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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 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