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For our own parts, we are satisfied. | chanted steed Clavileno Aligero, sees We are fully persuaded, that to re- beneath him this earth and all its alimove the existing portion of vice and mentary productions no bigger than a misery from the world, by means of a grain of mustard, and population like reform in our political institutions, a hazel nut, strutting about upon its would not be attended with any of surface. We most sincerely hope that those fatal results of which Mr. Mal- this volume may restore him to reason thus so confidently warns ús. Relax- and his friends, and shall be very haping a little from gravity in the tone of py to announce the circumstance to our review, we heartily congratulate our the world. readers and mankind in general, on We have only further to add, that the signal and final overthrow of vice had we not felt in the intense importand misery, those two furio s dragons,ance of the question, an irresistible imstationed by Mr. Malthus to guard pulse to call the attention of our readthe entrance to Nature's mighty ban-ers to the book before us, we should queting hall, that the feast might be have been deterred from noticing it, enjoyed by a select and comfortable by the consciousness of not being able, party. In truth, these alarming mon- in our limited space, to give an adesters have proved to be no better than quate account of a work in which every a couple of noisy curs, whose silence thing is so necessary, so connected, and has been effectually obtained by a good so admirably arranged, that it is not stroke from the cudgel of Mr. Godwin. easy to determine where to begin or We can For Mr. Malthus himself, we have bid where to close an extract. adieu to him. He is no longer a being only refer our readers to the volume itself, claiming for ourselves no more "of this world. He has been fairly carthan the merit of recommending to their serious consideration a question, which, at first, may, perhaps, be thought somewhat repulsive, but which, on account of the influence which it has had in our political regulation for several years past, and may possibly continue to have, yields, in point of importance, to none with which we are acquainted.

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ried off upon the back of high-flying
geometrical ratio. This incomparable
animal, by its sleekness and its fair
proportions, in evil hour tempted the
wandering essayist to trust himself in
its stirrups. From that time to this,
has he been borne along with a velocity
which baffles the utmost effort of hu-
man imagination. He has long since
'put a girdle round about the earth.
By the last account of his progress, we
heard that he was cantering over the
planets at a prodigious rate, and had
'nearly, if not quite, accomplished a
tour of the solar system. Mr. Mal-
thus, in his late publication, Principles
of Political Economy, p. 227, says,
If any person will take the trouble to
make the calculation, he will see, that
if the necessaries of life could be ob-
tained without limit, and the number
of people could be doubled every
twenty-five years, the population which
might have been produced from a sin-
gle pair since the Christian era, would
have been sufficient not only to fill the
earth quite full of people, so that four
should stand upon every square yard,
but to fill all the planets of our solar
system in the same way, and not only
them, but all the planets revolving
round the stars which are visible to the
naked eye, supposing each of them to
be a sun, and to have as many planets
belonging to it as our sun has.' Per-
haps, at this moment, from some spot
in that inconceivable expanse, where
other planets circle other suns,' he
looks down on this terrestial speck,
and, like Sancho Panza, from the en-

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Kenilworth; a Romance.
thor of Waverley,'
3 vols. 12mo. pp. 1007.
and London, 1821.

should adhere to his directions, and having given orders that he should not be disturbed, Dr. Masters, on his arrival, was met by a young Devonshire gentleman, in the service of the earl, who refused him admittance. This gentleman is Raleigh, to whom we are now, for the first time, introduced.

The Earl of Sussex, on being acquainted with the repulse the physician had met with from his zealous young follower, commanded Blount, his master of horse, to go instantly to Greenwich, and taking young Walter and Tracy with him, to make a suitable apology to the Queen, for refusing her physician.

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Here the author introduces the well-known story of Raleigh, spreading his cloak for the Queen to walk upon, and which laid the foundation of his success at court. Raleigh is described as possessing a countenance which, besides being regularly handsome and accompanied by a fine person, was animated and striking in a degree that seemed to speak at once the firmness of a decided and the fire of an enterprising character-the power of reflection, and the promptitude of determination.'

The incident of the cloak, aud the manner in which Raleigh conducted himself in the consequent audience of the Queen, pleased the Queen so much, that she not only overlooked the refusal of her physician, but determined on an immediate visit By the Auto Say's Court, to reconcile the Earls Ivanhoe,' &c. of Sussex and Leicester, whose relative Edinburgh situations in the Queen's favour are stated in a line: Sussex had been most serviceable to the Queen, while Leicester was most dear to the woman.'

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(Concluded from p.37.) We are happy to find that the plan we While at Say's Court, the petition of adopted in our last, of detailing the Sir Hugh Robsart to the Queen, for story of the romance of Kenilworth, in restitution of his daughter, is presented; preference to giving half a dozen pages when Varney, to exculpate his master, of unconnected extracts, has been ap- declares that she is married to himself. proved by the public, and we now, The scene in which Sussex and Leices therefore, proceed in the narrative. ter are reconciled, is finely drawn. We left Tressilian and his attendant, The Queen had given Leicester a se Wayland Smith, on their way to Say's vere reproof for hi interfering with Court, where the Earl of Sussex was Bowyer, one of Sussex's followers:then confined of an illness, suspected What I say to my Lord of Leicester," justly to have been occasioned by poison she said, after a moment's pause, “I say administered by Alasco, at the instiga-also to you, my Lord of Sussex. You tion of the Earl of Leicester, or his party. also must needs ruffle in the court of Arrived in London, Wayland purchased England, at the head of a faction of your several drugs of as many different che- own?" My followers, gracious princess,', mists; and, on reaching Say's Court, was fortunate enough to prevail on the said Sussex, "have indeed ruffled in your earl to take an electuary he had pre-cause, in Ireland, in Scotland, and against pared, which was of signal service. In yonder rebellious earls in the north. I am ignorant that"the mean time, the Queen sent her own physician, Dr. Masters, to Say's Court; but Wayland having undertaken to cure the earl, only on condition that he

4.66

Do you bandy looks and words with me, my lord?" said the Queen, interrupt ing him; methinks you might learn of my Lord of Leicester the modesty to besi

"And here," said Sussex," is mine, |—"Nay, lady, I must needs say you are in truth and honesty; but,”hasty in this. Such deceit is not utterly to be condemned when practised for a righteous end; and thus even the pa triarch Abraham feigned Sarah to be his sister when they went down to Egypt."

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lent at least, under our censure. I say, my lord, that my grandfather and my father, in their wisdom, debarred the no"Nay, under favour, you shall add no bles of this civilized land from travelling more," said the Queen. Why, this is with such disorderly retinues; and think as it should be," she added, looking on you, that because I wear a coif, their them more favourably," and wher you, sceptre has in my hand been changed into the shepherds of the people, unite to a distaff? I tell you no king in Christen- protect them, it shall be well with the dom will less brook his court to be cum-lock we rule over. For, my lords, I tell bered, his people oppressed, and his king- you plainly. your follies and your brawls dom's peace disturbed by the arro-lead to strange disorder among your ser-you, that will read Scripture only to copy

gance of overgrown power, than she who
now speaks with you.-My Lord of Lei-
cester, and you, my Lord of Sussex,
command you both to be friends with
each other; or by the crown I wear, you
shall find an enemy who will be too strong
for both of you."
Madam," said the Earl of Leices-
ter, "you who are yourself the fountain
of honour, know best what is due to mine.
I place it at your disposal, and only say,
that the terms on which I have stood with
my Lord of Sussex, have not been of my
seeking; nor had he cause to think
me his enemy, until he had done me gross
Wrong."
For me, madam," said the Earl of

vants.'

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"Ay, Sir," answered the countess, "but God rebuked that deceit even in the father of his chosen people, by the mouth of the heathen Pharaoh. Out upon those things, which are held out to us as warnings, not as examples!"

66

"Now, so heaven pardon me my useless anger," answered the countess, thou art as daring a hypocrite as yonder fellow is an impudent deceiver. Never conntenance to so dastardly, so dishonourwill I believe that the noble Dudley gave able a plan. Thus I tread on his infamy, if his indeed it be, and thus destroy its remembrance for ever!"

After Leicester had the interview with Alasco, it was determined to send "But Sarah disputed not the will of the astrologer and Michael Lambourne her husband, an it be your pleasure," said to Cumnor Place, there to await the Foster, in reply; "but did as Abraham orders of Varney. In the mean time, it might be well with her husband for her commanded, calling herself his sister, that Wayland Smith is despatched by Tres-sake, and that his soul might live because silian, and notwithstanding the vigilance of her beauty." of Foster, under the disguise of a pedlar he gets an interview with the Countess of Leicester, whom he makes acquainted with the Queen's intended visit to Kenilworth, and hints the probability, that England will have a King, and England's Elizabeth, God save her, a husband, ere the progress be over.' The Queen had ordered So saying, she tore in pieces LeicesVarney to bring his wife to Kenil-ter's letter, and stamped, in the extremity worth, and he was, therefore, despatch- of impatience, as if she would have annied to Cumnor Place to endeavour to bilated the minute fragments into which persuade the countess to appear she had rent it. there "And for me," said Leicester, "al-her alone, and makes the degrading as his wife. He has an interview with ways under my gracious sovereign's pleasure, my hand shall be as ready to make proposal; the countess revolting at the good my words, as that of any man who idea, insists on being let out of the roon; the door is unlocked, and Foster and his daughter Janet enter. The countess, pointing to Varney, says,—

Sussex, "I cannot appeal from your sovereign pleasure; but I were well con tent my Lord of Leicester should say in what I have, as he terms it, wronged him, since my tongue never spoke the word that I would not willingly justify either on foot or horseback."

ever wrote himself Ratcliffe."

"My lords," said the Queen, "these are no terms for this presence; and if you cannot keep your temper, we will find means to keep both that and you close enough. Let me see you join hands, my lords, and forget your idle animosi

ties."

The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes, each unwilling to make the first advance to execute the Queen's will.

"Sussex," said Elizabeth, "I entreat, -Leicester, I command you.'

Yet, so were her words accented, that the entreaty sounded like command, and the command like entreaty. They re. mained still and stubborn, until she raised Her voice to a height which argued at once impatience and absolute command.

ter, in order to burthen me with the "Bear witness," said Varney, collecting himself," she has torn my lord's letscheme of his devising; and although it promises nought but danger and trouble to me, she would lay it to my charge, as if I had any purpose of mine own in it."

"Thou liest, thou treacherous slave!" tempts to keep her silent, in the sad foresaid Countess Amy, in spite of Janet's atsight that her vehemence might only furnish arms against herself. "Thou liest,'

she continued-"Let me go, Janet-were it the last word I have to speak, he lies-he had his own foul ends to seek; and broader he would have displayed them, had my passion permitted me to preserve the silence which at first encouraged him to unfold his vile projects."

dressed, hath the outside of a gentleman,
"Look at him, Janet. He is fairly
and hither he came to persuade me it was
my lord's pleasure-nay, more, my
wedded lord's commands, that I should
go with him to Kenilworth, and before the
Queen and nobles, and in presence of my
own wedded lord, that I should acknow-
brushing,
ledge him-him there-that very cloak-
shoe cleaning fellow-him
lord and husband; furnishing against my-
there, my lord's lacquey, for my liege
self, great God! whenever I was to claim
would hew my just claim from the root,
my right and my rank, such weapons as
and destroy my character to be regardedness.
as an honourable matron of the English
nobility!"

"Sir Henry Lee," she said, to an of-
ficer in attendance, "have a guard in "You hear her, Foster, and you,
present readiness, and man a barge in-young maiden, hear this lady," answered
stantly.-My Lords of Sussex and Lei- Varney, taking advantage of the pause
cester, I bid you once more to join hands which the countess had made in her
and, God's death he that refuses shall charge, more for lack of breath than for
laste of our tower fare ere he see our face lack of matter-"You hear that her heat
again. I will lower your proud hearts ere only objects to me the course which our
we part, and that I promise, on the word of good lord, for the purpose to keep certain
a Queen."
matters secret, suggests in the very letter
which she holds in her hands."

The prison," said Leicester, "might be borne, but to loose your grace's presence, were to lose light and life at once. Here, Sussex, is my hand."

Foster here attempted to interfere with a face of authority, which he thought became the charge entrusted to him,

ed in spite of his effrontery," I entreat Madam," said Varney, overwhelmyou to believe yourself mistaken."

"As soon will I believe light darkHave I drank of oblivion? Do I not remember former passages, which, known to Leicester, had given thee the preferment of a gallows, instead of the honour of his intimacy.-I would I were a man but for five minutes! It were space enough to make a craven like thee confess his villainy. But go-begonetell thy master, that when I take the foul course to which such scandalous deceits as thou hast recommended on his behalf, must necessarily lead me, I will give him a rival something worthy of the name. He shall not be supplanted by an ignominious lacquey, whose best fortune is to catch his master's last suit of clothes ere it

is thread-bare, and who is only fit to se- the Countess of Leicester," which were
duce a suburb-wench by the bravery of the words that had naturally suggested
new roses in his master's old pantofles.themselves. It would have been a be-
Go, begone, sir-I scorn thee so much,trayal of the secret, on which her hus-
that I am ashamed to have been angry with band had assured her that his fortunes de-
thee."
pended, to Tressilian, to Sussex, to the
Queen, and to the whole assembled
"Never," she thought," will I
court.
break my promised silence. I will sub-
mit to every suspicion rather than that."
The tears rose to her eyes, as she
stood silent before Tressilian; while,
looking on her with mingled grief and
pity, he said, "Alas! Amy, your eyes
contradict your tongue. That speaks of
a protector, willing and able to watch
over you; but these tell me you are ruined
and deserted by the wretch to whom you
have attached yourself."

Varney gets Alasco to prepare a potion, which he hoped would either poison the countess, or at least render her unable to appear at Kenilworth. Compelled by the threats of the wretch, she drinks it, without the dire effect. The countess quits Cumnor in disguise, under the protection of Wayland, who had arranged the escape with Janet; and, after encountering Varney, who mistakes them for revellers, and meeting with other interesting adventures, they reach Kenilworth, where, with some difficulty, they get admission.

'She looked on him, with eyes in which anger sparkled through her tears, but only repeated the word "wretch!" with a scornful emphasis.

Tressilian, astonishment again overpowering both his grief and his resolution, “I must believe you, indeed, incapable of thinking or acting for yourself."

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, sinking on one knee before him, "I am not mad—I am but a creature unutterably miserable, and, from circumstances the most singular, dragged on to a precipice by the arm of him who thinks he is keeping me from it

even by your's Tressilian,--by your's, whom I have honoured, respected-all but loved-and yet loved too-loved too, Tressilian-though not as you wished me."

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There was an energy-a self-possession-an abandonment in her voice and manner-a total resignation of herself to his generosity, which, together with the kindness of her expressions to himself, moved him deeply. He raised her, and, in broken accents, entreated her to be

comforted.

"I cannot," she said, "I will not be "Yes, wretch!" said Tressilian; "for were he aught better, why are you here, comforted, till you grant me my request! and alone in my apartment? why was not I will speak as plainly as I dare--I am fitting provisions made for your honour-now awaiting the commands of one who has a right to issue them; the interference of "In your apartment?" repeated a third person-of you in especial, TresAmy; "in your apartment? It shall in-silian, will be ruin-utter ruin to me. stantly be relieved of my presence." Wait but four-and-twenty-hours, and it She hastened towards the door; but the may be that the pcor Amy may have the sad recollection of her deserted state at means to shew that she values, and can once pressed on her mind, and, pausing reward, your disinterested friendship— on the threshold, she added, in a tone that she is happy herself, and has the unutterably pathetic, "Alas! I had for- means to make you so. It is surely worth your patience, for so short a space?" › got-I know not where to go."

The countess was appointed an apartment in Mervyn's Tower, where she found materials for writing. She immediately wrote a letter to the Earl of Leicester; and, in lieu of a sealable reception?" and silken thread, she secured it with a braid of her own beautiful tresses, secured by what is called a true-love knot.' The letter was given to Wayland, but he determined to see Tressilian before he had it delivered. By a singelar fatality, allowable in romance, the apartment occupied by the countess had been assigned to Tressilian, who entered by means of a master-key, [we were not aware that lock-making had reached such perfection in those days,] his long-lost Amy. She started with surprise on seeing him, and the paleness of her cheeks gave

and saw

way to a deep blush:

Tressilian,” she said, at length, "why come you here?”

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Nay, why come you here, Amy," returned Tressilian, unless it be at Jength to claim that aid, which, as far as one man's heart and arm can extend, shall instantly be rendered to you?"

'She was silent a moment, and then answered in a sorrowful, rather an angry tone," I require no aid, Tressilian, and would rather be injured than benefited by any which your kindness can offer me. Believe me, I am near one whom law and love oblige to protect me."

"" I see-I see it all," said Tressilian,

Tressilian promises to keep the sespringing to her side, and leading her cret for twenty-four hours; he meets back to the seat, on which she sunk down Wayland, who has lost the countess's "you do need aid-you do need pro-letter, and in going back to her chamtection, though you will not own it; and ber, he encounters Lambourne, who you shall not need it in vain. Leaning on my arm, as the representative of your has him turned out of the castle. The excellent and broken-hearted father, on Queen now arrives at Kenilworth, thevery threshold of the castle-gate, you when the festivities commence; the deshall meet Elizabeth; and the first deed scription of these is passed over rather she shall do in the halls of Kenilworth, slightly by the author, who refers to shall be an act of justice to her sex and Laneham's account in Mr. Nicholl's her subjects. Strong in my good cause, [improperly called Nicholas's] Proand in the Queen's justice, the power of her minion shall not shake my resolution.gresses and Processions of Queen EliI will instantly seek Sussex."

zabeth.

"Not for all that is under heaven!" Varney had procured certificates, said the countess, much alarmed, and that the countess, his supposed wife, feeling the absolute necessity of obtaining was so ill, as to be unable to attend at "Tres- Kenilworth; these are shown to Tressitime, at least, for consideration. silian, you were wont to be generous-lian by the Queen; and he declares they grant me one request, and believe, if it be your wish to save me from misery, and speak not the truth. The Queen defrom madness, you will do more by mak-clares he shall have a fair hearing; and The villain, then, hath done you ing me the promise I ask of you, than Elithe poor justice which remained in his zabeth can do for me with all her power." power," said Tressilian; and 1 behold "Ask me any thing for which you before me the wife of Varney!" can allege reason," said Tressilian; "The wife of Varney!" she replied," but demand not of me”with all the emphasis of scorn; "with 6.66 what base name, sir, does your boldness stigmatize the-the-the"-She hesitated, dropped her tone of scorn, looked down, and was confused and silent, for she recollected what fatal consequences might attend her completing the sentence with

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66 you

O limit not your boon, dear Ed-
mund!" exclaimed the countess,
once loved that I should call you so-limit
not your boon to reason! for my case is
all madness, and phrenzy must guide the
counsels which alone can aid me."

·

"If you speak thus wildly," said

several noblemen and ladies present speak in praise of Alasco, who had signed the certificate as physician. Tressilian entreated twenty-four hours, in which time, if he did not prove that the certificates spoke falsely, he would lay his head on the block. Varney and Nicholas Blount, and, at the request of the Duchess of Rutland, Raleigh, are all knighted by the Queen. Varney urges Leicester to aim at the

'crown matrimonial,' and the better to persuade him, endeavours to make him suspect the countess's honour, accusing her of passing some time in Tressilian's chamber. The countess passes her time with great anxiety, and while she is in hopes of seeing her lord, Lambourne enters, muffled up in a cloak, and offers violence to her. The countess shrieks, which brings to her aid Lawrence Staples, the tower-keeper, who threatens to knock Lainbourne down with the keys. In the struggle that takes place between them, the countess escapes into the garden, which is soon afterwards entered by the Queen, in a hunting-dress, and Leicester, who on this occasion addressed her Majesty with an importunity which 'became the language of love itself." The Queen requested to be alone, and while ruminating on the earl's suit, she saw the unhappy countess, whom she at first mistook for a performer in one of the various theatrical pageants which had been placed in different situations, to surprise her with their homage. The Queen was soon undeceived, when the Countess approached and claimed her protection :

"I request-I implore," stammered forth the unfortunate countess,-"I be

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seech your gracious protection-against -against one Varney.' She choaked well nigh as she uttered the fatal word, which was iristantly caught up by the Queen.

"What Varney-Sir Richard Varney -the servant of Lord Leicester!-What, damsel, are you to him, or he to you?"

"I-I-was his prisoner-and he practised on my life-and I broke forth to

-to"

To throw thyself on my protection, doubtless," said Elizabeth. "Thou shalt have it—that is, if thou art worthy; for we will sift this matter to the uttermost.-Thou art," she said, bending on

the countess an eye which seemed designed to pierce her very inmost soul,"thou art Amy, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart, of Lidcote Hall?"

"Forgive me-forgive me-most gracious princess!" said Amy, dropping! once more on her knee, from which she

had arisen.

""For what should I forgive thee, silly wench?" said Elizabeth; for being the daughter of thine own father? Thou art brain-sick, surely. Well, I see I must wring the story from thee by inches-thou did'st deceive thine old and honoured father-thy look confesses it-cheated master Tressilian-thy blush avouches it—and married this same Varney."

'Amy sprung on her feet, and interrupted the Queen eagerly, with, "No, madam, no-as there is a God above us, I - am not the sordid wretch you would

take me! I am not the wife of that contemptible slave-of that most deliberate villain! I am not the wife of Varney I would rather be the bride of Destruc

tion!"

tual pressure had bent him to the earth, kneeled down before Elizabeth, and prostrated his brow to the marble flag-stones on which she stood.

""Leicester," said Elizabeth, in a 'The Queen, overwhelmed in her voice which trembled with passion, turn by Amy's vehemence, stood silent" could I think thou hast practised on me for an instant, and then replied, "Why, -on me thy sovereign-on me thy conGod ha' mercy! woman-I see thou fiding, thy too partial mistress, the base can'st talk fast enough when the theme and ungrateful deception which thy prelikes thee. Nay, tell me, woman," she sent confusion surmises-by all that is continued, for to the impulse of curiosity holy, false lord, that head of thine were was now added that of an undefined jea- in as great peril as ever was thy father's!" lousy that some deception had been practised on her," tell ine, woman-for by God's day, I wILL know-whose wife, or whose paramour art thou? Speak out, and be speedy; thou wert better dally with a lioness than with Elizabeth."

'Urged to this extremity, dragged as it were by irresistible force to the verge of the precipice, which she saw but could not avoid,-permitted not a moment's respite by the eager words, and menacing gestures of the offended Queen, Amy at length uttered in despair, "The Earl of Leicester knows it all."

"The Earl of Leicester!" said Elizabeth, in utter astonishment-" The Earl of Leicester!" she repeated, with kindling anger.-" Woman, thou art set on to this-thou doest belie him-he takes no keep of such things as thou art. Thou art suborned to slander the noblest lord, and the truest-hearted gentleman, in England! But were he the right hand of our trust, or something yet dearer to us, thou shalt have thy hearing, and that in his presence. Come with me—come with me instantly!"

As Amy shrunk back with terror, which the incensed Queen interpreted as that of conscious guilt, Elizabeth hastily advanced, seized on her arm, and hastened with swift and long steps out of the grotto, and along the principal alley of the pleasance, dragging with her the terrified countess, whom she still held by the arm, and whose utmost exertions could but just keep pace with those of the indignant Queen.'

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Leicester was at this time in the midst of a splendid group of lords and ladies, assembled under an arcade, when his ears were assailed by the well known voice of majesty, where is my Lord of Leicester?-stand forth my Lord of Leicester.' The Queen darted into the circle, and pointing to the countess, whom she supported with one hand, inquired of the astonished earl, knowest thou this woman?'—

As at the blast of that last trumpet, the guilty shall call upon the mountains to cover them, Leicester's inward thoughts invoked the stately arch which he had built in his pride, to burst its strong conjunction, and overwhelm them in its ruins. But the cemented stones, architrave, and battlement, stood fast; and it was the proud master himself, who, as if some ac

'Leicester had not conscious inno

cence, but he had pride to support him. He raised slowly his brow and features, which were black and swoln with contending emotions, and only replied,

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My head cannot fall but by the sentence of my peers-to them I will plead, and not to a princess who thus requites my faithful service."

"What! my lords," said Elizabeth, looking around, "we are defied, I think defied in the castle we have ourselves bestowed on this proud man! My Lord Shrewsbury, you are marshal of England, attach him of high treason."

"Whom does your grace mean?" said Shrewsbury, much surprised, for he had that instant joined the astonished circle.

"Whom should I mean, but that traitor, Dudley, Earl of Leicester!Cousin of Hunsdon, order out your band of gentlemen pensioners, and take him into instant custody.—I say, villain, make haste!"

'Hunsdon, a rough old noble, who, from his relationship to the Boyleyns, was accustomed to use more freedom with the Queen than almost any others, replied bluntly, " And it is like your grace might order me to the Tower to-morrow, for making too much haste. I do beseech you to be patient."

"Patient-God's life!" exclaimed the Queen,-"name not the word to me; thou knowest not of what he is guilty!"

'Amy, who had by this time in some degree recovered herself, and who saw her husband, as she conceived, in the utmost danger from the rage of an offended sovereign, instantly, (and, alas! how many women have done the same,) forgot her own wrongs, and her own dan ger, in her apprehensions for him, and throwing himself before the Queen, embraced her knees, while she exclaimed, "He is guiltless, madam-he is guiltless -no one can lay ought to the charge of the noble Leicester."

"Why, minion," answered the Queen, "didst not thou, thyself, say that the Earl of Leicester was privy to thy whole history?"

"Did I say so," repeated the unhappy Amy, laying aside every consideration of consistency, and of self interest; "O, if I did, I foully belied him. May God so judge me, as I believe he was never privy to a thought that would harm me!"

"Woman!" said Elizabeth, "I will know who has moved thee to this; or my wrath-and the wrath of kings is a flaming

fire-shall wither and consume thee like a weed in the furnace."

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As the Queen uttered this threat, Leicester's better angel called his pride to his aid, and reproached him with the utter extremity of meanness which would overwhelm him for ever, if he stooped to take shelter under the generous interposition of his wife, and abandon her,

in return for her kindness, to the resentment of the Queen. He had already raised his head, with the dignity of a man of honour, to avow his marriage, and proclaim himself the protector of his Countess, when Varney, born, as it appeared, to be his master's evil genius, rushed into the presence, with every mark of disorder on his face and apparel. "What means this saucy intrusion?"

said Elizabeth.

Varney, with the air of a man altoge ther overwhelmed with grief and confusion, prostrated himself before her feet, exclaiming, "Pardon, my liege, pardon! or at least let your justice avenge itself on me, where it is due; but spare my noble, my generous, my innocent patron and master!"

6

Amy, who was yet kneeling, started up as she saw the man whom she deemed most odious, place himself so near her, and was about to fly towards Leicester, when, checked at once by the uncertainty and even timidity which his looks had re-assumed, as soon as the appearance of his confidant seemed to open a new scene, she hung back, and, uttering a faint scream, besought of her Majesty to cause her to be imprisoned in the lowest dungeon of the castle-to deal with her as the worst of criminals-" but spare,” she exclaimed, my sight and hearing, what will destroy the little judgment I have left-the sight of that unutterable and

most shameless villain!"

"And why, sweetheart?" said the Queen, moved by a new impulse; "what hath he, this false knight, since such thou accountest him, done to thee?" "Oh, worse than sorrow, madam, and worse than injury-he hath sown dissention where most there should be peace. I shall go mad if I look longer on him." ""Beshrew me, but I think thou art distraught already," answered the Queen. -"My Lord Hunsdon, look to this poor distressed young woman, and let her be safely bestowed, and in honest keeping, till we require her to be forthcoming,"

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An affecting interview takes place between the earl and the countess, in which she entreats that he will do justice to her and to his own honour, by avowing himself her husband; and that then, if law or power require that he should part from her, she will oppose no objection. Leicester hesitates and talks of defiance. On returning with Varney to his chamber, he calcu

lates on his supposed strength, which he safe, and I must be assured of her safety.
conceives to be a tree so deep rooted My own quarrel with you is ended, my
as not easily to be torn up by the tem-lord; but there is another, to begin with
the seducer of Amy Robsart, who has
pest.' Varney turns the conversation
screened his guilt under the cloak of the
to the subject of the countess, whom he
infamous Varney."
accuses of being in continued conni-
"The seducer of Amy!" replied Lei-
vance with Tressilian, and men-cester, with a voice like thunder;
66 say
tions his meeting him at Cumnor her husband!-her misguided, blinded,
Hall. Leicester, being wrought upon, most unworthy husband!-She is as sure-
Vows the destruction of the countess. ly Countess of Leicester, as I am belted
Varney obtains authority to take her earl. Nor can you, sir, point out that
to Cumnor Place, and rid his master her at my own free will. I need scarce
manner of justice which I will not render
of her for ever. Leicester swears to re-
say, I fear not your compulsion."
serve Tressilian for his own revenge.
Varney carries off the countess, and
Leicester, fearing he might be too hasty
in executing his purpose, writes a coun-
ter-order, which he despatches by Lam-
bourne to Varney. Leicester and
Tressilian encounter, but are interrupt-
ed. They retire, but renew the com-
bat next day, when Tressilian would
have received the fatal blow, had not
his arm been arrested by the boy, Dickie
Sludge, who produced the lost letter
from the countess to the earl:-

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'The generous nature of Tressilian was instantly turned from consideration of any thing personal to himself, and entered at once upon Amy's welfare. He had by no means undoubting confidence in the fluctuating resolutions of Leicester, whose mind seemed to him agitated beyond the government of calm reason; neither did he, notwithstanding the assurances he had received, think Amy safe in the hands of his dependants. My lord," he said, calmly, "I mean you no offence, and am far from seeking a quarrel. But my duty to Sir Hugh Robsart compels me to carry this matter instantly to the Queen, that the Countess's rank may be acknowledg ed in her person."

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"You shall not need, sir," replied the earl, haughtily; "do not dare to interfere. you No voice but Dudley's shall proclaim Dudley's infamy.-To Elizabeth herself will I tell it, and then for Cumnor-Place with the speed of life and death?"

"My lord," said Tressilian,
have done me great wrong; but something
within my breast ever whispered that it
was by egregious error."

666

Error, indeed!" said Leicester, and handed him the letter; "I have been made to believe a man of honour a villain, and the best and purest of creatures a false profligate.-Wretched boy, why comes this letter now, and where has the bearer lingered ?"

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"I dare not tell you, my lord," said the boy, withdrawing, as if to keep beyond his reach;-" but here comes one who was the messenger."

'Wayland at the same moment came up; and, interrogated by Leicester, hastily detailed all the circumstances of his escape with Amy,-the fatal practices which desire to throw herself under the instant had driven her to flight, and her anxious protection of her husband,-pointing out the evidence of the domestics of Kenilworth, "who could not," he observed, "but remember her eager inquiries after the Earl of Leicester on her first arrival."

ter;

So saying, he unbound his horse from the tree, threw himself into the saddle, and rode at full gallop towards the cas

tle."'

The Queen learns from Tressilian the whole of Amy's unhappy story, and reproaches Leicester with great severity:

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At length, however, the haughty lord, like a deer that turns to bay, gave intima"Mation that his patience was failing. dam," he said, "I have been much to blame-more than even your just resentable, was not unprovoked; and that if ment has expressed. Yet, Madam, let me say, that my guilt, if it be unpardonbeauty and condescending dignity could seduce the frail heart of a human being,

might plead both, as the causes of my concealing this secret from your Ma

"The villains!" exclaimed Leices-jesty." "but O, that worst of villains, Var- The Queen was so much struck by this ney!-and she is even now in his pow-be heard by no one but herself, that she reply, which Leicester took care should But not, I trust in God," said Treswith any commands of fatal im

er!"

silian, port?'

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a

“No, no, no!" exclaimed the earl hastily. I said something in madness but it was recalled, fully recalled, by hasty messenger; and she is now-she must now be safe."

"Yes," said Tressilian," she must be

had the temerity to pursue his advantage. was for the moment silenced, and the earl "Your Grace, who has pardoned so much, will excuse my throwing myself on your royal mercy for those expressions, which were yester-morning ac counted but a light offence."

The queen fixed her eyes on him while she replied, "Now, by heaven,

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