our temper, we will find means to keep both that and you close enough. Let me see you join hands, my lords, and forget your idle animosities."
The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes, each unwilling to make the first advance to execute the Queen's will.
"Sussex," said Elizabeth, "I entreat--Leicester, I command you."
Yet, so were her words accented, that the entreaty sounded like command, and the command like entreaty. They remained still and stubborn, until she raised her voice to a height which argued at once impatience and absolute command.
"Sir Henry Lee," she said, to an officer in attendance, "have a guard in present readiness, and man a barge instantly.--My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, I bid you once more to join hands; and, God's death! he that refuses shall taste of our Tower fare ere he sees our face again. I will lower your proud hearts ere we part, and that I promise, on the word of a Queen!"
"The prison?" said Leicester, "might be borne, but to lose your Grace's presence were to lose light and life at once.--Here, Sussex, is my hand."
"And here," said Sussex, "is mine in truth and honesty; but--"
"Nay, under favour, you shall add no more," said the Queen. "Why, this is as it should be," she added, looking on them more favourably; "and when you the shepherds of the people, unite to protect them, it shall be well with the flock we rule over. For, my lords, I tell you plainly, your follies a
