equally magnificent。
Elizabeth's silvan dress； which was of a pale blue silk； with
silver lace and AIGUILLETTES； approached in form to that of the
ancient Amazons； and was therefore well suited at once to her
height and to the dignity of her mien； which her conscious rank
and long habits of authority had rendered in some degree too
masculine to be seen to the best advantage in ordinary female
weeds。 Leicester's hunting suit of Lincoln green； richly
embroidered with gold； and crossed by the gay baldric which
sustained a bugle…horn； and a wood…knife instead of a sword；
became its master； as did his other vestments of court or of war。
For such were the perfections of his form and mien； that
Leicester was always supposed to be seen to the greatest
advantage in the character and dress which for the time he
represented or wore。
The conversation of Elizabeth and the favourite Earl has not
reached us in detail。 But those who watched at some distance
（and the eyes of courtiers and court ladies are right sharp） were
of opinion that on no occasion did the dignity of Elizabeth； in
gesture and motion； seem so decidedly to soften away into a mien
expressive of indecision and tenderness。 Her step was not only
slow； but even unequal； a thing most unwonted in her carriage；
her looks seemed bent on the ground； and there was a timid
disposition to withdraw from her companion； which external
gesture in females often indicates exactly the opposite tendency
in the secret mind。 The Duchess of Rutland； who ventured
nearest； was even heard to aver that she discerned a tear in
Elizabeth's eye and a blush on her cheek； and still further； 〃She
bent her looks on the ground to avoid mine；〃 said the Duchess；
〃she who； in her ordinary mood； could look down a lion。〃 To what
conclusion these symptoms led is sufficiently evident； nor were
they probably entirely groundless。 The progress of a private
conversation betwixt two persons of different sexes is often
decisive of their fate； and gives it a turn very different
perhaps from what they themselves anticipated。 Gallantry becomes
mingled with conversation； and affection and passion come
gradually to mix with gallantry。 Nobles； as well as shepherd
swains； will； in such a trying moment； say more than they
intended； and Queens； like village maidens； will listen longer
than they should。
Horses in the meanwhile neighed and champed the bits with
impatience in the base…court； hounds yelled in their couples； and
yeomen； rangers； and prickers lamented the exhaling of the dew；
which would prevent the scent from lying。 But Leicester had
another chase in viewor； to speak more justly towards him； had
become engaged in it without premeditation； as the high…spirited
hunter which follows the cry of the hounds that have crossed his
path by accident。 The Queen； an accomplished and handsome woman；
the pride of England； the hope of France and Holland； and the
dread of Spain； had probably listened with more than usual favour
to that mixture of romantic gallantry with which she always loved
to be addressed； and the Earl had； in vanity； in ambition； or in
both； thrown in more and more of that delicious ingredient； until
his importunity became the language of love itself。
〃No； Dudley；〃 said Elizabeth； yet it was with broken accents
〃no； I must be the mother of my people。 Other ties； that make
the lowly maiden happy； are denied to her Sovereign。 No；
Leicester； urge it no more。 Were I as others； free to seek my
own happiness； then； indeedbut it cannotcannot be。 Delay the
chasedelay it for half an hourand leave me； my lord。〃
〃How！ leave you； madam？〃 said Leicester；〃has my madness
offended you？〃
〃No； Leicester； not so！〃 answered the Queen hastily； 〃but it is
madness； and must not be repeated。 Gobut go not far from
hence； and meantime let no one intrude on my privacy。〃
While she spoke thus； Dudley bowed deeply； and retired with a
slow and melancholy air。 The Queen stood gazing after him； and
murmured to herself； 〃Were it possiblewere it BUT possible！
but nono； Elizabeth must be the wife and mother of England
alone。〃
As she spoke thus； and in order to avoid some one whose step she
heard approaching； the Queen turned into the grotto in which her
hapless； and yet but too successful； rival lay concealed。
The mind of England's Elizabeth； if somewhat shaken by the
agitating interview to which she had just put a period； was of
that firm and decided character which soon recovers its natural
tone。 It was like one of those ancient Druidical monuments
called Rocking…stones。 The finger of Cupid； boy as he is
painted； could put her feelings in motion； but the power of
Hercules could not have destroyed their equilibrium。 As she
advanced with a slow pace towards the inmost extremity of the
grotto； her countenance； ere she had proceeded half the length；
had recovered its dignity of look； and her mien its air of
command。
It was then the Queen became aware that a female figure was
placed beside； or rather partly behind； an alabaster column； at
the foot of which arose the pellucid fountain which occupied the
inmost recess of the twilight grotto。 The classical mind of
Elizabeth suggested the story of Numa and Egeria； and she doubted
not that some Italian sculptor had here represented the Naiad
whose inspirations gave laws to Rome。 As she advanced； she
became doubtful whether she beheld a statue； or a form of flesh
and blood。 The unfortunate Amy； indeed； remained motionless；
betwixt the desire which she had to make her condition known to
one of her own sex； and her awe for the stately form which
approached her； and which； though her eyes had never before
beheld； her fears instantly suspected to be the personage she
really was。 Amy had arisen from her seat with the purpose of
addressing the lady who entered the grotto alone； and； as she at
first thought； so opportunely。 But when she recollected the
alarm which Leicester had expressed at the Queen's knowing aught
of their union； and became more and more satisfied that the
person whom she now beheld was Elizabeth herself； she stood with
one foot advanced and one withdrawn； her arms； head； and hands
perfectly motionless； and her cheek as pallid as the alabaster
pedestal against which she leaned。 Her dress was of pale sea…
green silk； little distinguished in that imperfect light； and
somewhat resembled the drapery of a Grecian Nymph； such an
antique disguise having been thought the most secure； where so
many maskers and revellers were assembled； so that the Queen's
doubt of her being a living form was well justified by all
contingent circumstances； as well as by the bloodless cheek and
the fixed eye。
Elizabeth remained in doubt； even after she had approached within
a few paces； whether she did not gaze on a statue so cunningly
fashioned that by the doubtful light it could not be
distinguished from reality。 She stopped； therefore； and fixed
upon this interesting object her princely look with so much
keenness that the astonishment which had kept Amy immovable gave
way to awe； and she gradually cast down her eyes； and drooped her
head under the commanding gaze of the Sovereign。 Still； however；
she remained in all respects； saving this slow and profound
inclination of the head； motionless and silent。
From her dress； and the casket which she instinctively held in
her hand； Elizabeth naturally conjectured that the beautiful but
mute figure which she beheld was a performer in one of the
various theatrical pageants which had been placed in different
situations to surprise her with their homage； and that the poor
player； overcome with awe at her presence； had either forgot the
part assigned her； or lacked courage to go through it。 It was
natural and courteous to give her some encouragement； and
Elizabeth accordingly said； in a； tone of condescending kindness；
〃How now； fair Nymph of this lovely grotto； art thou spell…bound
and struck with dumbness by the charms of the wicked enchanter
whom men term Fear？ We are his sworn enemy； maiden； and can
reverse his charm。 Speak； we command thee。〃
Instead of answering her by speech； the unfortunate Countess
dropped on her knee before the Queen； let her casket fall from
her hand； and clasping her palms together； looked up in the
Queen's face with such a mixed agony of fear and supplication；
that Elizabeth was considerably affected。
〃What may this mean？〃 she said； 〃this is a stronger passion than
befits the occasion。 Stand up； damselwhat wouldst thou have
with us？〃
〃Your protection； madam；〃 faltered forth the unhappy petitioner。
〃Each daughter of England has it while she is worthy of it；〃
replied the Queen； 〃but your distress seems to have a deeper root
than a forgotten task。 Why； and in what； do you crave our
protection？〃
Amy hastily endeavoured to recall what she were best to say；
which might secure herself from the imminent dangers that
surrounded her； without endangering her husband； and plunging
from one thought to another； amidst the chaos which filled her
mind； she could at length； in answer to the Queen's repeated
inquiries in what she sought protection； only falter out；