\"Oh，Ihaveheardthetalefivehundredtimes，\"saidLambourne，\"andhowtheghostisalwaysmostvociferouswhentheyboilleeksandstirabout，orfrytoastedcheese，intheculinaryregions。
SantoDiavolo，man，holdthytongue，Iknowallaboutit！\"
\"Ay，butthoudostnot，though，\"saidtheturnkey，\"foraswiseasthouwouldstmakethyself。Ah，itisanawfulthingtomurderaprisonerinhisward！——youthatmayhavegivenamanastabinadarkstreetknownothingofit。Togiveamutinousfellowaknockontheheadwiththekeys，andbidhimbequiet，that\'swhatIcallkeepingorderintheward;buttodrawweaponandslayhim，aswasdonetothisWelshlord，THATraisesyouaghostthatwillrenderyourprison—houseuntenantablebyanydecentcaptiveforsomehundredyears。AndIhavethatregardformyprisoners，poorthings，thatIhaveputgoodsquiresandmenofworship，thathavetakenarideonthehighway，orslanderedmyLordofLeicester，orthelike，fiftyfeetunderground，ratherthanIwouldputthemintothatupperchamberyonderthattheycallMervyn\'sBower。Indeed，bygoodSaintPeteroftheFetters，Imarvelmynoblelord，orMasterVarney，couldthinkoflodginggueststhere;andifthisMasterTressiliancouldgetanyonetokeephimcompany，andinespecialaprettywench，why，truly，I
thinkhewasintherighton\'t。\"
\"Itellthee，\"saidLambourne，leadingthewayintotheturnkey\'sapartment，\"thouartanass。Goboltthewicketonthestair，andtroublenotthynoddleaboutghosts。Givemethewinestoup，man;Iamsomewhatheatedwithchafingwithyonderrascal。\"
WhileLambournedrewalongdraughtfromapitcherofclaret，whichhemadeuseofwithoutanycup，thewarderwenton，vindicatinghisownbeliefinthesupernatural。
\"ThouhastbeenfewhoursinthisCastle，andhastbeenforthewholespacesodrunk，Lambourne，thatthouartdeaf，dumb，andblind。Butweshouldhearlessofyourbraggingwereyoutopassanightwithusatfullmoon;forthentheghostisbusiest，andmoreespeciallywhenarattlingwindsetsinfromthenorth—west，withsomesprinklingofrain，andnowandthenagrowlofthunder。Bodyo\'me，whatcrackingsandclashings，whatgroaningsandwhathowlings，willtherebeatsuchtimesinMervyn\'sBower，rightasitwereoverourheads，tillthematteroftwoquartsofdistilledwatershasnotbeenenoughtokeepmyladsandmeinsomeheart！\"
\"Pshaw，man！\"repliedLambourne，onwhomhislastdraught，joinedtorepeatedvisitationsofthepitcheruponformeroccasions，begantomakesomeinnovation，\"thouspeakestthouknowestnotwhataboutspirits。Nooneknowsjustlywhattosayaboutthem;and，inshort，leastsaidmayinthatmatterbesoonestamended。Somemenbelieveinonething，someinanother——itisallmatteroffancy。Ihaveknownthemofallsorts，mydearLawrenceLock—the—door，andsensiblementoo。There\'sagreatlord——we\'llpasshisname，Lawrence——hebelievesinthestarsandthemoon，theplanetsandtheircourses，andsoforth，andthattheytwinkleexclusivelyforhisbenefit，wheninsober，orratherindrunkentruth，Lawrence，theyareonlyshiningtokeephonestfellowslikemeoutofthekennel。Well，sir，lethishumourpass;heisgreatenoughtoindulgeit。Then，lookye，thereisanother——averylearnedman，Ipromiseyou，andcanventGreekandHebrewasfastasIcanThieves\'Latinhehasanhumourofsympathiesandantipathies——ofchangingleadintogold，andthelike;why，via，letthatpasstoo，andlethimpaythoseintransmigratedcoinwhoarefoolsenoughtoletitbecurrentwiththem。Thenherecomestthouthyself，anothergreatman，thoughneitherlearnednornoble，yetfullsixfeethigh，andthou，likeapurblindmole，mustneedsbelieveinghostsandgoblins，andsuchlike。Now，thereis，besides，agreatman——
thatis，agreatlittleman，oralittlegreatman，mydearLawrence——andhisnamebeginswithV，andwhatbelieveshe？Why，nothing，honestLawrence——nothinginearth，heaven，orhell;andformypart，ifIbelievethereisadevil，itisonlybecauseI
thinktheremustbesomeonetocatchouraforesaidfriendbytheback\'whensoulandbodysever，\'astheballadsays;foryourantecedentwillhaveaconsequent——RAROANTECEDENTEM，asDoctorBirchamwaswonttosay。ButthisisGreektoyounow，honestLawrence，andinsoothlearningisdrywork。Handmethepitcheroncemore。\"
\"Infaith，ifyoudrinkmore，Michael，\"saidthewarder，\"youwillbeinsorrycaseeithertoplayArionortowaitonyourmasteronsuchasolemnnight;andIexpecteachmomenttohearthegreatbelltollforthemusteratMortimer\'sTower，toreceivetheQueen。\"
WhileStaplesremonstrated，Lambournedrank;andthensettingdownthepitcher，whichwasnearlyemptied，withadeepsigh，hesaid，inanundertone，whichsoonrosetoahighoneashisspeechproceeded，\"Nevermind，Lawrence;ifIbedrunk，IknowthatshallmakeVarneyupholdmesober。But，asIsaid，nevermind;Icancarrymydrinkdiscreetly。Moreover，IamtogoonthewaterasOrion，andshalltakecoldunlessItakesomethingcomfortablebeforehand。NotplayOrion？Letusseethebestroarerthateverstrainedhislungsfortwelvepenceout—mouthme！Whatiftheyseemealittledisguised？Whereforeshouldanymanbesoberto—night？answermethat。Itismatterofloyaltytobemerry;andItelltheetherearethoseintheCastlewho，iftheyarenotmerrywhendrunk，havelittlechancetobemerrywhensober——Inamenonames，Lawrence。Butyourpottleofsackisafineshoeing—horntopullonaloyalhumour，andamerryone。HuzzaforQueenElizabeth！——forthenobleLeicester！——fortheworshipfulMasterVarney！——andforMichaelLambourne，thatcanturnthemallroundhisfinger！\"
Sosaying，hewalkeddownstairs，andacrosstheinnercourt。
Thewarderlookedafterhim，shookhishead，andwhilehedrewcloseandlockedawicket，which，crossingthestaircase，rendereditimpossibleforanyonetoascendhigherthanthestoryimmediatelybeneathMervyn\'sBower，asTressilian\'schamberwasnamed，hethussoliloquizedwithhimself——\"It\'sagoodthingtobeafavourite。Iwell—nighlostmineoffice，becauseonefrostymorningMasterVarneythoughtIsmelledofaquavitae;andthisfellowcanappearbeforehimdrunkasawineskin，andyetmeetnorebuke。Butthenheisapestilentcleverfellowwithal，andnoonecanunderstandaboveonehalfofwhathesays。\"
CHAPTERXXX。
Nowbidthesteeplerock——shecomes，shecomes！——
Speakforus，bells——speakforus，shrill—tonguedtuckets。
Standtothylinstock，gunner;letthycannonPlaysuchapeal，asifapaynimfoeCamestretch\'dinturban\'drankstostormtheramparts。
Wewillhavepageantstoo——butthatcraveswit，AndI\'marough—hewnsoldier。THEVIRGINQUEEN——ATRAGI—COMEDY。
Tressilian，whenWaylandhadlefthim，asmentionedinthelastchapter，remaineduncertainwhatheoughtnexttodo，whenRaleighandBlountcameuptohimarminarm，yet，accordingtotheirwont，veryeagerlydisputingtogether。Tressilianhadnogreatdesirefortheirsocietyinthepresentstateofhisfeelings，buttherewasnopossibilityofavoidingthem;andindeedhefeltthat，boundbyhispromisenottoapproachAmy，ortakeanystepinherbehalf，itwouldbehisbestcourseatoncetomixwithgeneralsociety，andtoexhibitonhisbrowaslittleashecouldoftheanguishanduncertaintywhichsatheavyathisheart。Hethereforemadeavirtueofnecessity，andhailedhiscomradeswith，\"Allmirthtoyou，gentlemen！Whencecomeye？\"
\"FromWarwick，tobesure，\"saidBlount;\"wemustneedshometochangeourhabits，likepoorplayers，whoarefaintomultiplytheirpersonstooutwardappearancebychangeofsuits;andyouhadbetterdothelike，Tressilian。\"
\"Blountisright，\"saidRaleigh;\"theQueenlovessuchmarksofdeference，andnotices，aswantinginrespect，thosewho，notarrivinginherimmediateattendance，mayappearintheirsoiledandruffledriding—dress。ButlookatBlounthimself，Tressilian，fortheloveoflaughter，andseehowhisvillainoustailorhathapparelledhim——inblue，green，andcrimson，withcarnationribbons，andyellowrosesinhisshoes！\"
\"Why，whatwouldstthouhave？\"saidBlount。\"Itoldthecross—
leggedthieftodohisbest，andsparenocost;andmethinksthesethingsaregayenough——gayerthanthineown。I\'llbejudgedbyTressilian。\"
\"Iagree——Iagree，\"saidWalterRaleigh。\"Judgebetwixtus，Tressilian，fortheloveofheaven！\"
Tressilian，thusappealedto，lookedatthemboth，andwasimmediatelysensibleatasingleglancethathonestBlounthadtakenuponthetailor\'swarrantthepiedgarmentswhichhehadchosentomake，andwasasmuchembarrassedbythequantityofpointsandribbonswhichgarnishedhisdress，asaclownisinhisholidayclothes;whilethedressofRaleighwasawell—
fanciedandrichsuit，whichthewearerboreasagarbtoowelladaptedtohiselegantpersontoattractparticularattention。
Tressiliansaid，therefore，\"ThatBlount\'sdresswasfinest，butRaleigh\'sthebestfancied。\"
Blountwassatisfiedwithhisdecision。\"Iknewminewasfinest，\"hesaid;\"ifthatknaveDoublestitchhadbroughtmehomesuchasimpledoubletasthatofRaleigh\'s，Iwouldhavebeathisbrainsoutwithhisownpressing—iron。Nay，ifwemustbefools，everletusbefoolsofthefirsthead，sayI。\"
\"Butwhygettestthounotonthybraveries，Tressilian？\"saidRaleigh。
\"Iamexcludedfrommyapartmentbyasillymistake，\"saidTressilian，\"andseparatedforthetimefrommybaggage。Iwasabouttoseekthee，tobeseechashareofthylodging。\"
\"Andwelcome，\"saidRaleigh;\"itisanobleone。MyLordofLeicesterhasdoneusthatkindness，andlodgedusinprincelyfashion。Ifhiscourtesybeextortedreluctantly，itisatleastextendedfar。IwouldadviseyoutotellyourstraittotheEarl\'schamberlain——youwillhaveinstantredress。\"
\"Nay，itisnotworthwhile，sinceyoucansparemeroom，\"
repliedTressilian——\"Iwouldnotbetroublesome。Hasanyonecomehitherwithyou？\"
\"Oh，ay，\"saidBlount;\"VarneyandawholetribeofLeicestrians，besidesaboutascoreofushonestSussexfolk。Weareall，itseems，toreceivetheQueenatwhattheycalltheGallery—tower，andwitnesssomefooleriesthere;andthenwe\'retoremaininattendanceupontheQueenintheGreatHall——Godblessthemark！
——whilethosewhoarenowwaitinguponherGracegetridoftheirslough，anddofftheirriding—suits。Heavenhelpme，ifherGraceshouldspeaktome，Ishallneverknowwhattoanswer！\"
\"AndwhathasdetainedthemsolongatWarwick？\"saidTressilian，unwillingthattheirconversationshouldreturntohisownaffairs。
\"Suchasuccessionoffooleries，\"saidBlount，\"aswereneverseenatBartholomew—fair。Wehavehadspeechesandplayers，anddogsandbears，andmenmakingmonkeysandwomenmoppetsofthemselves——ImarveltheQueencouldendureit。Buteverandanoncameinsomethingof\'thelovelylightofhergraciouscountenance，\'orsomesuchtrash。Ah！vanitymakesafoolofthewisest。Butcome，letusontothissameGallery—tower——
thoughIseenotwhatthouTressilian，canstdowiththyriding—
dressandboots。\"
\"Iwilltakemystationbehindthee，Blount，\"saidTressilian，whosawthathisfriend\'sunusualfineryhadtakenastrongholdofhisimagination;\"thygoodlysizeandgaydresswillcovermydefects。\"
\"Andsothoushalt，Edmund，\"saidBlount。\"InfaithIamgladthouthinkestmygarbwell—fancied，forallMr。Wittypatehere;
forwhenonedoesafoolishthing，itisrighttodoithandsomely。\"
Sosaying，Blountcockedhisbeaver，threwouthisleg，andmarchedmanfullyforward，asifattheheadofhisbrigadeofpikemen，everandanonlookingwithcomplaisanceonhiscrimsonstockings，andthehugeyellowroseswhichblossomedonhisshoes。Tressilianfollowed，wraptinhisownsadthoughts，andscarcemindingRaleigh，whosequickfancy，amusedbytheawkwardvanityofhisrespectablefriend，venteditselfinjests，whichhewhisperedintoTressilian\'sear。
Inthismannertheycrossedthelongbridge，ortilt—yard，andtooktheirstation，withothergentlemenofquality，beforetheoutergateoftheGallery，orEntrance—tower。Thewholeamountedtoaboutfortypersons，allselectedasofthefirstrankunderthatofknighthood，andweredisposedindoublerowsoneithersideofthegate，likeaguardofhonour，withintheclosehedgeofpikesandpartisanswhichwasformedbyLeicester\'sretainers，wearinghisliveries。Thegentlemencarriednoarmssavetheirswordsanddaggers。Thesegallantswereasgailydressedasimaginationcoulddevise;andasthegarbofthetimepermittedagreatdisplayofexpensivemagnificence，noughtwastobeseenbutvelvetandclothofgoldandsilver，ribbons，leathers，gems，andgoldenchains。Inspiteofhismoreserioussubjectsofdistress，Tressiliancouldnothelpfeelingthathe，withhisriding—suit，howeverhandsomeitmightbe，maderatheranunworthyfigureamongthese\"fiercevanities，\"andtheratherbecausehesawthathisdeshabillewasthesubjectofwonderamonghisownfriends，andofscornamongthepartisansofLeicester。
Wecouldnotsuppressthisfact，thoughitmayseemsomethingatvariancewiththegravityofTressilian\'scharacter;butthetruthis，thataregardforpersonalappearanceisaspeciesofself—love，fromwhichthewisestarenotexempt，andtowhichthemindclingssoinstinctivelythatnotonlythesoldieradvancingtoalmostinevitabledeath，buteventhedoomedcriminalwhogoestocertainexecution，showsananxietytoarrayhispersontothebestadvantage。Butthisisadigression。
Itwasthetwilightofasummernight（9thJuly，1575），thesunhavingforsometimeset，andallwereinanxiousexpectationoftheQueen\'simmediateapproach。Themultitudehadremainedassembledformanyhours，andtheirnumberswerestillratherontheincrease。Aprofusedistributionofrefreshments，togetherwithroastedoxen，andbarrelsofaleseta—broachindifferentplacesoftheroad，hadkeptthepopulaceinperfectloveandloyaltytowardstheQueenandherfavourite，whichmighthavesomewhatabatedhadfastingbeenaddedtowatching。Theypassedawaythetime，therefore，withtheusualpopularamusementsofwhooping，hallooing，shrieking，andplayingrudetricksuponeachother，formingthechorusofdiscordantsoundsusualonsuchoccasions。Theseprevailedallthroughthecrowdedroadsandfields，andespeciallybeyondthegateoftheChase，wherethegreaternumberofthecommonsortwerestationed;when，allofasudden，asinglerocketwasseentoshootintotheatmosphere，and，attheinstant，farheardoverfloodandfield，thegreatbelloftheCastletolled。
Immediatelytherewasapauseofdeadsilence，succeededbyadeephumofexpectation，theunitedvoiceofmanythousands，noneofwhomspokeabovetheirbreath——or，touseasingularexpression，thewhisperofanimmensemultitude。
\"Theycomenow，forcertain，\"saidRaleigh。\"Tressilian，thatsoundisgrand。Wehearitfromthisdistanceasmariners，afteralongvoyage，hear，upontheirnight—watch，thetiderushuponsomedistantandunknownshore。\"
\"Mass！\"answeredBlount，\"IhearitratherasIusedtohearmineownkinelowingfromthecloseofWittenswestlowe。\"
\"Hewillassuredlygrazepresently，\"saidRaleightoTressilian;
\"histhoughtisalloffatoxenandfertilemeadows。Hegrowslittlebetterthanoneofhisownbeeves，andonlybecomesgrandwhenheisprovokedtopushingandgoring。\"
\"Weshallhavehimatthatpresently，\"saidTressilian，\"ifyousparenotyourwit。\"
\"Tush，Icarenot，\"answeredRaleigh;\"butthoutoo，Tressilian，hastturnedakindofowl，thatfliesonlybynight——hastexchangedthysongsforscreechings，andgoodcompanyforanivy—
tod。\"
\"Butwhatmannerofanimalartthouthyself，Raleigh，\"saidTressilian，\"thatthouholdestusallsolightly？\"
\"Who——I？\"repliedRaleigh。\"AneagleamI，thatneverwillthinkofdullearthwhilethereisaheaventosoarin，andasuntogazeupon。\"
\"Wellbragged，bySaintBarnaby！\"saidBlount;\"but，goodMasterEagle，bewarethecage，andbewarethefowler。ManybirdshaveflownashighthatIhaveseenstuffedwithstrawandhunguptoscarekites。——Buthark，whatadeadsilencehathfallenonthematonce！\"
\"Theprocessionpauses，\"saidRaleigh，\"atthegateoftheChase，whereasibyl，oneoftheFATIDICAE，meetstheQueen，totellherfortune。Isawtheverses;thereislittlesavourinthem，andherGracehasbeenalreadycrammedfullwithsuchpoeticalcompliments。Shewhisperedtome，duringtheRecorder\'sspeechyonder，atFord—mill，assheenteredthelibertiesofWarwick，howshewas\'PERTAESABARBARAELOQUELAE。\'\"
\"TheQueenwhisperedtoHIM！\"saidBlount，inakindofsoliloquy;\"GoodGod，towhatwillthisworldcome！\"
Hisfurthermeditationswereinterruptedbyashoutofapplausefromthemultitude，sotremendouslyvociferousthatthecountryechoedformilesround。Theguards，thicklystationedupontheroadbywhichtheQueenwastoadvance，caughtuptheacclamation，whichranlikewildfiretotheCastle，andannouncedtoallwithinthatQueenElizabethhadenteredtheRoyalChaseofKenilworth。ThewholemusicoftheCastlesoundedatonce，andaroundofartillery，withasalvoofsmallarms，wasdischargedfromthebattlements;butthenoiseofdrumsandtrumpets，andevenofthecannonthemselves，wasbutfaintlyheardamidsttheroaringandreiteratedwelcomesofthemultitude。
Asthenoisebegantoabate，abroadglareoflightwasseentoappearfromthegateofthePark，andbroadeningandbrighteningasitcamenearer，advancedalongtheopenandfairavenuethatledtowardstheGallery—tower;andwhich，aswehavealreadynoticed，waslinedoneitherhandbytheretainersoftheEarlofLeicester。Thewordwaspassedalongtheline，\"TheQueen！TheQueen！Silence，andstandfast！\"Onwardcamethecavalcade，illuminatedbytwohundredthickwaxentorches，inthehandsofasmanyhorsemen，whichcastalightlikethatofbroaddayallaroundtheprocession，butespeciallyontheprincipalgroup，ofwhichtheQueenherself，arrayedinthemostsplendidmanner，andblazingwithjewels，formedthecentralfigure。Shewasmountedonamilk—whitehorse，whichshereinedwithpeculiargraceanddignity;andinthewholeofherstatelyandnoblecarriageyousawthedaughterofanhundredkings。
Theladiesofthecourt，whorodebesideherMajesty，hadtakenespecialcarethattheirownexternalappearanceshouldnotbemoregloriousthantheirrankandtheoccasionaltogetherdemanded，sothatnoinferiorluminarymightappeartoapproachtheorbitofroyalty。Buttheirpersonalcharms，andthemagnificencebywhich，undereveryprudentialrestraint，theywerenecessarilydistinguished，exhibitedthemastheveryflowerofarealmsofarfamedforsplendourandbeauty。Themagnificenceofthecourtiers，freefromsuchrestraintsasprudenceimposedontheladies，wasyetmoreunbounded。
Leicester，whoglitteredlikeagoldenimagewithjewelsandclothofgold，rodeonherMajesty\'srighthand，aswellinqualityofherhostasofhermasterofthehorse。Theblacksteedwhichhemountedhadnotasinglewhitehaironhisbody，andwasoneofthemostrenownedchargersinEurope，havingbeenpurchasedbytheEarlatlargeexpenseforthisroyaloccasion。
Asthenobleanimalchafedattheslowpaceoftheprocession，and，archinghisstatelyneck，champedonthesilverbitswhichrestrainedhim，thefoamflewfromhismouth，andspeckledhiswell—formedlimbsasifwithspotsofsnow。Theriderwellbecamethehighplacewhichheheld，andtheproudsteedwhichhebestrode;fornomaninEngland，orperhapsinEurope，wasmoreperfectthanDudleyinhorsemanship，andallotherexercisesbelongingtohisquality。Hewasbareheadedaswereallthecourtiersinthetrain;andtheredtorchlightshoneuponhislong，curledtressesofdarkhair，andonhisnoblefeatures，tothebeautyofwhicheventheseverestcriticismcouldonlyobjectthelordlyfault，asitmaybetermed，ofaforeheadsomewhattoohigh。Onthatproudeveningthosefeaturesworeallthegratefulsolicitudeofasubject，toshowhimselfsensibleofthehighhonourwhichtheQueenwasconferringonhim，andalltheprideandsatisfactionwhichbecamesogloriousamoment。Yet，thoughneithereyenorfeaturebetrayedaughtbutfeelingswhichsuitedtheoccasion，someoftheEarl\'spersonalattendantsremarkedthathewasunusuallypale，andtheyexpressedtoeachothertheirfearthathewastakingmorefatiguethanconsistedwithhishealth。
Varneyfollowedclosebehindhismaster，astheprincipalesquireinwaiting，andhadchargeofhislordship\'sblackvelvetbonnet，garnishedwithaclaspofdiamondsandsurmountedbyawhiteplume。Hekepthiseyeconstantlyonhismaster，and，forreasonswithwhichthereaderisnotunacquainted，was，amongLeicester\'snumerousdependants，theonewhowasmostanxiousthathislord\'sstrengthandresolutionshouldcarryhimsuccessfullythroughadaysoagitating。ForalthoughVarneywasoneofthefew，theveryfewmoralmonsterswhocontrivetolulltosleeptheremorseoftheirownbosoms，andaredruggedintomoralinsensibilitybyatheism，asmeninextremeagonyarelulledbyopium，yetheknewthatinthebreastofhispatrontherewasalreadyawakenedthefirethatisneverquenched，andthathislordfelt，amidallthepompandmagnificencewehavedescribed，thegnawingofthewormthatdiethnot。Still，however，assuredasLordLeicesterstood，byVarney\'sownintelligence，thathisCountesslabouredunderanindispositionwhichformedanunanswerableapologytotheQueenforhernotappearingatKenilworth，therewaslittledanger，hiswilyretainerthought，thatamansoambitiouswouldbetrayhimselfbygivingwaytoanyexternalweakness。
Thetrain，maleandfemale，whoattendedimmediatelyupontheQueen\'sperson，were，ofcourse，ofthebravestandthefairest——thehighestbornnobles，andthewisestcounsellors，ofthatdistinguishedreign，torepeatwhosenameswerebuttowearythereader。Behindcamealongcrowdofknightsandgentlemen，whoserankandbirth，howeverdistinguished，werethrownintoshade，astheirpersonsintotherearofaprocessionwhosefrontwasofsuchaugustmajesty。
Thusmarshalled，thecavalcadeapproachedtheGallery—tower，whichformed，aswehaveoftenobserved，theextremebarrieroftheCastle。
Itwasnowthepartofthehugeportertostepforward;butthelubbardwassooverwhelmedwithconfusionofspirit——thecontentsofoneimmenseblackjackofdoubleale，whichhehadjustdrunktoquickenhismemory，havingtreacherouslyconfusedthebrainitwasintendedtoclear——thatheonlygroanedpiteously，andremainedsittingonhisstoneseat;andtheQueenwouldhavepassedonwithoutgreeting，hadnotthegiganticwarder\'ssecretally，Flibbertigibbet，wholayperduebehindhim，thrustapinintotherearoftheshortfemoralgarmentwhichweelsewheredescribed。
Theporterutteredasortofyell，whichcamenotamissintohispart，startedupwithhisclub，anddealtasounddouseortwooneachsideofhim;andthen，likeacoach—horseprickedbythespur，startedoffatonceintothefullcareerofhisaddress，andbydintofactivepromptingonthepartofDickieSludge，delivered，insoundsofgiganticintonation，aspeechwhichmaybethusabridged——thereaderbeingtosupposethatthefirstlineswereaddressedtothethrongwhoapproachedthegateway;
theconclusion，attheapproachoftheQueen，uponsightofwhom，asstruckbysomeheavenlyvision，thegiganticwarderdroppedhisclub，resignedhiskeys，andgaveopenwaytotheGoddessofthenight，andallhermagnificenttrain。
\"Whatstir，whatturmoil，haveweforthenones？
Standback，mymasters，orbewareyourbones！
Sirs，I\'mawarder，andnomanofstraw，Myvoicekeepsorder，andmyclubgiveslaw。
Yetsoft——nay，stay——whatvisionhavewehere？
Whatdaintydarling\'sthis——whatpeerlesspeer？
Whatloveliestface，thatlovingranksunfold，Likebrightestdiamondchasedinpurestgold？
Dazzledandblind，mineofficeIforsake，Myclub，mykey，myknee，myhomagetake。
Brightparagon，passoninjoyandbliss;——
Beshrewthegatethatopesnotwideatsuchasightasthis！\"
[ThisisanimitationofGascoigne\'sversesspokenbytheHerculeanporter，asmentionedinthetext。TheoriginalmaybefoundintherepublicationofthePrincelyPleasuresofKenilworth，bythesameauthor，intheHistoryofKenilworthalreadyquoted。Chiswick，1821。]
ElizabethreceivedmostgraciouslythehomageoftheHerculeanporter，and，bendingherheadtohiminrequital，passedthroughhisguardedtower，fromthetopofwhichwaspouredaclamorousblastofwarlikemusic，whichwasrepliedtobyotherbandsofminstrelsyplacedatdifferentpointsontheCastlewalls，andbyothersagainstationedintheChase;whilethetonesoftheone，astheyyetvibratedontheechoes，werecaughtupandansweredbynewharmonyfromdifferentquarters。
Amidsttheseburstsofmusic，which，asiftheworkofenchantment，seemednowcloseathand，nowsoftenedbydistantspace，nowwailingsolowandsweetasifthatdistanceweregraduallyprolongeduntilonlythelastlingeringstrainscouldreachtheear，QueenElizabethcrossedtheGallery—tower，andcameuponthelongbridge，whichextendedfromthencetoMortimer\'sTower，andwhichwasalreadyaslightasday，somanytorcheshadbeenfastenedtothepalisadesoneitherside。Mostofthenoblesherealighted，andsenttheirhorsestotheneighbouringvillageofKenilworth，followingtheQueenonfoot，asdidthegentlemenwhohadstoodinarraytoreceiveherattheGallery—tower。
Onthisoccasion，asatdifferenttimesduringtheevening，RaleighaddressedhimselftoTressilian，andwasnotalittlesurprisedathisvagueandunsatisfactoryanswers;which，joinedtohisleavinghisapartmentwithoutanyassignedreason，appearinginanundresswhenitwaslikelytobeoffensivetotheQueen，andsomeothersymptomsofirregularitywhichhethoughthediscovered，ledhimtodoubtwhetherhisfrienddidnotlabourundersometemporaryderangement。
Meanwhile，theQueenhadnosoonersteppedonthebridgethananewspectaclewasprovided;forassoonasthemusicgavesignalthatshewassofaradvanced，araft，sodisposedastoresembleasmallfloatingisland，illuminatedbyagreatvarietyoftorches，andsurroundedbyfloatingpageantsformedtorepresentsea—horses，onwhichsatTritons，Nereids，andotherfabulousdeitiesoftheseasandrivers，madeitsappearanceuponthelake，andissuingfrombehindasmallheronrywhereithadbeenconcealed，floatedgentlytowardsthefartherendofthebridge。
Ontheisletappearedabeautifulwoman，cladinawatchet—
colouredsilkenmantle，boundwithabroadgirdleinscribedwithcharacterslikethephylacteriesoftheHebrews。Herfeetandarmswerebare，butherwristsandankleswereadornedwithgoldbraceletsofuncommonsize。Amidstherlong，silkyblackhairsheworeacrownorchapletofartificialmistletoe，andboreinherhandarodofebonytippedwithsilver。TwoNymphsattendedonher，dressedinthesameantiqueandmysticalguise。
ThepageantwassowellmanagedthatthisLadyoftheFloatingIsland，havingperformedhervoyagewithmuchpicturesqueeffect，landedatMortimer\'sTowerwithhertwoattendantsjustasElizabethpresentedherselfbeforethatoutwork。Thestrangerthen，inawell—pennedspeech，announcedherselfasthatfamousLadyoftheLakerenownedinthestoriesofKingArthur，whohadnursedtheyouthoftheredoubtedSirLancelot，andwhosebeauty\'hadprovedtoopowerfulbothforthewisdomandthespellsofthemightyMerlin。Sincethatearlyperiodshehadremainedpossessedofhercrystaldominions，shesaid，despitethevariousmenoffameandmightbywhomKenilworthhadbeensuccessivelytenanted。\'TheSaxons，theDanes，theNormans，theSaintlowes，theClintons，theMontforts，theMortimers，thePlantagenets，greatthoughtheywereinarmsandmagnificence，hadnever，shesaid，causedhertoraiseherheadfromthewaterswhichhidhercrystalpalace。Butagreaterthanallthesegreatnameshadnowappeared，andshecameinhomageanddutytowelcomethepeerlessElizabethtoallsportwhichtheCastleanditsenvirons，whichlakeorland，couldafford。
TheQueenreceivedthisaddressalsowithgreatcourtesy，andmadeanswerinraillery，\"Wethoughtthislakehadbelongedtoourowndominions，fairdame;butsincesofamedaladyclaimsitforhers，wewillbegladatsomeothertimetohavefurthercommuningwithyoutouchingourjointinterests。\"
WiththisgraciousanswertheLadyoftheLakevanished，andArion，whowasamongstthemaritimedeities，appeareduponhisdolphin。ButLambourne，whohadtakenuponhimthepartintheabsenceofWayland，beingchilledwithremainingimmersedinanelementtowhichhewasnotfriendly，havingnevergothisspeechbyheart，andnothaving，liketheporter，theadvantageofaprompter，paiditoffwithimpudence，tearingoffhisvizard，andswearing，\"Cogsbones！hewasnoneofArionorOrioneither，buthonestMikeLambourne，thathadbeendrinkingherMajesty\'shealthfrommorningtillmidnight，andwascometobidherheartilywelcometoKenilworthCastle。\"