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which superiors endeavour to veil their internal agitation； while
speaking to those before whom it would be derogation to express
it； she pronounced the chilling words； 〃We have waited； my Lord
of Leicester。〃
〃Madam； and most gracious Princess；〃 said Leicester； 〃you； who
can pardon so many weaknesses which your own heart never knows；
can best bestow your commiseration on the agitations of the
bosom； which； for a moment； affect both head and limbs。 I came
to your presence a doubting and an accused subject； your goodness
penetrated the clouds of defamation； and restored me to my
honour； and； what is yet dearer； to your favouris it wonderful；
though for me it is most unhappy； that my master of the horse
should have found me in a state which scarce permitted me to make
the exertion necessary to follow him to this place； when one
glance of your Highness； although； alas！ an angry one； has had
power to do that for me in which Esculapius might have failed？〃
〃How is this？〃 said Elizabeth hastily； looking at Varney； 〃hath
your lord been ill？〃
〃Something of a fainting fit；〃 answered the ready…witted Varney；
〃as your Grace may observe from his present condition。 My lord's
haste would not permit me leisure even to bring his dress into
order。〃
〃It matters not；〃 said Elizabeth； as she gazed on the noble face
and form of Leicester； to which even the strange mixture of
passions by which he had been so lately agitated gave additional
interest； 〃make room for my noble lord。 Your place； Master
Varney； has been filled up； you must find a seat in another
barge。〃
Varney bowed； and withdrew。
〃And you； too； our young Squire of the Cloak；〃 added she； looking
at Raleigh； 〃must； for the time； go to the barge of our ladies of
honour。 As for Tressilian； he hath already suffered too much by
the caprice of women that I should aggrieve him by my change of
plan； so far as he is concerned。〃
Leicester seated himself in his place in the barge； and close to
the Sovereign。 Raleigh rose to retire； and Tressilian would have
been so ill…timed in his courtesy as to offer to relinquish his
own place to his friend； had not the acute glance of Raleigh
himself； who seemed no in his native element； made him sensible
that so ready a disclamation of the royal favour might be
misinterpreted。 He sat silent； therefore； whilst Raleigh； with a
profound bow； and a look of the deepest humiliation； was about to
quit his place。
A noble courtier； the gallant Lord Willoughby； read； as he
thought； something in the Queen's face which seemed to pity
Raleigh's real or assumed semblance of mortification。
〃It is not for us old courtiers；〃 he said； 〃to hide the sunshine
from the young ones。 I will； with her Majesty's leave；
relinquish for an hour that which her subjects hold dearest； the
delight of her Highness's presence； and mortify myself by walking
in starlight； while I forsake for a brief season the glory of
Diana's own beams。 I will take place in the boat which the
ladies occupy； and permit this young cavalier his hour of
promised felicity。〃
The Queen replied； with an expression betwixt mirth and earnest；
〃If you are so willing to leave us； my lord； we cannot help the
mortification。 But； under favour； we do not trust youold and
experienced as you may deem yourselfwith the care of our young
ladies of honour。 Your venerable age； my lord；〃 she continued；
smiling； 〃may be better assorted with that of my Lord Treasurer；
who follows in the third boat； and by whose experience even my
Lord Willoughby's may be improved。〃
Lord Willoughby hid his disappointment under a smilelaughed；
was confused； bowed； and left the Queen's barge to go on board my
Lord Burleigh's。 Leicester； who endeavoured to divert his
thoughts from all internal reflection； by fixing them on what was
passing around； watched this circumstance among others。 But when
the boat put off from the shorewhen the music sounded from a
barge which accompanied themwhen the shouts of the populace
were heard from the shore； and all reminded him of the situation
in which he was placed； he abstracted his thoughts and feelings
by a strong effort from everything but the necessity of
maintaining himself in the favour of his patroness； and exerted
his talents of pleasing captivation with such success； that the
Queen； alternately delighted with his conversation； and alarmed
for his health； at length imposed a temporary silence on him；
with playful yet anxious care； lest his flow of spirits should
exhaust him。
〃My lords；〃 she said； 〃having passed for a time our edict of
silence upon our good Leicester； we will call you to counsel on a
gamesome matter； more fitted to be now treated of； amidst mirth
and music； than in the gravity of our ordinary deliberations。
Which of you； my lords；〃 said she； smiling； 〃know aught of a
petition from Orson Pinnit； the keeper； as he qualifies himself；
of our royal bears？ Who stands godfather to his request？〃
〃Marry； with Your Grace's good permission； that do I；〃 said the
Earl of Sussex。 〃Orson Pinnit was a stout soldier before he was
so mangled by the skenes of the Irish clan MacDonough； and I
trust your Grace will be； as you always have been； good mistress
to your good and trusty servants。〃
〃Surely；〃 said the Queen； 〃it is our purpose to be so； and in
especial to our poor soldiers and sailors； who hazard their lives
for little pay。 We would give；〃 she said； with her eyes
sparkling； 〃yonder royal palace of ours to be an hospital for
their use； rather than they should call their mistress
ungrateful。 But this is not the question；〃 she said； her voice；
which had been awakened by her patriotic feelings； once more
subsiding into the tone of gay and easy conversation； 〃for this
Orson Pinnit's request goes something further。 He complains
that； amidst the extreme delight with which men haunt the play…
houses； and in especial their eager desire for seeing the
exhibitions of one Will Shakespeare （whom I think； my lords； we
have all heard something of）； the manly amusement of bear…baiting
is falling into comparative neglect； since men will rather throng
to see these roguish players kill each other in jest； than to see
our royal dogs and bears worry each other in bloody earnest。
What say you to this； my Lord of Sussex？〃
〃Why； truly； gracious madam；〃 said Sussex； 〃you must expect
little from an old soldier like me in favour of battles in sport；
when they are compared with battles in earnest； and yet； by my
faith； I wish Will Shakespeare no harm。 He is a stout man at
quarter…staff； and single falchion； though； as I am told； a
halting fellow； and he stood； they say； a tough fight with the
rangers of old Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecot； when he broke his
deer…park and kissed his keeper's daughter。〃
〃I cry you mercy； my Lord of Sussex；〃 said Queen Elizabeth；
interrupting him； 〃that matter was heard in council； and we will
not have this fellow's offence exaggeratedthere was no kissing
in the matter； and the defendant hath put the denial on record。
But what say you to his present practice； my lord； on the stage？
for there lies the point； and not in any ways touching his former