is falling into comparative neglect； since men will rather throng
to see these roguish players kill each other in jest； than to see
our royal dogs and bears worry each other in bloody earnest。
What say you to this； my Lord of Sussex？〃
〃Why； truly； gracious madam；〃 said Sussex； 〃you must expect
little from an old soldier like me in favour of battles in sport；
when they are compared with battles in earnest； and yet； by my
faith； I wish Will Shakespeare no harm。 He is a stout man at
quarter…staff； and single falchion； though； as I am told； a
halting fellow； and he stood； they say； a tough fight with the
rangers of old Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecot； when he broke his
deer…park and kissed his keeper's daughter。〃
〃I cry you mercy； my Lord of Sussex；〃 said Queen Elizabeth；
interrupting him； 〃that matter was heard in council； and we will
not have this fellow's offence exaggeratedthere was no kissing
in the matter； and the defendant hath put the denial on record。
But what say you to his present practice； my lord； on the stage？
for there lies the point； and not in any ways touching his former
errors； in breaking parks； or the other follies you speak of。〃
〃Why； truly； madam；〃 replied Sussex； 〃as I said before； I wish
the gamesome mad fellow no injury。 Some of his whoreson poetry
（I crave your Grace's pardon for such a phrase） has rung in mine
ears as if the lines sounded to boot and saddle。 But then it is
all froth and follyno substance or seriousness in it； as your
Grace has already well touched。 What are half a dozen knaves；
with rusty foils and tattered targets； making but a mere mockery
of a stout fight； to compare to the royal game of bear…baiting；
which hath been graced by your Highness's countenance； and that
of your royal predecessors； in this your princely kingdom； famous
for matchless mastiffs and bold bearwards over all Christendom？
Greatly is it to be doubted that the race of both will decay； if
men should throng to hear the lungs of an idle player belch forth
nonsensical bombast； instead of bestowing their pence in
encouraging the bravest image of war that can be shown in peace；
and that is the sports of the Bear…garden。 There you may see the
bear lying at guard； with his red； pinky eyes watching the onset
of the mastiff； like a wily captain who maintains his defence
that an assailant may be tempted to venture within his danger。
And then comes Sir Mastiff； like a worthy champion； in full
career at the throat of his adversary； and then shall Sir Bruin
teach him the reward for those who； in their over…courage；
neglect the policies of war； and； catching him in his arms；
strain him to his breast like a lusty wrestler； until rib after
rib crack like the shot of a pistolet。 And then another mastiff；
as bold； but with better aim and sounder judgment； catches Sir
Bruin by the nether lip； and hangs fast； while he tosses about
his blood and slaver； and tries in vain to shake Sir Talbot from
his hold。 And then〃
〃Nay； by my honour； my lord；〃 said the Queen； laughing； 〃you have
described the whole so admirably that； had we never seen a bear…
baiting； as we have beheld many； and hope； with Heaven's
allowance； to see many more； your words were sufficient to put
the whole Bear…garden before our eyes。But come； who speaks next
in this case？My Lord of Leicester； what say you？〃
〃Am I then to consider myself as unmuzzled； please your Grace？〃
replied Leicester。
〃Surely； my lordthat is； if you feel hearty enough to take part
in our game；〃 answered Elizabeth； 〃and yet； when I think of your
cognizance of the bear and ragged staff； methinks we had better
hear some less partial orator。〃
〃Nay； on my word； gracious Princess；〃 said the Earl； 〃though my
brother Ambrose of Warwick and I do carry the ancient cognizance
your Highness deigns to remember； I nevertheless desire nothing
but fair play on all sides； or； as they say； 'fight dog； fight
bear。' And in behalf of the players； I must needs say that they
are witty knaves； whose rants and jests keep the minds of the
commons from busying themselves with state affairs； and listening
to traitorous speeches； idle rumours； and disloyal insinuations。
When men are agape to see how Marlow； Shakespeare； and other play
artificers work out their fanciful plots； as they call them； the
mind of the spectators is withdrawn from the conduct of their
rulers。〃
〃We would not have the mind of our subjects withdrawn from the
consideration of our own conduct； my lord；〃 answered Elizabeth；
〃because the more closely it is examined； the true motives by
which we are guided will appear the more manifest。〃
〃I have heard； however； madam；〃 said the Dean of St。 Asaph's； an
eminent Puritan； 〃that these players are wont； in their plays；
not only to introduce profane and lewd expressions； tending to
foster sin and harlotry； but even to bellow out such reflections
on government； its origin and its object； as tend to render the
subject discontented； and shake the solid foundations of civil
society。 And it seems to be； under your Grace's favour； far less
than safe to permit these naughty foul…mouthed knaves to ridicule
the godly for their decent gravity； and； in blaspheming heaven
and slandering its earthly rulers； to set at defiance the laws
both of God and man。〃
〃If we could think this were true； my lord；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃we
should give sharp correction for such offences。 But it is ill
arguing against the use of anything from its abuse。 And touching
this Shakespeare； we think there is that in his plays that is
worth twenty Bear…gardens； and that this new undertaking of his
Chronicles； as he calls them； may entertain； with honest mirth；
mingled with useful instruction； not only our subjects； but even
the generation which may succeed to us。〃
〃Your Majesty's reign will need no such feeble aid to make it
remembered to the latest posterity；〃 said Leicester。 〃And yet；
in his way； Shakespeare hath so touched some incidents of your
Majesty's happy government as may countervail what has been
spoken by his reverence the Dean of St。 Asaph's。 There are some
lines； for exampleI would my nephew； Philip Sidney； were here；
they are scarce ever out of his mouththey are spoken in a mad
tale of fairies； love…charms； and I wot not what besides； but
beautiful they are； however short they may and must fall of the
subject to which they bear a bold relationand Philip murmurs
them； I think； even in his dreams。〃
〃You tantalize us； my lord；〃 said the Queen〃Master Philip
Sidney is； we know； a minion of the Muses； and we are pleased it
should be so。 Valour never shines to more advantage than when
united with the true taste and love of letters。 But surely there
are some others among our young courtiers who can recollect what
your lordship has forgotten amid weightier affairs。Master
Tressilian； you are described to me as a worshipper of Minerva
remember you aught of these lines？〃
Tressilian's heart was too heavy； his prospects in life too
fatally blighted； to profit by the opportunity which the Queen
thus offered to him of attracting her attention； but he
determined to transfer the advantage to his more ambitious young
friend； and excusing himself on the score of want of
recollection； he added that he believed the beautiful verses of
which my Lord of Leicester had spoken were in the remembrance of
Master Walter Raleigh。
At the command of the Queen； that cavalier repeated； with accent
and manner which even added to their exquisite delicacy of tact
and beauty of description； the celebrated vision of Oberon：
〃That very time I saw （but thou couldst not）；
Flying between the cold moon and the earth；
Cupid； allarm'd： a certain aim he took
At a fair vestal； throned by the west；
And loos'd his love…shaft smartly from his bow；
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts：
But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft
Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon；
And the imperial vot'ress passed on；
In maiden meditation； fancy free。〃
The voice of Raleigh； as he repeated the last lines； became a
little tremulous； as if diffident how the Sovereign to whom the
homage was addressed might receive it； exquisite as it was。 If
this diffidence was affected； it was good policy； but if real；
there was little occasion for it。 The verses were not probably
new to the Queen； for when was ever such elegant flattery long in
reaching the royal ear to which it was addressed？ But they were
not the less welcome when repeated by such a speaker as Raleigh。
Alike delighted with the matter； the manner； and the graceful
form and animated countenance of the gallant young reciter；
Elizabeth kept time to every cadence with look and with finger。
When the speaker had ceased； she murmured over the last lines as
if scarce conscious that she was overheard； and as she uttered
the words；
〃In maiden meditation； fancy free；〃 she dropped into the Thames
the supplication of Orson Pinnit； keeper of the royal bears； to
find more favourable acceptance at Sheerness； or wherever the
tide might waft it。
Leicester was spurred to emulation by the success of the young
courtier's exhibition； as the veteran racer is ro