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The Queen now answered him shortly (for he had asked this question more than once, it being gaineful to his estate) and peremptorily, by pauses; for fhe was stirred, yet kept her temper between her lips, as the faying is" That she must first see what value it was of. For benefits are not to be bestowed blindfold."

Anon she giveth it to one Billingsley to husband for herfelf, Effex remonftrating, as being thereby ruined and undone of his confident hopes. She fayeth, "That an unruly horse must be abated of his provender, that he may be the better brought to management. Then fhe spake commendingly of that aphorifm of the Physician, " Corrupt bodies, the more thou feedeft them the more thou hurtest them." Upon these answers (which were unkindly carried to him), Effex being inwardly perplexed, boiled with anger. And, giving over his judgement to his affections, hearkened to Cuffe and other kindle-coals of fedition: that now at length it appeared plainly that the Queen, the Council, and his adverfaries were refolved to thrust him into extreme poverty: that he should live upon the alms basket, and gather crumbs under the table; and as a poor man, neglected of the Queen, he might be neglected of all men,

forfaken of his friends, and held in fcorn, being triumphed over by his enemies. This was more than the Earl of Effex could well ftomach! From forrow and repentance, yea, from praying and hearing of fermons, to rage and rebellion of heart, he shifted fuddenly. Harrington, visiting him, “Thank Heaven!" quoth he, "I am fafe at home, and if I go in fuch troubles again I deserve the gallows for a meddling fool. For he uttered fuch strange words, bordering on fuch ftrange defigns, that I was fain hafte forth from his unruly prefence. His fpeeches of the Queen become none who hath mens fana in corpore lano.' The man's foul feemeth toffed to and fro, like the waves of a troubled fea." And what he spake of the Queen it seems he stinted not to write unto her.

my ruin, that

"You may tell those that

thirst and gape after you have now an advantage that, being in paffion, I spake rafhly." And this too fell from him; which was by fome carried to her ear. "When I expected a harvest, a tempest is arisen unto me. If I be wanting to myself, my friends, and my country, it is 'long of others, not of me. The Queen hath thrust me down into a private life: I cannot ferve with base obfequioufnefs. Neither doth my confcience accuse me. I have

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unjustly been committed to custody. Princes have not an infinite power: they may err with others. I have received wounds to my honour! Let them triumph: I will not follow their chariot! These things must have an end. The Queen is an old woman. She is now no lefs crooked in mind than in body; as curft in humour as she is cankered in her carcass !"

CHAPTER XVIII.

“Oh, behold this ring,

Whofe high respect and rich validity

Did lack a parallel."

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, act v. fc. 3.

"You could, for a need, study a speech of fome dozen or hixteen lines, which I would fet down and infert in't! could you not ?” HAMLET, act II. fc. II.

UCH is the force of heaven-bred poefy!

'Tis as a cool breeze upon the crisped skin !

To the recovering fick man, sunshine, air!

"Tis a perpetual fountain running happiness! To the wounded spirit, a fweet balm of sympathy! How comfortable, the mind being overwrought or the body weary, when 'tis the imagination only works, and your thoughts and feelings shall be handsomely decked for you! 'Tis the fheen effence of life-no lefs!

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"Now the rose and the peony, our carnations and streaked gilly-flowers, the daffodil and lilly, wild thyme and bold oxlip: nay, the nodding violet, the pied daify, pale primroses that die unmarried .ere they can behold bright Phoebus in his strength, the marygold that goeth to bed with the fun, and with him rifes weeping;-as they could not have scent nor colour without light and warmth, moifture and breath; fo man, if he have no poetry in himselfand 'tis the fame with mufic—one not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for" And by this time Master Shakspeare had reached the wicket in the Strand leading to Effex-house.

As he approached the Earl's prefence, Cuffe looked up from fome letters he was writing. There was a filent recognition. Antony Bacon gave him good-morrow, staying for the nonce the burning of papers in a brazier. My Lord was retired, whispering with Sir William Cheney; but both rofe to greet the Poet.

Now Sir Thomas was unable to ride long journeys. He was fast drawing towards the threescore years and ten the sweet Pfalmift of Ifrael speaketh of. But Sir William had been several times to London, feeking to fee his friend.

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