'Twas utterly in vain, as you well know, fo guarded was each paffage; and it had only been by Davy, once or twice, that he had fped a word through 'Zekiel to the Earl. So foon, however, as this strictness was relaxed, he had haftened up. Oh, how heartily they met; and oh, how fondly cherished was the memory of that embrace ! At this moment William was urging Effex wholly to retire from court, leaving all cares behind; to retreat, once and for ever, from the mere vanity of fhadowy joys, and to inhabit home at Chartley, where, with wife and children, he would enjoy the real happiness of life. He thought he was making fome impreffion; for though, when he raised his voice, Master Cuffe would fcowl, ever and anon he met good Antony's approving eye.

Mafter Shakspeare came, he said, to do his service to my Lord; and, if it might stand with my Lord's pleasure to accept a trifle, he should feel himself honoured offering his laft writ Comedy. Effex was more than gracious, nay, very thankful-" For," faid he, "there be more cast stones at a dog with an evil name, than care to give him a piece of their dinner." And William asked, "What might the Comedy be?" and the Poet faid, ""Tis the Merchant of Venice."

The Merchant of Venice.

257

"A new story?" asked Antony, from his day bed in the

corner.

"Nay, fir, from the Italian. The story of one Gernutus,

a Jew, and a Tale of Three Caskets interwoven-woof and warp, as I may say."

"Is't grave or gay?" asked Essex.

""Tis a cloudy day, my Lord, yet with a pleasant and hopeful funfet."

"The wholesomest weather cometh after your moft violent storms," muttered Mafter Philofopher.

And now the author took from his pocket a fmall roll, his manufcript: 'twas fairly writ-fcarce a blot on the paper. And my Lord, thanking him for fo great an evidence of his good-will, prayed his reading of a scene or

two.

The player turned fome pages, as he gave an outline of his plot, and then sped on with the Fourth Act.

"Sooth!" faid my Lord, when there was a pause, "I'd give a pound of my poor flesh to settle with my needy creditors."

""Tould hardly fatisfy fome, my Lord," quoth Cuffe. "They'd afk your blood."

VOL. III.

S

"Nay, 'tis not in the bond!" put in William pleasantly, neither seeing the other's drift, nor knowing how defperate Effex's fortunes were. But Antony looked grave; and then the player read on to the end.

"What a jingle you keep up about the Ring, fir!" said the Earl.

""Tis a trifle, my Lord, catcheth a dull imagination. Something with a fecret virtue, that shall, as it were, alter a due course of things, rouses that sense of mystery I believe we all possess a little of."

"Ha!"

"Tis for that the ignorant and homely covet miracles," quoth Cuffe-" eh ?"

"What would'st with this, Shakspeare?" faid Effex, taking from his forefinger the Royal effigy, fet in an aureole of diamonds-"What with this?"

""Tis the Queen!-a flattering "—

"Flattering, indeed!" quoth Cuffe.

"Her Highnefs gave it me ere I went to Gades, with a promise of her favour on the fight of it. What think'st of airing it in her Grace's eye?"

"Oh forbear, good Lord!" cried Cuffe.

The Ring.

"No, no, dear Effex! No, no!" cried William.

259

"It would be of no ufe now," quietly dropped Antony.

"It would be romantic-eh?"

"Dear Effex, no!"

"What fay'ft, Sir Poet?"

""Twould be a fit ending for a Comedy, my Lord. In your Lordship's use of it I am not versed.”

"Ah! and the first act of a Tragedy, I wean !" said Cuffe bitterly.

"After fo long a let, no boot at all," fighed good Master Antony: "there was a time

And William drew nigh to Effex. He knew not how matters stood. The generous Earl had ever (but then in Ireland, when overcome with fpleen and fickness) held fecret from his friend his policy as well as ufance with the Queen; and William was well content that what he could neither share in nor approve was fo far a fhut up fubject. Now, therefore, in free ignorance of what was paffing, he befought the Earl, more earnestly than before, to leave the Court, the Queen, London.

“And,” said he, "in more quiet days-when she, the now Majesty of England"

"Ha!" faid the Poet.

"Lieth rotting in cold obstruction

"Ha!"

"You, your honoured wife, your dear children-round about your table-Effex, dear, dear Effex-I with minewe together, Effex! as we have ever been ".

Poor William's voice was failing. A tear stood dimming the Earl's bright eye. His lips moved involuntary.

66 We, and our little ones, fhall look upon this image, fimiling! Nay, change its lying pofy, Effex, and scornfully fcratch in lieu ".

"What, Will?-what?"

"Principum amicitias ! "

And Effex pressed William's hand. All his heart feemed in that touch.

Now one cometh to the door. The Lord Harry Howard craveth entrance. So William and his Poet friend withdraw.

And after a few days William went home again, comforted and hopeful for his friend. Sir Thomas, too, was more at ease.