Now bid the steeple rock--she comes, she comes!--

Speak for us, bells--speak for us, shrill-tongued tuckets.

Stand to thy linstock, gunner; let thy cannon

Play such a peal, as if a paynim foe

Came stretch'd in turban'd ranks to storm the ramparts.

We will have pageants too--but that craves wit,

And I'm a rough-hewn soldier.

--THE VIRGIN QUEEN--A TRAGI-COMEDY.

Tressilian, when Wayland had left him, as mentioned in the last chapter,

remained uncertain what he ought next to do, when Raleigh and Blount

came up to him arm in arm, yet, according to their wont, very eagerly

disputing together. Tressilian had no great desire for their society

in the present state of his feelings, but there was no possibility of

avoiding them; and indeed he felt that, bound by his promise not to

approach Amy, or take any step in her behalf, it would be his best

course at once to mix with general society, and to exhibit on his brow

as little as he could of the anguish and uncertainty which sat heavy

at his heart. He therefore made a virtue of necessity, and hailed his

comrades with, "All mirth to you, gentlemen! Whence come ye?"

"From Warwick, to be sure," said Blount; "we must needs home to change

our habits, like poor players, who are fain to multiply their persons to

outward appearance by change of suits; and you had better do the like,

Tressilian."

"Blount is right," said Raleigh; "the Queen loves such marks of

deference, and notices, as wanting in respect, those who, not arriving

in her immediate attendance, may appear in their soiled and ruffled

riding-dress. But look at Blount himself, Tressilian, for the love of

laughter, and see how his villainous tailor hath apparelled him--in

blue, green, and crimson, with carnation ribbons, and yellow roses in

his shoes!"

"Why, what wouldst thou have?" said Blount. "I told the cross-legged

thief to do his best, and spare no cost; and methinks these things are

gay enough--gayer than thine own. I'll be judged by Tressilian."

"I agree--I agree," said Walter Raleigh. "Judge betwixt us, Tressilian,

for the love of heaven!"

Tressilian, thus appealed to, looked at them both, and was immediately

sensible at a single glance that honest Blount had taken upon the

tailor's warrant the pied garments which he had chosen to make, and

was as much embarrassed by the quantity of points and ribbons which

garnished his dress, as a clown is in his holiday clothes; while the

dress of Raleigh was a well-fancied and rich suit, which the wearer bore

as a garb too well adapted to his elegant person to attract particular

attention. Tressilian said, therefore, "That Blount's dress was finest,

but Raleigh's the best fancied."




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