whose villainy hath made me ridiculous to my subjects and odious to myself? I could tear out mine eyes for their blindness!"
Burleigh here ventured to interpose.
"Madam," he said, "remember that you are a Queen--Queen of England--mother of your people. Give not way to this wild storm of passion."
Elizabeth turned round to him, while a tear actually twinkled in her proud and angry eye. "Burleigh," she said, "thou art a statesman--thou dost not, thou canst not, comprehend half the scorn, half the misery, that man has poured on me!"
With the utmost caution--with the deepest reverence--Burleigh took her hand at the moment he saw her heart was at the fullest, and led her aside to an oriel window, apart from the others.
"Madam," he said, "I am a statesman, but I am also a man--a man already grown old in your councils--who have not and cannot have a wish on earth but your glory and happiness; I pray you to be composed."
"Ah! Burleigh," said Elizabeth, "thou little knowest--" here her tears fell over her cheeks in despite of her.
"I do--I do know, my honoured sovereign. Oh, beware that you lead not others to guess that which they know not!"
"Ha!" said Elizabeth, pausing as if a new train of thought had suddenly shot across her brain. "Burleigh, thou art right--thou art right--anything but disgrace--anything but a confession of weakness--anything rather than seem th
