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conversation,
so sparkling and wise and witty and genial 
[[strikethrough]] the conversation would be with each guest at his best [[/strikethrough]] The great hall with banners drooping from the [[strikethrough]] dark [[/strikethrough]] walls, and a shaft of golden light, 'the light that never was on sea or land' falling athwart the room? For
----------------Spenser----------------
of all guests I would like most to behold splendid men, used to command, and queenly women, and courtly - gentle Knights like Philip Sidney, -- The Emperor Charles the Fifth (forget not,[[strikethrough]] to have the most excellent fish from the river [[/strikethrough]] an eel-pasty for the bon nuit), Gonzalvo of Cordoba, 'El Gran Capitan' & that fair Queen of Cyprus, whom first I met with you.

Then the hypocras as shall flow largely, and golden dishes heaped with wondrous fruit seen only in Spain are passed around - by turn pages, - and Hieronymus shaking all his silver bells, makes such retorts, of so quick and rare a sort
[[strikethrough]] What needs of dainty dishes to devise as are of only spoken in dreams chatters of comely services, or courtly train. My narrow leaves cannot in them contain the large discourse of royal prince's state.† [[/strikethrough]]

For, etc. and you, the gentle mistress of it all! You will come there [[strikethrough]] sometimes [[/strikethrough]], will you not? something away from the world that will demand as much of your life there, where we can live again in the dreams of our 

[[footnote]] † The Fairie Queene, Book I, Canto XII [[/footnote]]

long, sweet childhood, when the days followed the days as slowly and softly as the years do now, and a summer day was as full of changes as a life. - There you were a real Princess, doing great deeds, and inspiring them till you were seventeen, and then - there you wore only a crown when you were alone with me, my own friend! But I see you as a Queen always, walking through stately halls, before whom all bow, absolute sovereign in your own domain, sweet and glad-hearted Queen! And when sometimes you pace the green walk in the wood, with a troop of invisible spirits guarding you, whom you mark not perchance, or but as a queen who knoweth that she is followed always by faithful and silent guards, then those friends, the noble-hearted trees, bending before you, shower their gold and crimson leaves upon your path, such true devotion which you reward by wearing as sole jewel, one of those crimson leaves. 

I think that some of this glad fancy has entered my picture, on which I have been working many days, while thoughts of you filled my brain, as my

Transcription Notes:
do not mark "complete" until less than 2 question marks remain, per S.I. instructions. There is only 1 [[?]] left and I can't figure it out - JP 7/15/22