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himself with the modified measure of locking the door on the
unfortunate Tressilian； whose gallant and disinterested efforts
to save a female who had treated him with ingratitude thus
terminated for the present in the displeasure of his Sovereign
and the conviction of his friends that he was little better than
a madman。
CHAPTER XXXII。
The wisest Sovereigns err like private men；
And royal hand has sometimes laid the sword
Of chivalry upon a worthless shoulder；
Which better had been branded by the hangman。
What then？Kings do their best； and they and we
Must answer for the intent； and not the event。 OLD PLAY。
〃It is a melancholy matter；〃 said the Queen； when Tressilian was
withdrawn； 〃to see a wise and learned man's wit thus pitifully
unsettled。 Yet this public display of his imperfection of brain
plainly shows us that his supposed injury and accusation were
fruitless； and therefore； my Lord of Leicester； we remember your
suit formerly made to us in behalf of your faithful servant
Varney； whose good gifts and fidelity； as they are useful to you；
ought to have due reward from us； knowing well that your
lordship； and all you have； are so earnestly devoted to our
service。 And we render Varney the honour more especially that we
are a guest； and； we fear； a chargeable and troublesome one；
under your lordship's roof； and also for the satisfaction of the
good old Knight of Devon； Sir Hugh Robsart； whose daughter he
hath married； and we trust the especial mark of grace which we
are about to confer may reconcile him to his son…in…law。Your
sword； my Lord of Leicester。〃
The Earl unbuckled his sword； and taking it by the point；
presented on bended knee the hilt to Elizabeth。
She took it slowly drew it from the scabbard； and while the
ladies who stood around turned away their eyes with real or
affected shuddering； she noted with a curious eye the high polish
and rich； damasked ornaments upon the glittering blade。
〃Had I been a man；〃 she said； 〃methinks none of my ancestors
would have loved a good sword better。 As it is with me； I like
to look on one； and could； like the Fairy of whom I have read in
some Italian rhymeswere my godson Harrington here； he could
tell me the passageeven trim my hair； and arrange my head…gear；
in such a steel mirror as this is。Richard Varney； come forth；
and kneel down。 In the name of God and Saint George； we dub thee
knight！ Be Faithful； Brave； and Fortunate。 Arise； Sir Richard
Varney。〃
＇The incident alluded to occurs in the poem of Orlando Innamorato
of Boiardo； libro ii。 canto 4； stanza 25。
〃Non era per ventura；〃 etc。
It may be rendered thus：
As then； perchance； unguarded was the tower；
So enter'd free Anglante's dauntless knight。
No monster and no giant guard the bower
In whose recess reclined the fairy light；
Robed in a loose cymar of lily white；
And on her lap a sword of breadth and might；
In whose broad blade； as in a mirror bright；
Like maid that trims her for a festal night；
The fairy deck'd her hair； and placed her coronet aright。
Elizabeth's attachment to the Italian school of poetry was
singularly manifested on a well…known occasion。 Her godson； Sir
John Harrington； having offended her delicacy by translating some
of the licentious passages of the Orlando Furioso； she imposed on
him； as a penance； the task of rendering the WHOLE poem into
English。＇
Varney arose and retired； making a deep obeisance to the
Sovereign who had done him so much honour。
〃The buckling of the spur； and what other rites remain；〃 said the
Queen； 〃may be finished to…morrow in the chapel； for we intend
Sir Richard Varney a companion in his honours。 And as we must
not be partial in conferring such distinction； we mean on this
matter to confer with our cousin of Sussex。〃
That noble Earl； who since his arrival at Kenilworth； and indeed
since the commencement of this Progress； had found himself in a
subordinate situation to Leicester； was now wearing a heavy cloud
on his brow； a circumstance which had not escaped the Queen； who
hoped to appease his discontent； and to follow out her system of
balancing policy by a mark of peculiar favour； the more
gratifying as it was tendered at a moment when his rival's
triumph appeared to be complete。
At the summons of Queen Elizabeth； Sussex hastily approached her
person； and being asked on which of his followers； being a
gentleman and of merit； he would wish the honour of knighthood to
be conferred； he answered； with more sincerity than policy； that
he would have ventured to speak for Tressilian； to whom he
conceived he owed his own life； and who was a distinguished
soldier and scholar； besides a man of unstained lineage； 〃only；〃
he said； 〃he feared the events of that night〃 And then he
stopped。
〃I am glad your lordship is thus considerate；〃 said Elizabeth。
〃The events of this night would make us； in the eyes of our
subjects； as mad as this poor brain…sick gentleman himselffor
we ascribe his conduct to no maliceshould we choose this moment
to do him grace。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Earl of Sussex； somewhat
discountenanced； your Majesty will allow me to name my master of
the horse； Master Nicholas Blount； a gentleman of fair estate and
ancient name； who has served your Majesty both in Scotland and
Ireland； and brought away bloody marks on his person； all
honourably taken and requited。〃
The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders slightly even at
this second suggestion； and the Duchess of Rutland； who read in
the Queen's manner that she had expected that Sussex would have
named Raleigh； and thus would have enabled her to gratify her own
wish while she honoured his recommendation； only waited the
Queen's assent to what he had proposed； and then said that she
hoped； since these two high nobles had been each permitted to
suggest a candidate for the honours of chivalry； she； in behalf
of the ladies in presence； might have a similar indulgence。
〃I were no woman to refuse you such a boon；〃 said the Queen；
smiling。
〃Then；〃 pursued the Duchess； 〃in the name of these fair ladies
present； I request your Majesty to confer the rank of knighthood
on Walter Raleigh； whose birth； deeds of arms； and promptitude to
serve our sex with sword or pen； deserve such distinction from us
all。〃
〃Gramercy； fair ladies；〃 said Elizabeth； smiling； 〃your boon is
granted； and the gentle squire Lack…Cloak shall become the good
knight Lack…Cloak； at your desire。 Let the two aspirants for the
honour of chivalry step forward。〃
Blount was not as yet returned from seeing Tressilian； as he
conceived； safely disposed of； but Raleigh came forth； and
kneeling down； received at the hand of the Virgin Queen that
title of honour； which was never conferred on a more
distinguished or more illustrious object。
Shortly afterwards Nicholas Blount entered； and hastily apprised
by Sussex； who met him at the door of the hall； of the Queen's
gracious purpose regarding him； he was desired to advance towards
the throne。 It is a sight sometimes seen； and it is both
ludicrous and pitiable； when an honest man of plain common sense
is sur