribes，\"wasofttimelikethegentleairthatcomethfromthewesternpointinasummer\'smorn——\'twassweetandrefreshingtoallaroundher。Herspeechdidwinallaffections。Andagain，shecouldputforthsuchalterations，whenobediencewaslacking，asleftnodoubtingWHOSEdaughtershewas。Whenshesmiled，itwasapuresunshine，thateveryonedidchoosetobaskin，iftheycould;butanoncameastormfromasuddengatheringofclouds，andthethunderfellinawondrousmanneronallalike。\"
[NugaeAntiquae，vol。i。，pp。355，356—362。]
Thisvariabilityofdisposition，asLeicesterwellknew，waschieflyformidabletothosewhohadashareintheQueen\'saffections，andwhodependedratheronherpersonalregardthanontheindispensableserviceswhichtheycouldrendertohercouncilsandhercrown。ThefavourofBurleighorofWalsingham，ofadescriptionfarlessstrikingthanthatbywhichhewashimselfupheld，wasfounded，asLeicesterwaswellaware，onElizabeth\'ssolidjudgment，notonherpartiality，andwas，therefore，freefromallthoseprinciplesofchangeanddecaynecessarilyincidenttothatwhichchieflyarosefrompersonalaccomplishmentsandfemalepredilection。ThesegreatandsagestatesmenwerejudgedofbytheQueenonlywithreferencetothemeasurestheysuggested，andthereasonsbywhichtheysupportedtheiropinionsincouncil;whereasthesuccessofLeicester\'scoursedependedonallthoselightandchangeablegalesofcapriceandhumourwhichthwartorfavourtheprogressofaloverinthefavourofhismistress，andshe，too，amistresswhowaseverandanonbecomingfearfullestsheshouldforgetthedignity，orcompromisetheauthority，oftheQueen，whilesheindulgedtheaffectionsofthewoman。Ofthedifficultieswhichsurroundedhispower，\"toogreattokeeportoresign，\"Leicesterwasfullysensible;andashelookedanxiouslyroundforthemeansofmaintaininghimselfinhisprecarioussituation，andsometimescontemplatedthoseofdescendingfromitinsafety，hesawbutlittlehopeofeither。Atsuchmomentshisthoughtsturnedtodwelluponhissecretmarriageanditsconsequences;
anditwasinbitternessagainsthimself，ifnotagainsthisunfortunateCountess，thatheascribedtothathastymeasure，adoptedintheardourofwhathenowcalledinconsideratepassion，atoncetheimpossibilityofplacinghispoweronasolidbasis，andtheimmediateprospectofitsprecipitatedownfall。
\"Mensay，\"thusranhisthoughts，intheseanxiousandrepentantmoments，\"thatImightmarryElizabeth，andbecomeKingofEngland。Allthingssuggestthis。Thematchiscarolledinballads，whiletherabblethrowtheircapsup。Ithasbeentoucheduponintheschools——whisperedinthepresence—chamber——
recommendedfromthepulpit——prayedforintheCalvinisticchurchesabroad——touchedonbystatistsintheverycouncilathome。Theseboldinsinuationshavebeenrebuttedbynorebuke，noresentment，nochiding，scarceevenbytheusualfemaleprotestationthatshewouldliveanddieavirginprincess。Herwordshavebeenmorecourteousthanever，thoughsheknowssuchrumoursareabroad——heractionsmoregracious，herlooksmorekind——noughtseemswantingtomakemeKingofEngland，andplacemebeyondthestormsofcourt—favour，exceptingtheputtingforthofmineownhandtotakethatcrownimperialwhichisthegloryoftheuniverse！AndwhenImightstretchthathandoutmostboldly，itisfettereddownbyasecretandinextricablebond！
AndhereIhavelettersfromAmy，\"hewouldsay，catchingthemupwithamovementofpeevishness，\"persecutingmetoacknowledgeheropenly——todojusticetoherandtomyself——andIwotnotwhat。MethinksIhavedonelessthanjusticetomyselfalready。
AndshespeaksasifElizabethweretoreceivetheknowledgeofthismatterwiththegleeofamotherhearingofthehappymarriageofahopefulson！She，thedaughterofHenry，whosparedneithermaninhisangernorwomaninhisdesire——shetofindherselftricked，drawnonwithtoysofpassiontothevergeofacknowledgingherlovetoasubject，andhediscoveredtobeamarriedman！——Elizabethtolearnthatshehadbeendalliedwithinsuchfashion，asagaycourtiermighttriflewithacountrywench——weshouldthensee，toourruin，FURENSQUIDFAEMINA！\"
Hewouldthenpause，andcallforVarney，whoseadvicewasnowmorefrequentlyresortedtothanever，becausetheEarlrememberedtheremonstranceswhichhehadmadeagainsthissecretcontract。Andtheirconsultationusuallyterminatedinanxiousdeliberationhow，orinwhatmanner，theCountesswastobeproducedatKenilworth。ThesecommuningshadforsometimeendedalwaysinaresolutiontodelaytheProgressfromdaytoday。
Butatlengthaperemptorydecisionbecamenecessary。