assiduous； the most delicate； the most insinuating； yet at the
same time the most respectful； with which a Queen was ever
addressed by a subject。 Elizabeth listened as in a sort of
enchantment。 Her jealousy of power was lulled asleep； her
resolution to forsake all social or domestic ties； and dedicate
herself exclusively to the care of her people； began to be
shaken； and once more the star of Dudley culminated in the court
horizon。
But Leicester did not enjoy this triumph over nature； and over
conscience； without its being embittered to him； not only by the
internal rebellion of his feelings against the violence which he
exercised over them； but by many accidental circumstances； which；
in the course of the banquet； and during the subsequent
amusements of the evening； jarred upon that nerve； the least
vibration of which was agony。
The courtiers were； for example； in the Great Hall； after having
left the banqueting…room； awaiting the appearance of a splendid
masque； which was the expected entertainment of this evening；
when the Queen interrupted a wild career of wit which the Earl of
Leicester was running against Lord Willoughby； Raleigh； and some
other courtiers； by saying； 〃We will impeach you of high treason；
my lord； if you proceed in this attempt to slay us with laughter。
And here comes a thing may make us all grave at his pleasure； our
learned physician Masters； with news belike of our poor
suppliant； Lady Varney；nay； my lord； we will not have you leave
us； for this being a dispute betwixt married persons； we do not
hold our own experience deep enough to decide thereon without
good counsel。How now； Masters； what thinkest thou of the
runaway bride？〃
The smile with which Leicester had been speaking； when the Queen
interrupted him； remained arrested on his lips； as if it had been
carved there by the chisel of Michael Angelo or of Chantrey； and
he listened to the speech of the physician with the same
immovable cast of countenance。
〃The Lady Varney； gracious Sovereign；〃 said the court physician
Masters； 〃is sullen； and would hold little conference with me
touching the state of her health； talking wildly of being soon to
plead her own cause before your own presence； and of answering no
meaner person's inquiries。〃
〃Now the heavens forfend！〃 said the Queen； 〃we have already
suffered from the misconstructions and broils which seem to
follow this poor brain…sick lady wherever she comes。Think you
not so； my lord？〃 she added； appealing to Leicester with
something in her look that indicated regret； even tenderly
expressed； for their disagreement of that morning。 Leicester
compelled himself to bow low。 The utmost force he could exert
was inadequate to the further effort of expressing in words his
acquiescence in the Queen's sentiment。
〃You are vindictive；〃 she said； 〃my lord； but we will find time
and place to punish you。 But once more to this same trouble…
mirth； this Lady Varney。 What of her health； Masters？〃
〃She is sullen； madam； as I already said；〃 replied Masters； 〃and
refuses to answer interrogatories； or be amenable to the
authority of the mediciner。 I conceive her to be possessed with
a delirium； which I incline to term rather HYPOCHONDRIA than
PHRENESIS； and I think she were best cared for by her husband in
his own house； and removed from all this bustle of pageants；
which disturbs her weak brain with the most fantastic phantoms。
She drops hints as if she were some great person in disguise
some Countess or Princess perchance。 God help them； such are
often the hallucinations of these infirm persons！〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said the Queen； 〃away with her with all speed。 Let
Varney care for her with fitting humanity； but let them rid the
Castle of her forthwith she will think herself lady of all； I
warrant you。 It is pity so fair a form； however； should have an
infirm understanding。What think you； my lord？〃
〃It is pity indeed；〃 said the Earl； repeating the words like a
task which was set him。
〃But； perhaps；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃you do not join with us in our
opinion of her beauty； and indeed we have known men prefer a
statelier and more Juno…like form to that drooping fragile one
that hung its head like a broken lily。 Ay； men are tyrants； my
lord； who esteem the animation of the strife above the triumph of
an unresisting conquest； and； like sturdy champions； love best
those women who can wage contest with them。I could think with
you； Rutland； that give my Lord of Leicester such a piece of
painted wax for a bride； he would have wished her dead ere the
end of the honeymoon。〃
As she said this； she looked on Leicester so expressively that；
while his heart revolted against the egregious falsehood； he did
himself so much violence as to reply in a whisper that
Leicester's love was more lowly than her Majesty deemed； since it
was settled where he could never command； but must ever obey。
The Queen blushed； and bid him be silent； yet looked as of she
expected that he would not obey her commands。 But at that moment
the flourish of trumpets and kettle…drums from a high balcony
which overlooked the hall announced the entrance of the maskers；
and relieved Leicester from the horrible state of constraint and
dissimulation in which the result of his own duplicity had placed
him。
The masque which entered consisted of four separate bands； which
followed each other at brief intervals； each consisting of six
principal persons and as many torch…bearers； and each
representing one of the various nations by which England had at
different times been occupied。
The aboriginal Britons； who first entered； were ushered in by two
ancient Druids； whose hoary hair was crowned with a chaplet of
oak； and who bore in their hands branches of mistletoe。 The
maskers who followed these venerable figures were succeeded by
two Bards； arrayed in white； and bearing harps； which they
occasionally touched； singing at the same time certain stanzas of
an ancient hymn to Belus； or the Sun。 The aboriginal Britons had
been selected from amongst the tallest and most robust young
gentlemen in attendance on the court。 Their masks were
accommodated with long； shaggy beards and hair； their vestments
were of the hides of wolves and bears； while their legs； arms；
and the upper parts of their bodies； being sheathed in flesh…
coloured silk； on which were traced in grotesque lines
representations of the heavenly bodies； and of animals and other
terrestrial objects； gave them the lively appearance of our
painted ancestors； whose freedom was first trenched upon by the
Romans。
The sons of Rome； who came to civilize as well as to conquer；
were next produced before the princely assembly； and the manager
of the revels had correctly imitated the high crest and military
habits of that celebrated people； accommodating them with the
light yet strong buckler and the short two…edged sword； the use
of which had made them victors of the world。 The Roman eagles
were borne before them by two standard…bearers； who recited a
hymn to Mars； and the classical warriors followed with the grave
and haughty step of men who aspired at universal conquest。
The third quadrille represented the Saxons； clad in the bearskins
which they had brought with them from the German forests； and
bearing in their hands the redoubtable battle…axes which made
such havoc among the natives of Britain。 They were preceded by
two Scalds； who chanted the praises of Odin。
Last came the knightly Normans； in their mail…shirts and hoods of
steel； with all the panoply of chivalry； and marshalled by two
Minstrels； who sang of war and ladies' love。
These four bands entered the spacious hall with the utmost order；
a short pause being made； that the spectators might satisfy their
curiosity as to each quadrille before the appearance of the next。
They then marched completely round the hall； in order the more
fully to display themselves； regulating their steps to organs；
shalms； hautboys； and virginals； the music of the Lord
Leicester's household。 At length the four quadrilles of maskers；
ranging their torch…bearers behind them； drew up in their several
ranks on the two opposite sides of the hall； so that the Romans
confronting the Britons； and the Saxons the Normans； seemed to
look on each other with eyes of wonder； which presently appeared
to kindle into anger； expressed by menacing gestures。 At the
burst of a strain of martial music from the gallery the maskers
drew their swords on all sides； and advanced against each other
in the measured steps of a sort of Pyrrhic or military dance；
clashing their swords against their adversaries' shields； and
clattering them against their blades as they passed each other in
the progress of the dance。 It was a very pleasant spectacle to
see how the various bands； preserving regularity amid motions
which seemed to be totally irregular； mixed together； and then
disengaging themselves； resumed each their own original rank as
the music varied。
In this symbolical dance were represented the conflicts which had
taken place among the various nations which had anciently
inhabited Britain。
At length； after many mazy evolutions； which af