lads and me in some heart！〃
〃Pshaw； man！〃 replied Lambourne； on whom his last draught；
joined to repeated visitations of the pitcher upon former
occasions； began to make some innovation； 〃thou speakest thou
knowest not what about spirits。 No one knows justly what to say
about them； and； in short； least said may in that matter be
soonest amended。 Some men believe in one thing； some in another
it is all matter of fancy。 I have known them of all sorts； my
dear Lawrence Lock…the…door； and sensible men too。 There's a
great lordwe'll pass his name； Lawrencehe believes in the
stars and the moon； the planets and their courses； and so forth；
and that they twinkle exclusively for his benefit； when in sober；
or rather in drunken truth； Lawrence； they are only shining to
keep honest fellows like me out of the kennel。 Well； sir； let
his humour pass； he is great enough to indulge it。 Then； look
ye； there is anothera very learned man； I promise you； and can
vent Greek and Hebrew as fast as I can Thieves' Latin he has an
humour of sympathies and antipathiesof changing lead into gold；
and the like； why； via； let that pass too； and let him pay those
in transmigrated coin who are fools enough to let it be current
with them。 Then here comest thou thyself； another great man；
though neither learned nor noble； yet full six feet high； and
thou； like a purblind mole； must needs believe in ghosts and
goblins； and such like。 Now； there is； besides； a great man
that is； a great little man； or a little great man； my dear
Lawrenceand his name begins with V； and what believes he？ Why；
nothing； honest Lawrencenothing in earth； heaven； or hell； and
for my part； if I believe there is a devil； it is only because I
think there must be some one to catch our aforesaid friend by the
back 'when soul and body sever；' as the ballad says； for your
antecedent will have a consequentRARO ANTECEDENTEM； as Doctor
Bircham was wont to say。 But this is Greek to you now； honest
Lawrence； and in sooth learning is dry work。 Hand me the pitcher
once more。〃
〃In faith； if you drink more； Michael；〃 said the warder； 〃you
will be in sorry case either to play Arion or to wait on your
master on such a solemn night； and I expect each moment to hear
the great bell toll for the muster at Mortimer's Tower； to
receive the Queen。〃
While Staples remonstrated； Lambourne drank； and then setting
down the pitcher； which was nearly emptied； with a deep sigh； he
said； in an undertone； which soon rose to a high one as his
speech proceeded； 〃Never mind； Lawrence； if I be drunk； I know
that shall make Varney uphold me sober。 But； as I said； never
mind； I can carry my drink discreetly。 Moreover； I am to go on
the water as Orion； and shall take cold unless I take something
comfortable beforehand。 Not play Orion？ Let us see the best
roarer that ever strained his lungs for twelve pence out…mouth
me！ What if they see me a little disguised？ Wherefore should
any man be sober to…night？ answer me that。 It is matter of
loyalty to be merry； and I tell thee there are those in the
Castle who； if they are not merry when drunk； have little chance
to be merry when soberI name no names； Lawrence。 But your
pottle of sack is a fine shoeing…horn to pull on a loyal humour；
and a merry one。 Huzza for Queen Elizabeth！for the noble
Leicester！for the worshipful Master Varney！and for Michael
Lambourne； that can turn them all round his finger！〃
So saying； he walked downstairs； and across the inner court。
The warder looked after him； shook his head； and while he drew
close and locked a wicket； which； crossing the staircase；
rendered it impossible for any one to ascend higher than the
story immediately beneath Mervyn's Bower； as Tressilian's chamber
was named； he thus soliloquized with himself〃It's a good thing
to be a favourite。 I well…nigh lost mine office； because one
frosty morning Master Varney thought I smelled of aqua vitae； and
this fellow can appear before him drunk as a wineskin； and yet
meet no rebuke。 But then he is a pestilent clever fellow withal；
and no one can understand above one half of what he says。〃
CHAPTER XXX。
Now bid the steeple rockshe comes； she comes！
Speak for us； bellsspeak for us； shrill…tongued tuckets。
Stand to thy linstock； gunner； let thy cannon
Play such a peal； as if a paynim foe
Came stretch'd in turban'd ranks to storm the ramparts。
We will have pageants toobut that craves wit；
And I'm a rough…hewn soldier。 THE VIRGIN QUEENA TRAGI…COMEDY。
Tressilian； when Wayland had left him； as mentioned in the last
chapter； remained uncertain what he ought next to do； when
Raleigh and Blount came up to him arm in arm； yet； according to
their wont； very eagerly disputing together。 Tressilian had no
great desire for their society in the present state of his
feelings； but there was no possibility of avoiding them； and
indeed he felt that； bound by his promise not to approach Amy； or
take any step in her behalf； it would be his best course at once
to mix with general society； and to exhibit on his brow as little
as he could of the anguish and uncertainty which sat heavy at his
heart。 He therefore made a virtue of necessity； and hailed his
comrades with； 〃All mirth to you； gentlemen！ Whence come ye？〃
〃From Warwick； to be sure；〃 said Blount； 〃we must needs home to
change our habits； like poor players； who are fain to multiply
their persons to outward appearance by change of suits； and you
had better do the like； Tressilian。〃
〃Blount is right；〃 said Raleigh； 〃the Queen loves such marks of
deference； and notices； as wanting in respect； those who； not
arriving in her immediate attendance； may appear in their soiled
and ruffled riding…dress。 But look at Blount himself；
Tressilian； for the love of laughter； and see how his villainous
tailor hath apparelled himin blue； green； and crimson； with
carnation ribbons； and yellow roses in his shoes！〃
〃Why； what wouldst thou have？〃 said Blount。 〃I told the cross…
legged thief to do his best； and spare no cost； and methinks
these things are gay enoughgayer than thine own。 I'll be
judged by Tressilian。〃
〃I agreeI agree；〃 said Walter Raleigh。 〃Judge betwixt us；
Tressilian； for the love of heaven！〃
Tressilian； thus appealed to； looked at them both； and was
immediately sensible at a single glance that honest Blount had
taken upon the tailor's warrant the pied garments which he had
chosen to make； and was as much embarrassed by the quantity of
points and ribbons which garnished his dress； as a clown is in
his holiday clothes； while the dress of Raleigh was a well…
fancied and rich suit； which the wearer bore as a garb too well
adapted to his elegant person to attract particular attention。
Tressilian said； therefore； 〃That Blount's dress was finest； but
Raleigh's the best fancied。〃
Blount was satisfied with his decision。 〃I knew mine was
finest；〃 he said； 〃if that knave Doublestitch had brought me home
such a simple doublet as that of Raleigh's； I would have beat his
brains out with his own pressing…iron。 Nay； if we must be fools；
ever let us be fools of the first head； say I。〃
〃But why gettest thou not on thy braveries； Tressilian？〃 said
Raleigh。
〃I am excluded from my apartment by a silly mistake；〃 said
Tressilian； 〃and separated for the time from my baggage。 I was
about to seek thee； to beseech a share of thy lodging。〃
〃And welcome；〃 said Raleigh； 〃it is a noble one。 My Lord of
Leicester has done us that kindness； and lodged us in princely
fashion。 If his courtesy be extorted reluctantly； it is at least
extended far。 I would advise you to tell your strait to the
Earl's chamberlainyou will have instant redress。〃
〃Nay； it is not worth while； since you can spare me room；〃
replied Tressilian〃I would not be troublesome。 Has any one
come hither with you？〃
〃Oh； ay；〃 said Blount； 〃Varney and a whole tribe of Leicestrians；
besides about a score of us honest Sussex folk。 We are all； it
seems； to receive the Queen at what they call the Gallery…tower；
and witness some fooleries there； and then we're to remain in
attendance upon the Queen in the Great HallGod bless the mark！
while those who are now waiting upon her Grace get rid of their
slough； and doff their riding…suits。 Heaven help me； if her
Grace should speak to me； I shall never know what to answer！〃
〃And what has detained them so long at Warwick？〃 said
Tressilian； unwilling that their conversation should return to
his own affairs。
〃Such a succession of fooleries；〃 said Blount； 〃as were never
seen at Bartholomew…fair。 We have had speeches and players； and
dogs and bears； and men making monkeys and women moppets of
themselvesI marvel the Queen could endure it。 But ever and
anon came in something of 'the lovely light of her gracious
countenance；' or some such trash。 Ah！ vanity makes a fool of
the wisest。 But come； let us on to this same Gallery…tower
though I see not what thou Tressilian； canst do with thy riding…
dress and boots。〃
〃I will take my station behind thee； Blount；〃 said Tressilian；
who saw that his friend's unusual finery had taken a strong hold
of his imagination； 〃thy goodly siz