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〃But； perhaps；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃you do not join with us in our
opinion of her beauty； and indeed we have known men prefer a
statelier and more Juno…like form to that drooping fragile one
that hung its head like a broken lily。 Ay； men are tyrants； my
lord； who esteem the animation of the strife above the triumph of
an unresisting conquest； and； like sturdy champions； love best
those women who can wage contest with them。I could think with
you； Rutland； that give my Lord of Leicester such a piece of
painted wax for a bride； he would have wished her dead ere the
end of the honeymoon。〃
As she said this； she looked on Leicester so expressively that；
while his heart revolted against the egregious falsehood； he did
himself so much violence as to reply in a whisper that
Leicester's love was more lowly than her Majesty deemed； since it
was settled where he could never command； but must ever obey。
The Queen blushed； and bid him be silent； yet looked as of she
expected that he would not obey her commands。 But at that moment
the flourish of trumpets and kettle…drums from a high balcony
which overlooked the hall announced the entrance of the maskers；
and relieved Leicester from the horrible state of constraint and
dissimulation in which the result of his own duplicity had placed
him。
The masque which entered consisted of four separate bands； which
followed each other at brief intervals； each consisting of six
principal persons and as many torch…bearers； and each
representing one of the various nations by which England had at
different times been occupied。
The aboriginal Britons； who first entered； were ushered in by two
ancient Druids； whose hoary hair was crowned with a chaplet of
oak； and who bore in their hands branches of mistletoe。 The
maskers who followed these venerable figures were succeeded by
two Bards； arrayed in white； and bearing harps； which they
occasionally touched； singing at the same time certain stanzas of
an ancient hymn to Belus； or the Sun。 The aboriginal Britons had
been selected from amongst the tallest and most robust young
gentlemen in attendance on the court。 Their masks were
accommodated with long； shaggy beards and hair； their vestments
were of the hides of wolves and bears； while their legs； arms；
and the upper parts of their bodies； being sheathed in flesh…
coloured silk； on which were traced in grotesque lines
representations of the heavenly bodies； and of animals and other
terrestrial objects； gave them the lively appearance of our
painted ancestors； whose freedom was first trenched upon by the
Romans。
The sons of Rome； who came to civilize as well as to conquer；
were next produced before the princely assembly； and the manager
of the revels had correctly imitated the high crest and military
habits of that celebrated people； accommodating them with the
light yet strong buckler and the short two…edged sword； the use
of which had made them victors of the world。 The Roman eagles
were borne before them by two standard…bearers； who recited a
hymn to Mars； and the classical warriors followed with the grave
and haughty step of men who aspired at universal conquest。
The third quadrille represented the Saxons； clad in the bearskins
which they had brought with them from the German forests； and
bearing in their hands the redoubtable battle…axes which made
such havoc among the natives of Britain。 They were preceded by
two Scalds； who chanted the praises of Odin。
Last came the knightly Normans； in their mail…shirts and hoods of
steel； with all the panoply of chivalry； and marshalled by two
Minstrels； who sang of war and ladies' love。
These four bands entered the spacious hall with the utmost order；
a short pause being made； that the spectators might satisfy their
curiosity as to each quadrille before the appearance of the next。
They then marched completely round the hall； in order the more
fully to display themselves； regulating their steps to organs；
shalms； hautboys； and virginals； the music of the Lord
Leicester's household。 At length the four quadrilles of maskers；
ranging their torch…bearers behind them； drew up in their several
ranks on the two opposite sides of the hall； so that the Romans
confronting the Britons； and the Saxons the Normans； seemed to
look on each other with eyes of wonder； which presently appeared
to kindle into anger； expressed by menacing gestures。 At the
burst of a strain of martial music from the gallery the maskers
drew their swords on all sides； and advanced against each other
in the measured steps of a sort of Pyrrhic or military dance；
clashing their swords against their adversaries' shields； and
clattering them against their blades as they passed each other in
the progress of the dance。 It was a very pleasant spectacle to
see how the various bands； preserving regularity amid motions
which seemed to be totally irregular； mixed together； and then
disengaging themselves； resumed each their own original rank as
the music varied。
In this symbolical dance were represented the conflicts which had
taken place among the various nations which had anciently
inhabited Britain。
At length； after many mazy evolutions； which afforded great
pleasure to the spectators； the sound of a loud…voiced trumpet
was heard； as if it blew for instant battle； or for victory won。
The maskers instantly ceased their mimic strife； and collecting
themselves under their original leaders； or presenters； for such
was the appropriate phrase； seemed to share the anxious
expectation which the spectators experienced concerning what was
next to appear。
The doors of the hall were thrown wide； and no less a person
entered than the fiend…born Merlin； dressed in a strange and
mystical attire； suited to his ambiguous birth and magical power。
About him and behind him fluttered or gambolled many
extraordinary forms； intended to represent the spirits who waited
to do his powerful bidding； and so much did this part of the
pageant interest the menials and others of the lower class then
in the Castle； that many of them forgot even the reverence due to
the Queen's presence； so far as to thrust themselves into the
lower part of the hall。
The Earl of Leicester； seeing his officers had some difficulty to
repel these intruders； without more disturbance than was fitting
where the Queen was in presence； arose and went himself to the
bottom of the hall； Elizabeth； at the same time； with her usual
feeling for the common people； requesting that they might be
permitted to remain undisturbed to witness the pageant。
Leicester went under this pretext； but his real motive was to
gain a moment to himself； and to relieve his mind； were it but
for one instant； from the dreadful task of hiding； under the
guise of gaiety and gallantry； the lacerating pangs of shame；
anger； remorse； and thirst for vengeance。 He imposed silence by
his look and sign upon the vulgar crowd at the lower end of the
apartment； but instead of instantly returning to wait on her
Majesty； he wrapped his cloak around him； and mixing with the
crowd； stood in some degree an undistinguished spectator of the
progress of the masque。
Merlin ha