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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 friendly； having never got his speech
by heart； and not having； like the porter； the advantage of a
prompter； paid it off with impudence； tearing off his vizard； and
swearing； 〃Cogs bones！ he was none of Arion or Orion either； but
honest Mike Lambourne； that had been drinking her Majesty's
health from morning till midnight； and was come to bid her
heartily welcome to Kenilworth Castle。〃
This unpremeditated buffoonery answered the purpose probably
better than the set speech would have done。 The Queen laughed
heartily； and swore （in her turn） that he had made the best
speech she had heard that day。 Lambourne； who instantly saw his
jest had saved his bones； jumped on shore； gave his dolphin a
kick； and declared he would never meddle with fish again； except
at dinner。
At the same time that the Queen was about to enter the Castle；
that memorable discharge of fireworks by water and land took
place； which Master Laneham； formerly introduced to the reader；
has strained all his eloquence to describe。
〃Such；〃 says the Clerk of the Council…chamber door 〃was the blaze
of burning darts； the gleams of stars coruscant； the streams and
hail of fiery sparks； lightnings of wildfire； and flight…shot of
thunderbolts； with continuance； terror； and vehemency； that the
heavens thundered； the waters surged； and the earth shook； and
for my part； hardy as I am； it made me very vengeably afraid。〃
＇See Laneham's Account of the Queen's Entertainment at
Killingworth Castle； in 1575； a very diverting tract； written by
as great a coxcomb as ever blotted paper。 ＇See Note 6＇ The
original is extremely rare； but it has been twice reprinted； once
in Mr。 Nichols's very curious and interesting collection of the
Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth； vol。i。 and
more lately in a beautiful antiquarian publication； termed
KENILWORTH ILLUSTRATED； printed at Chiswick； for Meridew of
Coventry and Radcliffe of Birmingham。 It contains reprints of
Laneham's Letter； Gascoigne's PrinceIy Progress； and other scarce
pieces； annotated with accuracy and ability。 The author takes
the liberty to refer to this work as his authority for the
account of the festivities。
I am indebted for a curious ground…plan of the Castle of
Kenilworth； as it existed in Queen Elizabeth's time； to the
voluntary kindness of Richard Badnall Esq。 of Olivebank； near
Liverpool。 From his obliging communication； I learn that the
original sketch was found among the manuscripts of the celebrated
J。 J。 Rousseau； when he left England。 These were entrusted by
the philosopher to the care of his friend Mr。 Davenport； and
passed from his legatee into the possession of Mr。 Badnall。＇
CHAPTER XXXI。
Nay； this is matter for the month of March；
When hares are maddest。 Either speak in reason；
Giving cold argument the wall of passion；
Or I break up the court。 BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER。
It is by no means our purpose to detail minutely all the princely
festivities of Kenilworth； after the fashion of Master Robert
Laneham