, keeper of the royal
bears, to find more favourable acceptance at Sheerness, or wherever the tide
might waft it.
    Leicester was spurred to emulation by the success of the young courtier's
exhibition, as the veteran racer is roused when a high-mettled colt passes him
on the way. He turned the discourse on shows, banquets, pageants, and on the
character of those by whom these gay scenes were then frequented. He mixed acute
observation with light satire, in that just proportion which was free alike from
malignant slander and insipid praise. He mimicked with ready accent the manners
of the affected or the clownish, and made his own graceful tone and manner seem
doubly such when he resumed it. Foreign countries - their customs - their
manners - the rules of their courts - the fashions, and even the dress of their
ladies, were equally his theme; and seldom did he conclude without conveying
some compliment, always couched in delicacy, and expressed with propriety, to
the Virgin Queen, her court, and her government. Thus passed the conversation
during this pleasure voyage, seconded by the rest of the attendants upon the
royal person, in gay discourse, varied by remarks upon ancient classics and
modern authors, and enriched by maxims of deep policy and sound morality, by the
statesmen and sages who sate around, and mixed wisdom with the lighter talk of a
female court.
    When they returned to the palace, Elizabeth accepted, or rather selected,
the arm of Leicester, to support her from the stairs where they landed to the
great gate. It even seemed to him (though that might arise from the flattery of
his own imagination), that during this short passage, she leaned on him somewhat
more than the slipperiness of the way necessarily demanded. Certainly her
actions and words combined to express a degree of favour, which, even in his
proudest days, he had not till then attained. His rival, indeed, was repeatedly
graced by the Queen's notice; but it was in a manner that seemed to flow less
from spontaneous inclination, than as extorted by a sense of his merit. And, in
the opinion of many experienced courtiers, all the favour she showed him, was
overbalanced, by her whispering in the ear of the Lady Derby, that »now she saw
sickness was a better alchemist than she before wotted of, seeing it had changed
my lord of Sussex's copper nose into a golden one.«
    The jest transpired, and the Earl of Leicester enjoyed his triumph, as one
to whom court favour had been both the primary and the ultimate motive