A Strain above your Tudors, Sir.

II

Jonson the Poet? and I hope Will Shakspeare is fome one

not to be hurt by your scorn?"

"Your pardon, fir.”

"Go to! fhall he not escape?"

“Ay, marry, fair sir, I am fhent."

""Tis your defert, fir-Be naught awhile!"

"I make humble-bold to afk one fo knowing, who may be the gallant in the fair blue fuit broidered ' bullion plate?"

"He i' the falling collar, eh? walking from the players towards the fine old nobleman? Indeed I am at fault, fir." "See! my Lord rifes-goeth towards them--taketh them in each hand, You fhall not fee a sweeter, a more welcoming fmile than that."

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They must be some country gentles, my Lord's friends." "The Earl falutes their ladies."

"Mafs! what a royal dame!"

"A little homely, methinks."

"There are you mistaken, fir. The fimplicity of high breeding carrieth a more natural grace than that perked nicenefs you are better acquaint with in newfangled court folk."

"You fhall not find fo fair a creature as that lithefome

one befide her-no, not in all London !"

"Oh, she is exquifite! the very quinteffence and conti

"Nature herself! her every motion! And now, fee! fee! Master Shakspeare cometh to make his leg to these fair ones! How he is tickled! Mafs! but he is in merry mood! He hath fome o' his comedy Queens in eye, I warrant ye—a new Silvia !"

"Which to admire moft, the dignity of the dame, her fair white hair fo adorning the dark blue velvet of her curtle, I may say more than the lace of her high-piqued ruff itself! Or her, the paragon, whose chestnut braids hang tendril-wife i' the wreaths o' pearl, gracefully contrasting over her light-blue gown! Surely Nature hath been partial to give fo fair a daughter to fuch a comely dame!"

"Gentlemen, I have learned these be of Sir Thomas Cheney's family, from Bucks, my Lord's best lovers."

"Indeed! they shall be welcome to me."

"Which is Sir Thomas? ""

Sir Thomas.

""Tis he now standing with my lord."

"He holdeth himself straight."

"I warrant ye!"

13

"As who should say, 'I am a knight of gentle lineage!"" "True for you!"

"He hath been a strong man and a tall in his day."

"No doubt on't."

"A merry eye, but a fad brow."

"A firm mouth, yet a kind fmile."

"He hath a sweet motion o' the beard! you may wager

"There is matter in his argument. Lo you, he taketh

my Lord's hand earnestly "

"And with a rule over him ".

"Mafs! fo'tis."

"That rich blue doublet, flashed, puffed, and lined with

white fatin, how it

"It doth-it doth ".

"His hat, worn like King Edward's on a fhovel-board fhilling!"

"Ha!"

"Doth it not fuit his bold carriage?”.

"Indeed! and his nether focks o' clean white filk-his

raised and piqued fhoes-the Provins roses on 'em.”

"And the collar of SS., how comes he by it?" "Oh, 'tis a badge o' th' De Bohuns ".

"Why, is the Knight of that stock?"

"Now, fir, the curtain is drawn aside, you shall make little o' your gift of tongues: borrow filence from the good Please your ear awhile, your eyes should be

company. fatisfied."

"I should like, by your leave, to hear Sir Thomas fay fomething, and to the purpose: he feemeth "

"Hush, fir, the players! the players!"

"How doft find the comedy, fair Helen?”

Truly, dear Lord, yon girl's not shame-faced enough, doffing her fardingale for men's hofen. "Tis unhandfome."

"Oh! 'tis the manner in this kind o' Play-a foreign ufe."

"Methinks 'tis an unhoneft custom: an abuse should be

difufed."

"What o' the tristful lady, then?"

"I cannot pity her.”

"No?"

A Gird.

""Tis her own fault, minx!

15

So pretty a Prince

wooing, she to turn from him unmannerly!"

"For one of fo enfranchised a tongue, the Duke, I hold, is laggard and ill-bred, sending Mistress Viola to speak that for him ladies would have no third party privy to!"

"But this is the author's tale, dear Dame.

Somewhat,

haply, shall come o' this vicarious courtship, and then sweet Helen shall be reconciled to her i' th' flops."

"Indeed, I hope fo; fhe forrowed fo for her patient fifter o' th' monument!"

"My Thomas and I don't make much of these long ways to short ends! An the gentleman love the lady, let him clap into 't roundly, with a 'Wilt ha' an honest fellow to thy husband?"

"Ay, as King Harry Monmouth faid to fair Katherine of France, Befs!"

The Countess of Effex, fitting bye, heard all this. My Lord taking it to himself, coloured to the hue o' his ribbons. My Lady laughed, and heartily. None had feen her fo merry time out o' mind. Dame Elizabeth thought she might have said something provincial. Mistress Helen looked enquiringly. My Lady Countess said, “”Tis