and the strong features of her character, were able to overcome all prejudices; and obliging her detractors to abate much of their invectives," and her admirers somewhat of their panegyrics,* have at last, in spite of political factions, and, what is more, of religious animosities,* produced a uniform judgment with regard to her conduct. Her vigour, her constancy, her magnanimity," her penetration, vigilance, address, are allowed to merit the highest praises, and appear not to have been surpassed by any person that ever filled a throne. * 2. A conduct less rigorous, less imperious, more sincere, more indulgent to her people, would have been requisite to form a perfect character. By the force of her mind, she controlled all her more active and stronger qualities, and prevented them from running into excess. Her heroism was exempt from temerity," her frugality* from avarice, her friendship from partiality," her active temper from turbulency and a vain ambition. guarded not herself with equal care or equal success from lesser infirmities—the rivalship of beauty, the desire of admiration, the jealousy of love, and the sallies of anger. She 3. Her singular talents for government were founded equally on her temper and on her capacity. Endowed with a great command over herself, she soon obtained an uncontrolled ascendant over her people; and while she merited all their esteem by her real virtues, she also engaged their affection by her pretended ones. Few sovereigns of England succeeded to the throne in more difficult circumstances; and none ever conducted the government with such uniform success and felicity. Though unacquainted with the practice of toleration, the true secret for managing religious factions, she preserved her people, by her superior prudence, from those confusions in which theological controversy had involved all the neighbouring nations. And though her enemies were the most powerful princes of Europe -the most active, the most enterprising, the least scrupulous—she was able, by her vigour, to make deep impressions on their state: her own greatness, meanwhile, remained untouched and unimpaired. 4. The wise ministers and brave warriors who flourished under her reign share the praise of her success; but instead of lessening the applause due to her, they make great addition to it. They owed, all of them, their advancement to her choice; they were supported by her constancy; and, with all their ability, they were never able to acquire any undue ascendant over her. In her family, in her court, in her kingdom, she remained equally mistress. The force of the tender passions was great over her, but the force of her mind was still superior; and the combat, which her victory visibly cost her, serves only to display the firmness of her resolution, and the loftiness of her ambitious sentiments. 5. The fame of this princess, though it has surmounted the prejudices both of faction and bigotry, yet lies still exposed to another prejudice, which is more durable because more natural, and which, according to the different views in which we survey her, is capable either of exalting beyond measure, or diminishing the lustre of her character. This prejudice is founded on the consideration of her sex. When we contemplate her as a woman, we are apt to be struck with the highest admiration of her great qualities and extensive capacity; but we are also apt to require some more softness of disposition, some greater lenity of temper, some of those amiable weaknesses by which her sex is distinguished. But the true method of estimating her merit is to lay aside all these considerations, and consider her merely as a rational being placed in authority, and intrusted with the government of mankind. We may find it difficult to reconcile our fancy to her as a wife or a mistress; but her qualities as a sovereign, though with some considerable exceptions, are the object of undisputed applause and approbation.—Hume. SHAKSPEARE. XLIX. WOLSEY'S FAREWELL (1). [WOLSEY was born at Ipswich, and is said to have been the son of a butcher. He was educated at Oxford, and became a tutor to three young noblemen. He was introduced at Court, where, by his great abilities, he gained the favour of Henry VII., who made him Dean of Lincoln. After the accession of Henry VIII. he rose to still higher favour, and in time became Archbishop of York. He had great influence with the King, who made him Lord Chancellor, and obtained for him a cardinalship, which is the highest rank under that of Pope. This was when the people of England were under the rule of the Roman Catholic Church. His influence and income were enormous, and he lived in princely style till he lost the esteem of his royal master. When Henry had made up his mind to destroy the power of the Pope in this country, he caused the Cardinal to be arrested on a false charge of treason, and ordered the Duke of Northumberland to bring him to London. On his way he was taken ill, and was compelled to halt at the minster of Leicester, where he died three days after. The following dialogue is between Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell, previously the Cardinal's faithful servant.] Wolsey. FAREWELL! a long farewell, to all my This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth 5 And bears his blushing honours thick upon him; And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me. 15 Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye : I feel my heart new opened. O, how wretched Is that poor man, that hangs on princes' favours! There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to, That sweet aspects of princes, and their ruin, More pangs and fears than wars or women have: And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,* 20 25 Never to hope again. Enter CROMWELL, and stands amazed. Why, how now, Cromwell ? Crom. I have no power to speak, sir. What, amaz'd Wol. At my misfortunes? Can thy spirit wonder A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep, I am fall'n indeed. Crom. 30 Wol. How does your grace? Why, well; Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell. A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience. The king has cur'd me, |