BLIGHTED AMBITION; OR,

might have feathered his nest, as the say-
ing goes, better than he did; but he
looked upon low things with contempt,
leaving much to the gleaning of his ser-
vants, many of whom came afterwards
into high places.

Great as the honour was which had
now been conferred upon Sir Thomas
Overbury, that gentleman demurred to
be encumbered with it, and this reluc-
tance he was not backward to express to
Gabriella, that friend of his bosom, from
whom no action of his life was now con-
cealed, so much did he value her judg-
ment in matters wherein his own rested
without any doubt.

"Nay, doubt not the disposition of
the Lords of Council," said the fair Ga-
briella: " follow their counsel and your
fortune is made."

66

"the Earl of Northampton bears ill-will But, Gabriella," replied Overbury, towards me he has not concealed his

mind from myself, and to others he has spoken even more freely. I must cast about, to find out the reason why I am employed to visit the Archduke, in preference to some great lord."

"Sir Knight," interrupted Gabriella, " to refuse the King's commission, will be your utter disgrace."

"To undertake it," replied Sir Thomas, " will be the loss of my preferment by means of my best friend at home, the Earl of Somerset."

"And to decline it, will be construed into high treason," rejoined Gabriella. "Think'st thou, fair dame, I am to be cozened by Northampton, and he it is who desires me gone? Nay, nay, Gabriella, I will not budge; 'tis all a trick into which they have drawn me; and Somerset is so fairly in my power, he 'll not fail to stand my friend, in the event of incurring the King's displeasure."

" I shall not urge my poor opinion further," replied Gabriella; "but methinks you might try the stars with some wise magician, to know the fortune reserved for you in this appointment."

" I had some thoughts of that myself," answered Overbury; " but I am not in the humour now. ----To-morrow, perhaps, I may visit a conjuror, and have the scheme of my nativity erected and consulted."

On the morrow Sir Thomas was met by Somerset earlier than usual at Whitehall; and the presence of the Earl surprised his friend, who, in the familiarity of that intercourse which passed between them, exclaimed as his eyes met those of his patron, -" My Lord, good morrow': methinks this early time of day bespeaks partnership with some alchymical dew gatherer."

"No, Sir, Thomas, no, not quite so fanciful as a Rosicrutian either; but as zealous as the best friend of Overbury," replied Somerset.

"Zeal, my good lord, like the warming beams of that blessed sun, ne'er yet lacked blossoms and social evergreens, -How does my sweet lord?"

"Indifferent well, Sir Thomas," replied Somerset: "you have been talked to last night, by the lords of council, on your appointment to the Low Countries. How squares your humour with an embassage?"

Overbury, who judged this would be a favourable opportunity of putting the friendship of the Viscount to the test, professed himself at a loss how to act, and begged Somerset would advise him, saying, "What thinks your Lordship of the appointment? For myself, I am indifferent how it goes. Some considerations there are which would induce me to travel again; but there are others, and

these not altogether personal, which invite me to remain still in England."

66

" I confess to you, Sir Thomas," replied Somerset, I am somewhat of your mind; and I am aware of considerations you ought to entertain not altogether personal. Bethink you or the predicament in which you might be placed with respect to Gabriella, and also to the Council if your embassage answered not the wishes of the King, who, whatever may be his present intentions, will be no trusty ally of the protestant cause in Germany."

" I had, in reference to the maligners of your Lordship's worth," said Overbury, " applied to myself these words of the poet:

"Ne quicquam crede, haud credere quicquam, nam fronte polito."

"Astutum rapido torrent sub pectore vulpem, the which," continued Sir Thomas,