Waverly Novels (Volume 24); Count Robert of Paris (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: him in the task, and he was well pleased when it was likely to be removed from his shoulders; still, however, professing his goodwill, and readiness, in case of need, to do Mr. Tressilian or his emissary any service, in so far as consisted with his character of a publican. CHAPTER XXT. Vaulting ambition, that o'orleiipx Itself, And falls on t'other side. Macbeth. The splendour of the approaching revels at Kenil- worth was now the conversation through all England; and every thing was collected at home, or from abroad, which could add to the gaiety or glory of the prepared reception of Elizabeth, at the house of her most distinguished favourite. Meantime, Leicester appeared daily to advance in the Queen's favour. He was perpetually by her side in council, willingly listened to in' the moments of courtly recreation?favoured with approaches even to familiar intimacy?looked up to by all who had aught to hope at court?courted by foreign ministers with the most flattering testimonies of respect from their sovereigns? the Alter Ego, as it seemed, of the stately Elizabeth, who was now very generally supposed to be studying the time and opportunity for associating him, by marriage, into her sovereign power. Amid such a tide of prosperity, this minion of fortune, and of the Queen's favour, was probably the most un- happy man in the realm which seemed at his devotion. He had the Fairy King's superiority over his friends and dependents, and saw much which they could not. The character of his mistress was ultimately known to him;it was his minute and studied acquaintance with her humours, as well as her noble faculties, which, joined to his powerful mental qualities, and his eminent external accomplishments, had raised him so high in her favour; and it was that very knowledge of...