mprudent eulogiums of his valor and his
genius and still more imprudent anticipations of his certain and
complete success. His enemies, desirous of his absence and hopeful of
his failure, concurred with no less zeal in the promotion of his wishes;
and he soon found himself importuned on every side to accept the
command. But it now became his part to make objections;--perhaps he
began to open his eyes to the difficulties to be confronted in
Ireland;--perhaps he penetrated too late the designs and expectations of
his adversaries at home;--perhaps, for his character was not free from
artifice, he chose by a display of reluctance to enhance in the eyes of
his sovereign the merit of his final acquiescence. However this might
be, the difficulties which he raised kept the business for some time in
suspense. Secretary Cecil observed in a letter of December 4th, 1598,
that "the opinion of the earl's going to Ireland had some stop, by
reason of his lordship's indisposition to it, except with some such
conditions as were disagreeable to her majesty's mind;" "although," he
added, "the cup will hardly pass from him in regard of his worth and
fortune: but if it do, my lord Montjoy is named[130]."

[Note 130: Birch.]

It was in the midst of the debates and contentions on this matter that
Essex endeavoured to work upon the feelings of Elizabeth by the
following romantic but eloquent address.

* * * * *

"To the Queen.

"From a mind delighting in sorrow, from spirits wasted with passion,
from a heart torn in pieces with care grief and travel, from a man that
hateth himself and all things else that keep him alive, what service can
your majesty expect; since any service past deserves no more than
banishment and proscription to the cursedest of all islands? It is your
rebels' pride and succession must give me leave to ransom myself out of
this hateful prison, out of my loathed body; which, if it happeneth so,
your majesty shall have no cause to mislike the fashion of my death,
since the course of my life could never please you.

Happy could he finish forth his fate
In some unhaunted desert most obscure
From all society, from love and hate
Of worldly folk; then should he sleep secure.
Then wake again, and yield God ever praise,
Content with hips and haws and brambleberry;
In contemplation passing out his days,
And change of holy thoughts to make him merry.