Page:The Queens of England.djvu/465

ELIZABETH. 4.ig self to death, for having consented to the death of her lover, who had recurr'd to her mercy." Thus died a woman, who, with all her levity and lack of modesty, is yet most probably entitled to demand of posterity to inscribe on her tomb, "Here lies a virgin queen;" though pos- terity, or at least the austere portion of it, may, in acceding to her claim, feel disposed to stipulate, that the orthography of the last word shall be changed, and that it shall be written "quean/.' Even in her own day, such was the opinion of some of the Puritans ; but widely different were the impressions she left in the minds of the many. As a specimen of the un- bounded admiration which her subjects continued to express for her after her death, we will extract from old Camden a species of epitaph, which he composed for her. We print it as we find it in the original folios, determined that the en- comiastic antiquary shall not be deprived by us of any of his loyal intentions to be emphatic. "Alas ! how inconsiderable is her monument in comparison of the noble qualities of so heroical a lady ! She herself is her own monument, and a more magnificent and sumptuous one than any other. For let these noble actions recommend her to the praise and admiration of posterity : — Religion re- formed, PEACE ESTABLISHED, MONEY REDUCED TO ITS TRUE value, a most complete fleet built, our naval glory re- stored, rebellion suppressed, england for forty-three years together most prudently governed, enriched, and strengthened, scotland rescued from the ' french, France itself relieved, the Netherlands supported, Spain and Ireland quieted, and the whole world twice sailed around/' Yet, after all, we must not be too prone to be perpetually lauding her political sagacity and conduct. Her success and glory were probably as much the effect of chance as of talent. Not by benevolent objets wisely adopted and resolutely pur- sued, but by accidents of temper and disposition, she became the ruler of her time. If her people had not been as pliant and servile, as she was willful and imperious, instead of an increase of the national power, rebellion and ruin must have occurred. If her actions be closely investigated, the sources of the public prosperity will be found more in her vices than in her virtues ; yet during her reign, England obtained so vast an advance in the European system, that not only her own sub- jects, but succeeding generations, have been unable to scan her