He had said them in his language; she must now repeat them in her own.

She seated herself, and with hands trembling with enthusiasm, fluttering breath, perfectly excited and glowing, in glad haste she began a translation of Petrarch's first sonnet.
[Footnote: Elizabeth, who even as a girl of twelve years old spoke four languages, was very fond of composing verses, and of translating the poems of foreign authors.

But she kept her skill in this respect very secret, and was always very angry if any one by chance saw one of her poems.

After her death there were found among her papers many translations, especially of Petrarch's Sonnets, which were the work of her earliest youth .-- Leti, vol.i, p.

150.] A loud knock interrupted her; and in the hastily opened door now appeared the lovely form of the queen.
"The queen!" exclaimed Elizabeth with delight.