DRAKE. Somewhat long, in sooth: I have been to take my leave.

BUR. You sail to-morrow?

DRAKE. At midnight-with four large ships of war, and six-and-twenty smaller vessels.

BUR. A fleet, in fact?

DRAKE. Almost; 'tis armed at my own expense! BUR. By the Garter,* but naval adventurers now-adays become both rich and feared!

DRAKE, 'Tis so, my lord. A little skiff, an old musket, and a net, were all I inherited from my father; but having luckily contrived to fit out a little ship, and to mount a sword, I-the sailor, adventurer, pirate, or whatever else your grace may please to call me--had the good fortune to plant the English standard at San' Iago, and San Domingo, and returned home with silver sails and gold cables!

BUR. The expedition you speak of was made by her Majesty's command.

DRAKE. But like worthy allies we shared the booty! BUR. Your naval enthusiasm plainly reveals to me that the conflagrations of Sant Iago and San Domingo are about to be renewed !

DRAKE. No, by my faith

BUR. Your very reserve on the subject of this new expedition makes me but the more sure of it! The Queen is already aware that I am opposed to these eternal and fatal reprisals with Spain, which will at last lead us into open war with Philip a war which must prove destructive to us, who lack both wealth and means of defence; I would therefore know—

DRAKE. At my return-unless indeed I should happen to take lodgings in some whale's stomach-you shall know all.

BUR. You bend your course, then, towards the coast of Spain?

DRAKE. This is a secret between me and her most

*This is the somewhat singular exclamation put by the author into the mouth of the sagacious Burleigh.-(TRANS.)

di Elisabetta; e V. G. sa, che non ci troverei il mio tornaconto a tradirlo .. onde senza altre cerimonie vado a dispormi alla partenza..io quando stò per affidarmi al mare, mi sento dieci cuori nel petto...il mio regno é su quell' elemento, cosi sull' onda azzura e tranquilla, come sui cavalloni verdastri e spumeggianti: o spiri la brezza marina, e rombino i venti nei fianchi della nave... lasci pure V. G. il Duca d'Alba dopo d'aver recise 18 mila teste Fiamminghe in cinque anni mi chiami Drak il Corsaro... Corsaro perché esponendo la mia vita, m' impadronisco di qualche vascello...è la ragione del più forte, ragione legittima in mare...tanto è vero che il Delfino, e gli altri pesci grossi si divorano i piccoli... Dunque Corsarod'Alba, Corsaro Drak...e Dio salvi la Regina ...Schiavo vostro Milord! [via dal mezzo.]

BOR. Un segreto per me..un altro segreto..forse! ella spedisce Drak ad esplorare i preparativi di Filippo..e sta bene: ma perchè non dirmelo? E perche mentre è gelosa del giovine Re di Scozia come letterata e come Regina, perchè manda Lord Howard a chiederne l'alleanza, alla vigilia di consegnare la di lui madre Maria nelle mani del Carnefice ?... Ed io gran Cancelliere del Regno, io non devo essere interrogato!...e per questo io mi disgusteró con la Regina: io devo essere freddo, paziente, e, guidato da un solo interesse, da quello della Patria, perocché non è una donna che io servo, ma una Nazione.

non

SCENA II.

SIR BACONE dal mezzo e Detto.

BOR. Voi qui, Sir Bacone?

sacred Majesty Elizabeth, and you know that it would not be to my interest to betray it; therefore, without further ceremony, I hasten to prepare for my departure! Ah! when about to venture once more to sea, I feel ten hearts bounding in my breast; my kingdom is on the ocean, whether it be azure and tranquil, or whether its green billows dash themselves furiously into foam-whether the sea-breeze has died away, or whether the hoarse winds whistle round the vessel's sides!-Let the Duke of Alba-after having struck off eighteen thousand Flemish heads in five years- call me Drake the Corsair, if he pleases. Corsair, forsooth! because by exposing my own life, I take possession of a foreign vessel;-'tis the right of the stronger, a lawful right at sea! On the same principle, do not the dolphin and other large fish devour the little ones so then, Corsair Alba, Corsair Drake-and God save the Queen! Your servant, my lord. [Exit. BUR. A secret from me-another secret! Perchance she is despatching Drake to reconnoitre Philip's preparations and 'tis well advised; but why not impart it to me? And wherefore, jealous as she is of the young King of Scotland (in her twofold capacity of Queen and scholar), why does she send Lord Howard to conclude an alliance with him, just as she is on the very eve of consigning his mother to the hands of the executioner! And I, Lord Chancellor of the realm, am not to be consulted! but not e'en this shall place me at variance with the Queen; I must remain calm, patient, and be guided by one interest alone, that of my country-'tis not a woman, but a nation, that I serve!

SCENE II.

SIR FRANCIS BACON, and the before-named.

BUR. You here, Sir Francis !

BACO. Vostra Grazia, potrebbe anche chiamarmi nipote, ma io sono povero, e i poveri non hanno paventi questa peró é casa mia-ma von nacqui forse nel palazzo della Regina, quando ella avea creato mio? padre semplice avvocato, Lord Guardasigilli? E a me fanciulletto non regalava ella di confetti, chiamandomi il suo piccolo segretario ? BOR. Bisognava prendere i confetti e non comprendere le parole.

BAC. Ebbi sempre la disgrazia di capire.

BOR. Io lo so bene, vorreste diventare ministro, ma per siffatte bisogne, conviene essere nati...come non siete nato voi, credete a me...domandate una Cattedra all' Università di Oxford, o di Cambridge, o meglio ancora ritiratevi in una campagna, meditate, scrivete, giacchè Dio vi ha stampato sulla fronte, la benedizione, o la maledizione del Genio. BAC. Credo che V. G. sarà persuasa essere più proficua una verga d'oro, che una penna d'oca.

BOR. S. M. protegge le lettere.

BAC. La povertà di Spenser non la provo abbastanza. BOR. Spenser ha la disgrazia di non piacere alla Regina.

BAC. Ha la fortuna però di piacere all' Inghilterra: e poi dove meglio potrei meditare che in questo Palazzo ?

BOR. Meditare e forse non comprendere !

BAC. Sarebbe la prima volta: il carattere di Elisabetta merita di essere osservato da vicino: a Parigi, dove io fui applicato-all' Ambasciata Inglese, lo si diceva singolarissimo.

BOR. Unico, dovevano dirlo, nessuno più di me può conoscere l'interno della Regina, poichè la servo fin dal principio del suo Reguo e la serivò fino alla morte. Elisabetta, é Calvanista di féde pure è amante dei più fastosi riti Catholici, economá fino alla grettezza, splendida fino alla prodigalità: ora prende aspra vendetta di piccole offese, ora inconsideratamente perdona le maggiori. Leale come

BACON. Your Lordship might address me as his nephew, but I am poor, and the poor have no relations this however is my dwelling place. Was I not born in the Queen's palace, when she nominated my father, till then a simple advocate, Lord Keeper of the Seals? Did she not pet me with sweetmeats, and call me her little secretary? BUR. You should have taken the sweetmeats, and not understood the words.

BACON. Intelligence was always my misfortune. BUR. I am well aware that 'tis your aim to become minister, but for posts like these 'tis necessary to be a man of some birth; and, as you are not, take my advice, apply for a chair at the University of Oxford or Cambridge, or, still better, return to some quiet country place, and there reflect and write at leisure, since heaven has stamped on your brow the blessing, or the curse, of genius. BACON. I am sure your Lordship must be of opinion that a gold-stick is more profitable then a goosequill!

BUR. Her Majesty protects letters.

BACON. Spenser's poverty does not go far to prove it. BUR. Spenser has the misfortune not to please the

Queen.

BACON. He has the good fortune, however, to please England: besides, where should I find a more

appropriate spot wherein to meditate than this palace!

BUR. Meditate, but perchance not understand! BACON. "Twould be the first time then: Elizabeth's character is worthy of close investigation. At Paris, when I was attached to the English embassy, they said it was most peculiar.

BUR. Unique, they might have said; no one can be better acquainted than I am with the Queen's disposition, for I have served her ever since the commencement of her reign, and shall continue to serve her until death. Elizabeth, although in creed a Calvinist, takes pleasure in the most pompous Romish solemnities: her economy verges upon penury, and yet her magnificence borders