the lordly fault； as it may be termed； of a forehead somewhat too
high。 On that proud evening those features wore all the grateful
solicitude of a subject； to show himself sensible of the high
honour which the Queen was conferring on him； and all the pride
and satisfaction which became so glorious a moment。 Yet； though
neither eye nor feature betrayed aught but feelings which suited
the occasion； some of the Earl's personal attendants remarked
that he was unusually pale； and they expressed to each other
their fear that he was taking more fatigue than consisted with
his health。
Varney followed close behind his master； as the principal esquire
in waiting； and had charge of his lordship's black velvet bonnet；
garnished with a clasp of diamonds and surmounted by a white
plume。 He kept his eye constantly on his master； and； for
reasons with which the reader is not unacquainted； was； among
Leicester's numerous dependants； the one who was most anxious
that his lord's strength and resolution should carry him
successfully through a day so agitating。 For although Varney was
one of the few； the very few moral monsters who contrive to lull
to sleep the remorse of their own bosoms； and are drugged into
moral insensibility by atheism； as men in extreme agony are
lulled by opium； yet he knew that in the breast of his patron
there was already awakened the fire that is never quenched； and
that his lord felt； amid all the pomp and magnificence we have
described； the gnawing of the worm that dieth not。 Still；
however； assured as Lord Leicester stood； by Varney's own
intelligence； that his Countess laboured under an indisposition
which formed an unanswerable apology to the Queen for her not
appearing at Kenilworth； there was little danger； his wily
retainer thought； that a man so ambitious would betray himself by
giving way to any external weakness。
The train； male and female； who attended immediately upon the
Queen's person； were； of course； of the bravest and the fairest
the highest born nobles； and the wisest counsellors； of that
distinguished reign； to repeat whose names were but to weary the
reader。 Behind came a long crowd of knights and gentlemen； whose
rank and birth； however distinguished； were thrown into shade； as
their persons into the rear of a procession whose front was of
such august majesty。
Thus marshalled； the cavalcade approached the Gallery…tower；
which formed； as we have often observed； the extreme barrier of
the Castle。
It was now the part of the huge porter to step forward； but the
lubbard was so overwhelmed with confusion of spiritthe contents
of one immense black jack of double ale； which he had just drunk
to quicken his memory； having treacherously confused the brain it
was intended to clearthat he only groaned piteously； and
remained sitting on his stone seat； and the Queen would have
passed on without greeting； had not the gigantic warder's secret
ally； Flibbertigibbet； who lay perdue behind him； thrust a pin
into the rear of the short femoral garment which we elsewhere
described。
The porter uttered a sort of yell； which came not amiss into his
part； started up with his club； and dealt a sound douse or two on
each side of him； and then； like a coach…horse pricked by the
spur； started off at once into the full career of his address；
and by dint of active prompting on the part of Dickie Sludge；
delivered； in sounds of gigantic intonation； a speech which may
be thus abridgedthe reader being to suppose that the first
lines were addressed to the throng who approached the gateway；
the conclusion； at the approach of the Queen； upon sight of whom；
as struck by some heavenly vision； the gigantic warder dropped
his club； resigned his keys； and gave open way to the Goddess of
the night； and all her magnificent train。
〃What stir； what turmoil； have we for the nones？
Stand back； my masters； or beware your bones！
Sirs； I'm a warder； and no man of straw；
My voice keeps order； and my club gives law。
Yet softnay； staywhat vision have we here？
What dainty darling's thiswhat peerless peer？
What loveliest face； that loving ranks unfold；
Like brightest diamond chased in purest gold？
Dazzled and blind； mine office I forsake；
My club； my key； my knee； my homage take。
Bright paragon； pass on in joy and bliss；
Beshrew the gate that opes not wide at such a sight as this！〃
＇This is an imitation of Gascoigne's verses spoken by the
Herculean porter； as mentioned in the text。 The original may be
found in the republication of the Princely Pleasures of
Kenilworth； by the same author； in the History of Kenilworth
already quoted。 Chiswick； 1821。＇
Elizabeth received most graciously the homage of the Herculean
porter； and； bending her head to him in requital； passed through
his guarded tower； from the top of which was poured a clamorous
blast of warlike music； which was replied to by other bands of
minstrelsy placed at different points on the Castle walls； and by
others again stationed in the Chase； while the tones of the one；
as they yet vibrated on the echoes； were caught up and answered
by new harmony from different quarters。
Amidst these bursts of music； which； as if the work of
enchantment； seemed now close at hand； now softened by distant
space； now wailing so low and sweet as if that distance were
gradually prolonged until only the last lingering strains could
reach the ear； Queen Elizabeth crossed the Gallery…tower； and
came upon the long bridge； which extended from thence to
Mortimer's Tower； and which was already as light as day； so many
torches had been fastened to the palisades on either side。 Most
of the nobles here alighted； and sent their horses to the
neighbouring village of Kenilworth； following the Queen on foot；
as did the gentlemen who had stood in array to receive her at the
Gallery…tower。
On this occasion； as at different times during the evening；
Raleigh addressed himself to Tressilian； and was not a little
surprised at his vague and unsatisfactory answers； which； joined
to his leaving his apartment without any assigned reason；
appearing in an undress when it was likely to be offensive to the
Queen； and some other symptoms of irregularity which he thought
he discovered； led him to doubt whether his friend did not labour
under some temporary derangement。
Meanwhile； the Queen had no sooner stepped on the bridge than a
new spectacle was provided； for as soon as the music gave signal
that she was so far advanced； a raft； so disposed as to resemble
a small floating island； illuminated by a great variety of
torches； and surrounded by floating pageants formed to represent
sea…horses； on which sat Tritons； Nereids； and other fabulous
deities of the seas and rivers； made its appearance upon the
lake； and issuing from behind a small heronry where it had been
concealed； floated gently towards the farther end of the bridge。
On the islet appeared a beautiful woman； clad in a watchet…
coloured silken mantle； bound with a broad girdle inscribed with
characters like the phylacteries of the Hebrews。 Her feet and
arms were bare； but her wrists and ankles were adorned with gold
bracelets of uncommon size。 Amidst her long； silky black hair
she wore a crown or chaplet of artificial mistletoe； and bore in
her hand a rod of ebony tipped with silver。 Two Nymphs attended
on her； dressed in the same antique and mystical guise。
The pageant was so well managed that this Lady of the Floating
Island； having performed her voyage with much picturesque effect；
landed at Mortimer's Tower with her two attendants just as
Elizabeth presented herself before that outwork。 The stranger
then； in a well…penned speech； announced herself as that famous
Lady of the Lake renowned in the stories of King Arthur； who had
nursed the youth of the redoubted Sir Lancelot； and whose beauty
'had proved too powerful both for the wisdom and the spells of
the mighty Merlin。 Since that early period she had remained
possessed of her crystal dominions； she said； despite the various
men of fame and might by whom Kenilworth had been successively
tenanted。 'The Saxons； the Danes； the Normans； the Saintlowes；
the Clintons； the Montforts； the Mortimers； the Plantagenets；
great though they were in arms and magnificence； had never； she
said； caused her to raise her head from the waters which hid her
crystal palace。 But a greater than all these great names had now
appeared； and she came in homage and duty to welcome the peerless
Elizabeth to all sport which the Castle and its environs； which
lake or land； could afford。
The Queen received this address also with great courtesy； and
made answer in raillery； 〃We thought this lake had belonged to
our own dominions； fair dame； but since so famed a lady claims it
for hers； we will be glad at some other time to have further
communing with you touching our joint interests。〃
With this gracious answer the Lady of the Lake vanished； and
Arion； who was amongst the maritime deities； appeared upon his
dolphin。 But Lambourne； who had taken upon him the part in the
absence of Wayland； being chilled with remaining immersed in an
element to which he was not