the great courtier, sailor and discoverer arose
from his elevated chair and proposed a toast to the Virgin and Fairy Queen!

All stood to their tankards and drank unanimously to the Virgin Queen.

I thought I observed a flash of secret smiles pictured on the lips of
Essex, Spenser, Bacon and Raleigh when Elizabeth was toasted as the
_Virgin_ Queen; and William whispered in my ear:

_"Her virtues graced with eternal gifts,
Do breed love's settled passions in my heart!"_

After tremendous cheers were given for the Queen, Sir Walter, in his
blandest mood said: "We are glorified by having with us to-night the
greatest poet in the realm, and I trust Sir Edmund Spenser will be gracious
enough to give us a few lines from the 'Faerie Queen.'"

Sir Edmund arose in his place and said:

"In Una, the Fairy Queen, I beheld the purity and innocence of Elizabeth,
and in the lion of passion, hungry from the forest, I saw her conquer even
in her naked habiliments."

_"One day, nigh weary of the irksome way
From her unhasty beast she did alight;
And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay,
In secret shadow, far from all men's sight,
From her fair head her fillet she undight,
And laid her stole aside, her angel's face,
As the great Eye of Heaven, shone bright
And made a sunshine in the shady place--
Did never mortal eye behold such grace!
It fortuned, out of the thickest wood
A ramping Lion rushed suddenly,
Hunting full greedy after savage blood;
Soon as the Royal Virgin he did spy,
With gaping month at her ran greedily,
To have at once devoured her tender corse;
But to the prey when as he drew more nigh--
His bloody rage assuaged with remorse,
And with the sight amazed, forgot his furious force!"_

Spenser resumed his seat, while a whirl of echoing applause waved from
floor to rafter.

Then Sir Walter remarked:

"We are honored to-night by the presence of the counsel extraordinary of
Queen Elizabeth, the orator and philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon, who will, I
trust, give us a sentiment in honor of Her Majesty, the patron of art,
literature and liberty!"

Bacon, handsome, proud, but obsequious, then arose and addressed the jolly
banqueters as follows:

"Gentlemen: The toast of the evening to her gracious Majesty, Elizabeth,
the Virgin Queen, meets my soul-lit approval, and had I the wings of fancy,
instead of the plodding pedals of practical