Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-09

+ Zane, but an instance of greater self devo.
ton and moral Intrepidty is not 10 be found
anywhere.
DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.
A historical romance, lately published in
London, closes with the following striking
scene, in which the reader is introduced to
the death bed of Queen Elizabeth. Her
Majesty has summoned Lucy Fenton to wait
upon her. The scene is powerful and melo.
dramatic -
The Queen lay in her bed she had or
dered her attendants not TO draw the curtains
over her windows, and she watched the leaf
less trees waving to and fro before them, and
the ruddy flame of her fire dancing upon the
tapestry. Elizabeth had sunk into that par
tal torpor in which, though the mind has not
altogether yielded 10 the influence of sleep,
the memories, the visions that pass over it,
have the Indistinclness Of dream. A long
train of shadows filtered before the mental
eye of Elizabeth ; there was the fair face of
Gertrud Harding and another face as fair {:
the features too of the Inflated Essex rose to
blight her in her sleep! but ever were those
female faces present, even when the others
had passed away. Suddenly Elizabeth STAR
ted up-she was wide awake, but an unut-
terable horror had seized upon her soul s.
any thing to escape from that bed and when
her dismal shrek had summoned her alten-
dants to her apartment, they found her stand
ing in her night dress on the floor, her hands
clenched, her eyes fixed as IN convulsion,
and specks OF foam upon her parted lips. 1t
was frightful spectacle, the strongly mark
ed but withered features and stony blue eyes
of the miserable Queen.
But what needs it TO proong the descrip-
ton of scenes so horrible the struggles of a
soul which had used its greatness 10 destroy j.;
and which, summoned 10 quit that world it
hath too much loved, shrunk from the con-
temptation of its past career.
No entreaties could prevail upon the
wretched Queen 10 return to her bed; she
raved, screamed, and wept at the proposal.
Cushions were brought, and upon them she
was extended +; bitterly bemoaning her mis-
cradle fate, and refusing all reireshment and
consolation.
Who does not know that for ten DAYS the
unhappy Queen thus remained, still refusing
to enter her bed. The Bishop, and the
Lords of the Council, alike in vain entreated
her 10 alter this resolution. To Lucy Will
oughton, whom she still detained in alien
dance, she expressed strong Indignation
against Secretary Cecil, the son of her old
favorite Burleigh.
8 He telleth the people, Mistress Wiough-
tom said Elizabeth, that am mad ; but |
am not mad oil, would TO God that were =
Gracious madam, be comforted ! said
Lucy. who was moved by the pilable condi-
ton of the Queen.
DO not then mock me, fair dame, with
such empty words, replied Elizabeth: had
thy poor cousin seen me thus, she had known
me better than to talk of comfort. Alas,
alas, why does her face still pursue me -
God knows how bitterly mourned her fate:
but it cometh, it cometh for ever, and still
accompanied by another, which my soul
sickened to behold While Elizabeth spoke,
entered Sir Robert Cecil, with the Lord
Admiral, relation of the Queen they came
to entreat that she would suffer herself to be
conveyed to bed.
Elizabeth looked round shuddering at her
costly couch. 'Oh, never, never = she ex-
claimed.-' Oh, Cecil, if thou hadst seen
there what have seen, thou woudst not
drive thy mistress to that couch of horrors 7"
what has your Grace there behed 2 said
Cecil have you seen the dwcllers Of anolh-
er world p
May! answered Elizabeth, 'assuredly
that is an idle question, and beneath our no.
tice.'
In sooth your Grace must retire to bed, >
persisted Cecil, { if it DO but TO satisfy the
affection of your people =
At these words, the embers of an almost
extnguished fire again blazed in the heart of
Elizabeth, and lighted up her worn features
with something of the dignity of old /; she
raised herself on her cushions.
Must ! she exclaimed is must a word
to be addressed to prncesl = Little man,
little man, thy father, il he had been alive,
burst not have used that word. Blu, alas !
alas = continued the Queen, wring;ng her
hands, and speaking in tone ofdeep dejec-
ton, thou art grown presumptious, because
thou knowest that ! shall die y
Good madam, be comtorted,' said the
Lord Admiral, again approaching the
Queen.
She again raised herselfwith Lucy's assis-
lance, and grasping him by the hand, she
looked him pi,eously in the face, then burst
ing into tears, she exclaimed My Lord,
my Lord, | am tied with an iron collar about,
my neck; l am tied fast, and the case is al
tered with mel
From this time the Queen gradually sunk,
falling into lethargy which released her
from those mental torments which il had
wrung the compassionate heart of Lucy to
behold; during this le,hargy she was placed
in her bed. As her end was now evidently
fast approaching, the Lord Keeper, the Ad.
miral, and the Secretary Cecil, we're deputet
by the Council TO learn Elizabeth's will will
regard TO her successor. Lucy Willough,on
whom the Queen during her intervals Of con