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I will whet my dagger on his heart…spone that refuses to pledge
me！ And so； my masters〃
Thus speaking； Lambourne exhausted the cup which the astrologer
had handed to him； and which contained not wine； but distilled
spirits。 He swore half an oath； dropped the empty cup from his
grasp； laid his hand on his sword without being able to draw it；
reeled； and fell without sense or motion into the arms of the
domestic； who dragged him off to his chamber； and put him to bed。
In the general confusion； Janet regained her lady's chamber
unobserved； trembling like an aspen leaf； but determined to keep
secret from the Countess the dreadful surmises which she could
not help entertaining from the drunken ravings of Lambourne。 Her
fears； however； though they assumed no certain shape； kept pace
with the advice of the pedlar； and she confirmed her mistress in
her purpose of taking the medicine which he had recommended； from
which it is probable she would otherwise have dissuaded her。
Neither had these intimations escaped the ears of Wayland； who
knew much better how to interpret them。 He felt much compassion
at beholding so lovely a creature as the Countess； and whom he
had first seen in the bosom of domestic happiness； exposed to the
machinations of such a gang of villains。 His indignation； too；
had been highly excited by hearing the voice of his old master；
against whom he felt； in equal degree； the passions of hatred and
fear。 He nourished also a pride in his own art and resources；
and； dangerous as the task was； he that night formed a
determination to attain the bottom of the mystery； and to aid the
distressed lady； if it were yet possible。 From some words which
Lambourne had dropped among his ravings； Wayland now； for the
first time； felt inclined to doubt that Varney had acted entirely
on his own account in wooing and winning the affections of this
beautiful creature。 Fame asserted of this zealous retainer that
he had accommodated his lord in former love intrigues； and it
occurred to Wayland Smith that Leicester himself might be the
party chiefly interested。 Her marriage with the Earl he could
not suspect； but even the discovery of such a passing intrigue
with a lady of Mistress Amy Robsart's rank was a secret of the
deepest importance to the stability of the favourite's power over
Elizabeth。 〃If Leicester himself should hesitate to stifle such
a rumour by very strange means；〃 said he to himself； 〃he has
those about him who would do him that favour without waiting for
his consent。 If I would meddle in this business； it must be in
such guise as my old master uses when he compounds his manna of
Satan； and that is with a close mask on my face。 So I will quit
Giles Gosling to…morrow； and change my course and place of
residence as often as a hunted fox。 I should like to see this
little Puritan； too； once more。 She looks both pretty and
intelligent to have come of such a caitiff as Anthony Fire…the…
Fagot。〃
Giles Gosling received the adieus of Wayland rather joyfully than
otherwise。 The honest publican saw so much peril in crossing the
course of the Earl of Leicester's favourite that his virtue was
scarce able to support him in the task； and he was well pleased
when it was likely to be removed from his shoulders still；
however； professing his good…will； and readiness； in case of
need； to do Mr。 Tressilian or his emissary any service； in so far
as consisted with his character of a publican。
CHAPTER XXI。
Vaulting ambition； that o'erleaps itself；
And falls on t'other side。 MACBETH。
The splendour of the approaching revels at Kenilworth was now the
conversation through all England； and everything was collected at
home； or from abroad； which could add to the gaiety or glory of
the prepared reception of Elizabeth at the house of her most
distinguished favourite； Meantime Leicester appeared daily to
advance in the Queen's favour。 He was perpetually by her side in
councilwillingly listened to in the moments of courtly
recreationfavoured with approaches even to familiar intimacy
looked up to by all who had aught to hope at courtcourted by
foreign ministers with the most flattering testimonies of respect
from their sovereigns；the ALTER EGO； as it seemed； of the
stately Elizabeth； who was now very generally supposed to be
studying the time and opportunity for associating him； by
marriage； into her sovereign power。
Amid such a tide of prosperity； this minion of fortune and of the
Queen's favour was probably the most unhappy man in the realm
which seemed at his devotion。 He had the Fairy King's
superiority over his friends and dependants； and saw much which
they could not。 The character of his mistress was intimately
known to him。 It was his minute and studied acquaintance with
her humours； as well as her noble faculties； which； joined to his
powerful mental qualities； and his eminent external
accomplishments； had raised him so high in her favour； and it was
that very knowledge of her disposition which led him to apprehend
at every turn some sudden and overwhelming disgrace。 Leicester
was like a pilot possessed of a chart which points out to him all
the peculiarities of his navigation； but which exhibits so many
shoals； breakers； and reefs of rocks； that his anxious eye reaps
little more from observing them than to be convinced that his
final escape can be little else than miraculous。
In fact； Queen Elizabeth had a character strangely compounded of
the strongest masculine sense； with those foibles which are
chiefly supposed proper to the female sex。 Her subjects had the
full benefit of her virtues； which far predominated over her
weaknesses； but her courtiers； and those about her person； had
often to sustain sudden and embarrassing turns of caprice； and
the sallies of a temper which was both jealous and despotic。 She
was the nursing…mother of her people； but she was also the true
daughter of Henry VIII。； and though early sufferings and an
excellent education had repressed and modified； they had not
altogether destroyed； the hereditary temper of that 〃hard…ruled
king。〃 〃Her mind；〃 says her witty godson； Sir John Harrington；
who had experienced both the smiles and the frowns which he
describes； 〃was ofttime like the gentle air that cometh from the
western point in a summer's morn'twas sweet and refreshing to
all around her。 Her speech did win all affections。 And again；
she could put forth such alterations； when obedience was lacking；
as left no doubting WHOSE daughter she was。 When she smiled； it
was a pure sunshine； that every one did choose to bask in； if
they could； but anon came a storm from a sudden gathering of
clouds； and the thunder fell in a wondrous manner on all alike。〃
＇Nugae Antiquae； vol。i。； pp。355； 356…362。＇
This variability of disposition； as Leicester well knew； was
chiefly formidable to those who had a share in the Queen's
affections； and who depended rather on her personal regard than
on the indispensable services which they could render to her
councils and her crown。 The favour of Burleigh or of Walsingham；
of a description far less striking than that by which he was
himself upheld； was founded； as Leicester was well aware； on
Elizabeth's solid judgment； not on her partiality； and was；
therefore； free from all those principles of change and decay
necessarily incident to that which chiefly arose from personal
accomplishments and female predilection。 These great and sage
statesmen were judged of by the Queen only with reference to the
measures they suggested； and the reasons by which they supported
their opinions in council； whereas the success of Leicester's
course depended on all those light and changeable gales of
caprice and humour which thwart or favour the progress of a lover
in the favour of his mistress； and she； too； a mistress who was
ever and anon becoming fearful lest she should forget the
dignity； or compromise the authority； of the Queen； while she
indulged the affections of the woman。 Of the difficulties which
surrounded his power； 〃too great to keep or to resign；〃 Leicester
was fully sensible； and as he looked anxiously round for the
means of maintaining himself in his precarious situation； and
sometimes contemplated those of descending from it in safety； he
saw but little hope of either。 At such moments his thoughts
turned to dwell upon his secret marriage and its consequences；
and it was in bitterness against himself； if not against his
unfortunate Countess； that he ascribed to that hasty measure；
adopted in the ardour of what he now called inconsiderate
passion； at once the impossibility of placing his power on a
solid basis； and the immediate prospect of its precipitate
downfall。
〃Men say；〃 thus ran his thoughts； in these anxious and repentant
moments； 〃that I might marry Elizabeth； and become King of
England。 All things suggest this。 The match is carolled in
ballads； while the rabble throw their caps up。 It has been
touched upon in the schoolswhispered in the presence…chamber
recommended from the pulpitprayed for in the Calvinistic
churches abroadtouched on by statists in the very council at
home。 These bold ins