who saw that his friend's unusual finery had taken a strong hold
of his imagination； 〃thy goodly size and gay dress will cover my
defects。〃
〃And so thou shalt； Edmund；〃 said Blount。 〃In faith I am glad
thou thinkest my garb well…fancied； for all Mr。 Wittypate here；
for when one does a foolish thing； it is right to do it
handsomely。〃
So saying； Blount cocked his beaver； threw out his leg； and
marched manfully forward； as if at the head of his brigade of
pikemen； ever and anon looking with complaisance on his crimson
stockings； and the huge yellow roses which blossomed on his
shoes。 Tressilian followed； wrapt in his own sad thoughts； and
scarce minding Raleigh； whose quick fancy； amused by the awkward
vanity of his respectable friend； vented itself in jests； which
he whispered into Tressilian's ear。
In this manner they crossed the long bridge； or tilt…yard； and
took their station； with other gentlemen of quality； before the
outer gate of the Gallery； or Entrance…tower。 The whole amounted
to about forty persons； all selected as of the first rank under
that of knighthood； and were disposed in double rows on either
side of the gate； like a guard of honour； within the close hedge
of pikes and partisans which was formed by Leicester's retainers；
wearing his liveries。 The gentlemen carried no arms save their
swords and daggers。 These gallants were as gaily dressed as
imagination could devise； and as the garb of the time permitted a
great display of expensive magnificence； nought was to be seen
but velvet and cloth of gold and silver； ribbons； leathers； gems；
and golden chains。 In spite of his more serious subjects of
distress； Tressilian could not help feeling that he； with his
riding…suit； however handsome it might be； made rather an
unworthy figure among these 〃fierce vanities；〃 and the rather
because he saw that his deshabille was the subject of wonder
among his own friends； and of scorn among the partisans of
Leicester。
We could not suppress this fact； though it may seem something at
variance with the gravity of Tressilian's character； but the
truth is； that a regard for personal appearance is a species of
self…love； from which the wisest are not exempt； and to which the
mind clings so instinctively that not only the soldier advancing
to almost inevitable death； but even the doomed criminal who goes
to certain execution； shows an anxiety to array his person to the
best advantage。 But this is a digression。
It was the twilight of a summer night （9th July； 1575）； the sun
having for some time set； and all were in anxious expectation of
the Queen's immediate approach。 The multitude had remained
assembled for many hours； and their numbers were still rather on
the increase。 A profuse distribution of refreshments； together
with roasted oxen； and barrels of ale set a…broach in different
places of the road； had kept the populace in perfect love and
loyalty towards the Queen and her favourite； which might have
somewhat abated had fasting been added to watching。 They passed
away the time； therefore； with the usual popular amusements of
whooping； hallooing； shrieking； and playing rude tricks upon each
other； forming the chorus of discordant sounds usual on such
occasions。 These prevailed all through the crowded roads and
fields； and especially beyond the gate of the Chase； where the
greater number of the common sort were stationed； when； all of a
sudden； a single rocket was seen to shoot into the atmosphere；
and； at the instant； far heard over flood and field； the great
bell of the Castle tolled。
Immediately there was a pause of dead silence； succeeded by a
deep hum of expectation； the united voice of many thousands； none
of whom spoke above their breathor； to use a singular
expression； the whisper of an immense multitude。
〃They come now； for certain；〃 said Raleigh。 〃Tressilian； that
sound is grand。 We hear it from this distance as mariners； after
a long voyage； hear； upon their night…watch； the tide rush upon
some distant and unknown shore。〃
〃Mass！〃 answered Blount； 〃I hear it rather as I used to hear
mine own kine lowing from the close of Wittenswestlowe。〃
〃He will assuredly graze presently；〃 said Raleigh to Tressilian；
〃his thought is all of fat oxen and fertile meadows。 He grows
little better than one of his own beeves； and only becomes grand
when he is provoked to pushing and goring。〃
〃We shall have him at that presently；〃 said Tressilian； 〃if you
spare not your wit。〃
〃Tush； I care not；〃 answered Raleigh； 〃but thou too； Tressilian；
hast turned a kind of owl； that flies only by nighthast
exchanged thy songs for screechings； and good company for an ivy…
tod。〃
〃But what manner of animal art thou thyself； Raleigh；〃 said
Tressilian； 〃that thou holdest us all so lightly？〃
〃WhoI？〃 replied Raleigh。 〃An eagle am I； that never will
think of dull earth while there is a heaven to soar in； and a sun
to gaze upon。〃
〃Well bragged； by Saint Barnaby！〃 said Blount； 〃but； good Master
Eagle； beware the cage； and beware the fowler。 Many birds have
flown as high that I have seen stuffed with straw and hung up to
scare kites。But hark； what a dead silence hath fallen on them
at once！〃
〃The procession pauses；〃 said Raleigh； 〃at the gate of the Chase；
where a sibyl； one of the FATIDICAE； meets the Queen； to tell her
fortune。 I saw the verses； there is little savour in them； and
her Grace has been already crammed full with such poetical
compliments。 She whispered to me； during the Recorder's speech
yonder； at Ford…mill； as she entered the liberties of Warwick；
how she was 'PERTAESA BARBARAE LOQUELAE。'〃
〃The Queen whispered to HIM！〃 said Blount； in a kind of
soliloquy； 〃Good God； to what will this world come！〃
His further meditations were interrupted by a shout of applause
from the multitude； so tremendously vociferous that the country
echoed for miles round。 The guards； thickly stationed upon the
road by which the Queen was to advance； caught up the
acclamation； which ran like wildfire to the Castle； and announced
to all within that Queen Elizabeth had entered the Royal Chase of
Kenilworth。 The whole music of the Castle sounded at once； and a
round of artillery； with a salvo of small arms； was discharged
from the battlements； but the noise of drums and trumpets； and
even of the cannon themselves； was but faintly heard amidst the
roaring and reiterated welcomes of the multitude。
As the noise began to abate； a broad glare of light was seen to
appear from the gate of the Park； and broadening and brightening
as it came nearer； advanced along the open and fair avenue that
led towards the Gallery…tower； and which； as we have already
noticed； was lined on either hand by the retainers of the Earl of
Leicester。 The word was passed along the line； 〃The Queen！ The
Queen！ Silence； and stand fast！〃 Onward came the cavalcade；
illuminated by two hundred thick waxen torches； in the hands of
as many horsemen； which cast a light like that of broad day all
around the procession； but especially on the principal group； of
which the Queen herself； arrayed in the most splendid manner； and
blazing with jewels； formed the central figure。 She was mounted
on a milk…white horse； which she reined with peculiar grace and
dignity； and in the whole of her stately and noble carriage you
saw the daughter of an hundred kings。
The ladies of the court； who rode beside her Majesty； had taken
especial care that their own external appearance should not be
more glorious than their rank and the occasion altogether
demanded； so that no inferior luminary might appear to approach
the orbit of royalty。 But their personal charms； and the
magnificence by which； under every prudential restraint； they
were necessarily distinguished； exhibited them as the very flower
of a realm so far famed for splendour and beauty。 The
magnificence of the courtiers； free from such restraints as
prudence imposed on the ladies； was yet more unbounded。
Leicester； who glittered like a golden image with jewels and
cloth of gold； rode on her Majesty's right hand； as well in
quality of her host as of her master of the horse。 The black
steed which he mounted had not a single white hair on his body；
and was one of the most renowned chargers in Europe； having been
purchased by the Earl at large expense for this royal occasion。
As the noble animal chafed at the slow pace of the procession；
and； arching his stately neck； champed on the silver bits which
restrained him； the foam flew from his mouth； and speckled his
well…formed limbs as if with spots of snow。 The rider well
became the high place which he held； and the proud steed which he
bestrode； for no man in England； or perhaps in Europe； was more
perfect than Dudley in horsemanship； and all other exercises
belonging to his quality。 He was bareheaded as were all the
courtiers in the train； and the red torchlight shone upon his
long； curled tresses of dark hair； and on his noble features； to
the beauty of which even the severest criticism could only object
the lordly fault； as it may be termed； of a forehead somewhat too
high。 On that proud evening those features wore all the gr