Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-02-22
MISCELLANEOUS.
Death of Queen Elizabeth.

A historical romance. lately published
IN London, closes with the following
striking scene, in which the reader is in
troduced to the death-bed Of Queen E.
iizabeth. Her Majesty had 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 cur
talns over her windows, and she watched
The Ieailess trees waving to and fro be-
fore them. and the rudy flame of her
FIRE, dancing upon the tapestry. Eliza
beth had sunk into that partial torpor in
which, though the mind has not altogeth-
er yielded to the influence Of sleep, the
memories, the visions that pass over it.
have the indlstlnctness Of dream. a
long train of shadows fitted before the
mental eye of Elizabeth; there was the
fair face of Gertrude Harding; and an
other face as fair; the features of the ILL
fated Essex rose to blight her in her
sleep; but ever were those. female faces
present, even when the others had pass
ed away Suddenly Elizabeth started
up-she was wide awake. but an unut-
terable horror had seized upon her soul
any thing to escape from that bed
and when her dismal shrek had summon
ed her attendants to her apartment, they
found her standing liz her night-dress on
the floor, her hands cienched, her eyes
fixed as in a convufsion, and specks Of
foam upon her parted lips. 1t was a
frightful spectacle, the strongly marked
but withered features and stony blue
eyes of the miserable Queen.
But what needs it to proIong the de-
scription Of scenes so horrible; the strug-
giles of soul which had used its great
ness only to destroy; and which sum
moned to quit that world l. had too much
loved. shrunk fromthe contemplation Of
its past career.
No entreaties could prevail upon the
wretched Queen 10 return to her bed ;she
raved, screamed, and wepr at the propo.
sal. Cushions were brought, and upon
them she was extended; bitterly bemoan-
ing her miserable fate, and refusing all
refreshment and consolation.
Who does not know that for ten days
the unhappy Queen thus remained. sill
refusing to enter her bed. The bishops,
and theII.ords of the Council, alike in
vain entreated her to alter this resolution.
To Lucy Wilouahton, whom she still
detained in attendance. she expressed
strong indignation against Secretary Co.
Gil. the son of her old favorite Bureigh.
.ae.teIleth the people, Mistress Will
Iouehton.' said Elizabeth, that | am mad;
but am not MAIDS oh, would to God that
I were.
sGracious madam, be conforted!' said
Lucy, who was moved by the. pitiable
condition of the Queen.
DO not thou mock me, fair dance with
such empty words replied Elizabeth;
had thy poor cousin seen me thus, she
Rad known me better than to talk of
comfort. Alas, alas ,-why does her fate
1 Mi .ursue me-. God knows how bitter
ssourned her fate; bttit cometh,
~ meth for ever, and still accompanied
- smother, which my soul sickeneth to
saold., While Elizabeth spoke, en-
tered Sir Robert Cecil, with the Lord
admiral. a relation of the Queen: they
eana to entreat that she would suffer
herself 10 DC Inv =" ~ cNu'
Elizabeth looked round, shuddering at
her costly couch. 'Oh. never, never!'
she exclaimed. 'Oh, Cecll,if thou hadst
saon there what have seen, thou woudst
not drive thy mistress to that couch OF
horrors!' !
what has your Grace there beheld?'
said Cecil; have you seen the dwellers or
another world?
.Nay!r answered Elizabeth, assured
l. thaf i an idle question, and beneath
o' ~, sooth YOUR Grace must retire to
,d, nersisted Cecil, 'ifit be but to sat
. w. tbe affection of your peoples
these words, the embers Of an al
.st extineuished fire again blazed in
heart Of Elizabeth and lighted up