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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 having entered； and advanced into the midst of the hall；
summoned the presenters of the contending bands around him by a
wave of his magical rod； and announced to them； in a poetical
speech； that the isle of Britain was now commanded by a Royal
Maiden； to whom it was the will of fate that they should all do
homage； and request of her to pronounce on the various
pretensions which each set forth to be esteemed the pre…eminent
stock； from which the present natives； the happy subjects of that
angelical Princess； derived their lineage。
In obedience to this mandate； the bands； each moving to solemn
music； passed in succession before Elizabeth； doing her； as they
passed； each after the fashion of the people whom they
represented； the lowest and most devotional homage； which she
returned with the same gracious courtesy that had marked her
whole conduct since she came to Kenilworth。
The presenters of the several masques or quadrilles then alleged；
each in behalf of his own troop； the reasons which they had for
claiming pre…eminence over the rest； and when they had been all
heard in turn； she returned them this gracious answer： 〃That she
was sorry she was not better qualified to decide upon the
doubtful question which had been propounded to her by the
direction of the famous Merlin； but that it seemed to her that no
single one of these celebrated nations could claim pre…eminence
over the others； as having most contributed to form the
Englishman of her own time； who unquestionably derived from each
of them some worthy attribute of his character。 Thus；〃 she said；
〃the Englishman had from the ancient Briton his bold and tameless
spirit of freedom； from the Roman his disciplined courage in war；
with his love of letters and civilization in time of peace； from
the Saxon his wise and equitable laws； and from the chivalrous
Norman his love of honour and courtesy； with his generous desire
for glory。〃
Merlin answered with readiness that it did indeed require that so
many choice qualities should meet in the English； as might render
them in some measure the muster of the perfections of other
nations； since that alone could render them in some degree
deserving of the blessings they enjoyed under the reign of
England's Elizabeth。
The music then sounded； and the quadrilles； together with Merlin
and his assistants； had begun to remove from the crowded hall；
when Leicester； who was； as we have mentioned； stationed for the
moment near the bottom of the hall； and consequently engaged in
some degree in the crowd； felt himself pulled by the cloak； while
a voice whispered in his ear； 〃My Lord； I do desire some instant
conference with you。〃
CHAPTER XXXVIII。
How is't with me； when every noise appals me？ MACBETH。
〃I desire some conference with you。〃 The words were simple in
themselves； but Lord Leicester was in that alarmed and feverish
state of mind when the most ordinary occurrences seem fraught
with alarming import； and he turned hastily round to survey the
person by whom they had been spoken。 There was nothing
remarkable in the speaker's appearance； which consisted of a
black silk doublet and short mantle； with a black vizard on his
face； for it appeared he had been among the crowd of masks who
had thronged into the hall in the retinue of Merlin； though he
did not wear any of the extravagant disguises by which most of
them were distinguished。
〃Who are you； or what do you want with me？〃 said Leicester； not
without betraying； by his accents； the hurried state of his
spirits。
〃No evil； my lord；〃 answered the mask； 〃but much good and honour；
if you will rightly understand my purpose。 But I must speak with
you more privately。〃
〃I can speak with no nameless stranger；〃 answered Leicester；
dreading he knew not precisely what from the request of the
stranger； 〃and those who are known to me must seek another and a
fitter time to ask an interview。〃
He would have hurried away； but the mask still detained him。
〃Those who talk to your lordship of what your own honour demands
have a right over your time； whatever occupations you may lay
aside in order to indulge them。〃
〃How！ my honour？ Who dare impeach it？〃 said Leicester。
〃Your own conduct alone can furnish grounds for accusing it； my
lord； and it is that topic on which I would speak with you。〃
〃You are insolent；〃 said Leicester； 〃and abuse the hospitable
license of the time； which prevents me from having you punished。
I demand your name！〃
〃Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall；〃 answered the mask。 〃My tongue
has been bound by a promise for four…and…twenty hours。 The space
is passed；I now speak； and do your lordship the justice to
address myself first to you。〃
The thrill of astonishment which had penetrated to Leicester's
very heart at hearing that name pronounced by the voice of the
man he most detested； and by whom he conceived himself so deeply
injured； at first rendered him immovable； but instantly gave way
to such a thirst for revenge as the pilgrim in the desert feels
for the water…brooks。 He had but sense and self…government
enough left to prevent his stabbing to the heart the audacious
villain； who； after the ruin he had brought upon him； dared； with
such unmoved assurance； thus to practise upon him further。
Determined to suppress for the moment every symptom of agitation；
in order to perceive the full scope of Tressilian's purpose； as
well as to secure his own vengeance； he answered in a tone so
altered by restrained passion as scarce to be intelligible； 〃And
what does Master Edmund Tressilian require at my hand？〃
〃Justice； my lord；〃 answered Tressilian； calmly but firmly。
〃Justice；〃 said Leicester； 〃all men are entitled to。 YOU； Master
Tressilian； are peculiarly so； and be assured you shall have it。〃
〃I expect nothing less from your nobleness；〃 answered Tressilian；
〃but time presses； and I must speak with you to…night。 May I
wait on you in your chamber？〃
〃No；〃 answered Leicester sternly； 〃not under a roof； and that
roof mine own。 We will meet under the free cope of heaven。〃
〃You are discomposed or displeased； my lord；〃 replied Tressilian；
〃yet there is no occasion for distemperature。 The place is equal
to me； so you allow me one half…hour of your time uninterrupted。〃
〃A shorter time will； I trust； suffice；〃 answered Leicester。
〃Meet me in the Pleasance when the Queen has retired to her
chamber。〃
〃Enough；〃 said Tressilian； and withdrew； while a sort of rapture
seemed for the moment to occupy the mind of Leicester。
〃Heaven；〃 he said； 〃is at last favourable to me； and has put
within my reach the wretch who has branded me with this deep
ignominywho has inflicted on me this cruel agony。 I will blame
fate no more； since I am afforded the means of tracing the wiles
by which he means still further to practise on me； and then of at
once convicting and punishing his villainy。 To my taskto my
task！ I will not sink under it now； since midnight； at farthest；
will bring me vengeance。〃
While these reflections thronged through Leicester's mind； he
again made