, and gave such charms to the moment, as memory ever returns to with pleasure. I imposed on him a vow of silence and secresy, till your decisive refusal of Sir Philip should fix his marriage with Miss Walsingham; and more fortunate circumstances facili∣tate our own: nor could the interval ap∣pear tedious to either, while we were daily permitted to meet, though in publick,

and read in each other's eyes a passion untinctured with doubt, and which every following day promised to sanctify. Es∣sex found too many sources of wonder and pleasure in the mutual confidence, to oppose her he from that moment looked up to, and we parted so satisfied with the interview, that either would have bought it with life.
Nevertheless, I was far from consider∣ing Miss Walsingham as the sole obstacle to our union. The politic Lord Leices∣ter, strongly, though silently, opposed it; nor indeed without reason. Conscious he had reigned so many years without a competitor in the heart of Elizabeth, he might justly dread the progress of a rival, in whom all his advantages were united, with many he never possessed. Not satis∣fied with the reputation of beauty and elegance, Leicester ever passionately de∣sired that of conduct and valor, and had given the kingdom but too convincing proofs how unequal he was to the military rank he held. Essex was born a soldier. The rough and generous virtues of that

character, were joined in him with the po∣lished graces of a courtier, and the most refined taste for literature. A man cal∣culated to shine in whatever light you examined him, could not fail to alarm all who valued and held the favor of Eliza∣beth. Add to this, that the Earl was na∣turally bold and aspiring; consequently would retain whatever he once possessed. Such were already the fears of all the fa∣vorites of the Queen, and who could bound mine, when I recollected the du∣bious fate of his noble father, and the last warning he had given to this darling son?
The sudden and unexpected marriage of Sir Philip Sydney and Miss Walsing∣ham, revived those hopes in the mind of Essex, I had so long strove to throw at a distance; and with them too revived the vain project of confiding his views to Lord Leicester, with whose approbation of them he still continued to flatter him∣self. Terrified lest such an unguarded measure should exasperate Leicester to his utter ruin, who would ill-brook

this embryo rival that should cross his fate in every instance, and dare to contend with him for a share of those advantages he was determined to monopolize, I ex∣erted the utmost care to charm my lover to silence.
