abstracted him from the cares of the household which he was wont
to govern with such religious strictness； and hath left us
opportunities to do follies； of which the shame； as in this case；
partly falls upon our patron。 Without this； I had not had means
or leisure to commit the folly which has drawn on me his
displeasurethe heaviest to endure by me which I could by any
means incur； saving always the yet more dreaded resentment of
your Grace。〃
〃And in this sense； and no other； hath he been accessory to thy
fault？〃 said Elizabeth。
〃Surely； madam； in no other；〃 replied Varney； 〃but since somewhat
hath chanced to him； he can scarce be called his own man。 Look
at him； madam； how pale and trembling he stands！ how unlike his
usual majesty of manner！yet what has he to fear from aught I
can say to your Highness？ Ah！ madam； since he received that
fatal packet！〃
〃What packet； and from whence？〃 said the Queen eagerly。
〃From whence； madam； I cannot guess； but I am so near to his
person that I know he has ever since worn； suspended around his
neck and next to his heart； that lock of hair which sustains a
small golden jewel shaped like a heart。 He speaks to it when
alonehe parts not from it when he sleepsno heathen ever
worshipped an idol with such devotion。〃
〃Thou art a prying knave to watch thy master so closely；〃 said
Elizabeth； blushing； but not with anger； 〃and a tattling knave to
tell over again his fooleries。What colour might the braid of
hair be that thou pratest of？〃
Varney replied； 〃A poet； madam； might call it a thread from the
golden web wrought by Minerva； but to my thinking it was paler
than even the purest goldmore like the last parting sunbeam of
the softest day of spring。〃
〃Why； you are a poet yourself； Master Varney；〃 said the Queen；
smiling。 〃But I have not genius quick enough to follow your rare
metaphors。 Look round these ladiesis there〃（she hesitated；
and endeavoured to assume an air of great indifference）〃is
there here； in this presence； any lady； the colour of whose hair
reminds thee of that braid？ Methinks； without prying into my
Lord of Leicester's amorous secrets； I would fain know what kind
of locks are like the thread of Minerva's web； or thewhat was
it？the last rays of the May…day sun。〃
Varney looked round the presence…chamber； his eye travelling from
one lady to another； until at length it rested upon the Queen
herself； but with an aspect of the deepest veneration。 〃I see no
tresses；〃 he said； 〃in this presence； worthy of such similies；
unless where I dare not look on them。〃
〃How； sir knave？〃 said the Queen； 〃dare you intimate〃
〃Nay； madam；〃 replied Varney； shading his eyes with his hand； 〃it
was the beams of the May…day sun that dazzled my weak eyes。〃
〃Go togo to；〃 said the Queen； 〃thou art a foolish fellow〃and
turning quickly from him she walked up to Leicester。
Intense curiosity； mingled with all the various hopes； fears； and
passions which influence court faction； had occupied the
presence…chamber during the Queen's conference with Varney； as if
with the strength of an Eastern talisman。 Men suspended every；
even the slightest external motion； and would have ceased to
breathe； had Nature permitted such an intermission of her
functions。 The atmosphere was contagious； and Leicester； who saw
all around wishing or fearing his advancement or his fall forgot
all that love had previously dictated； and saw nothing for the
instant but the favour or disgrace which depended on the nod of
Elizabeth and the fidelity of Varney。 He summoned himself
hastily； and prepared to play his part in the scene which was
like to ensue； when； as he judged from the glances which the
Queen threw towards him； Varney's communications； be they what
they might； were operating in his favour。 Elizabeth did not long
leave him in doubt； for the more than favour with which she
accosted him decided his triumph in the eyes of his rival； and of
the assembled court of England。 〃Thou hast a prating servant of
this same Varney； my lord；〃 she said； 〃it is lucky you trust him
with nothing that can hurt you in our opinion； for believe me； he
would keep no counsel。〃
〃From your Highness；〃 said Leicester； dropping gracefully on one
knee； 〃it were treason he should。 I would that my heart itself
lay before you； barer than the tongue of any servant could strip
it。〃
〃What； my lord；〃 said Elizabeth； looking kindly upon him； 〃is
there no one little corner over which you would wish to spread a
veil？ Ah！ I see you are confused at the question； and your
Queen knows she should not look too deeply into her servants'
motives for their faithful duty； lest she see what might； or at
least ought to； displease her。〃
Relieved by these last words； Leicester broke out into a torrent
of expressions of deep and passionate attachment； which perhaps；
at that moment； were not altogether fictitious。 The mingled
emotions which had at first overcome him had now given way to the
energetic vigour with which he had determined to support his
place in the Queen's favour； and never did he seem to Elizabeth
more eloquent； more handsome； more interesting； than while；
kneeling at her feet； he conjured her to strip him of all his
dower； but to leave him the name of her servant。〃Take from the
poor Dudley；〃 he exclaimed； 〃all that your bounty has made him；
and bid him be the poor gentleman he was when your Grace first
shone on him； leave him no more than his cloak and his sword； but
let him still boast he haswhat in word or deed he never
forfeitedthe regard of his adored Queen and mistress！〃
〃No； Dudley！〃 said Elizabeth； raising him with one hand； while
she extended the other that he might kiss it。 〃Elizabeth hath
not forgotten that； whilst you were a poor gentleman； despoiled
of your hereditary rank； she was as poor a princess； and that in
her cause you then ventured all that oppression had left you
your life and honour。 Rise； my lord； and let my hand gorise；
and be what you have ever been； the grace of our court and the
support of our throne！ Your mistress may be forced to chide your
misdemeanours； but never without owning your merits。And so help
me God；〃 she added； turning to the audience； who； with various
feelings； witnessed this interesting scene〃so help me God；
gentlemen； as I think never sovereign had a truer servant than I
have in this noble Earl！〃
A murmur of assent rose from the Leicestrian faction； which the
friends of Sussex dared not oppose。 They remained with their
eyes fixed on the ground； dismayed as well as mortified by the
public and absolute triumph of their opponents。 Leicester's
first use of the familiarity to which the Queen had so publicly
restored him was to ask her commands concerning Varney's offence。
〃although；〃 he said； 〃the fellow deserves nothing from me but
displeasure； yet； might I presume to intercede〃
〃In truth； we had forgotten his matter；〃 said the Queen； 〃and it
was ill done of us； who owe justice to our meanest as well as to
our highest subject。 We are pleased； my lord； that you were the
first to recall the matter to our memory。Where is Tressilian；
the accuser？let him come before us。〃
Tressilian appeared； and made a low and beseeming reference。 His
person； as we have elsewhere observed； had an air of grace and
even of nobleness； which did not escape Queen Elizabeth's
critical observation。 She looked at him with； attention as he
stood before her unabashed； but with an air of the deepest
dejection。
〃I cannot but grieve for this gentleman；〃 she said to Leicester。
〃I have inquired concerning him； and his presence confirms what I
heard； that he is a scholar and a soldier； well accomplished both
in arts and arms。 We women； my lord； are fanciful in our choice
I had said now； to judge by the eye； there was no comparison to
be held betwixt your follower and this gentleman。 But Varney is
a well…spoken fellow； and； to say truth； that goes far with us of
the weaker sex。look you； Master Tressilian； a bolt lost is not
a bow broken。 Your true affection； as I will hold it to be； hath
been； it seems； but ill requited； but you have scholarship； and
you know there have been false Cressidas to be found； from the
Trojan war downwards。 Forget； good sir； this Lady Light o' Love
teach your affection to see with a wiser eye。 This we say to
you； more from the writings of learned men than our own
knowledge； being； as we are； far removed by station and will from
the enlargement of experience in such idle toys of humorous
passion。 For this dame's father； we can make his grief the less
by advancing his son…in…law to such station as may enable him to
give an honourable support to his bride。 Thou shalt not be
forgotten thyself； Tressilianfollow our court； and thou shalt
see that a true Troilus hath some claim on our grace。 Think of
what that arch…knave Shakespeare saysa plague on him； his toys
come into my head when I should think of other matters。 Stay；
how goes it？
'Cressid was yours； tied with the bonds of heaven ；
These bonds of heaven are slipt； dissolved； and loosed；
And with another knot five fingers tied；
The fragments of her faith are bound to Diomed。'