kenilworth-第100章

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So　spoke　Elizabeth；　whose　nicety　of　scent　was　one　of　the
characteristics　of　her　organization；　as　appeared　long　afterwards
when　she　expelled　Essex　from　her　presence；　on　a　charge　against
his　boots　similar　to　that　which　she　now　expressed　against　those
of　Tressilian

But　Tressilian　had　by　this　time　collected　himself；　astonished　as
he　had　at　first　been　by　the　audacity　of　the　falsehood　so　feasibly
supported；　and　placed　in　array　against　the　evidence　of　his　own
eyes。　　He　rushed　forward；　kneeled　down；　and　caught　the　Queen　by
the　skirt　of　her　robe。　　〃As　you　are　Christian　woman；〃　he　said；
〃madam；　as　you　are　crowned　Queen；　to　do　equal　justice　among　your
subjectsas　you　hope　yourself　to　have　fair　hearing　（which　God
grant　you）　at　that　last　bar　at　which　we　must　all　plead；　grant　me
one　small　request！　　Decide　not　this　matter　so　hastily。　　Give　me
but　twenty…four　hours'　interval；　and　I　will；　at　the　end　of　that
brief　space；　produce　evidence　which　will　show　to　demonstration
that　these　certificates；　which　state　this　unhappy　lady　to　be　now
ill　at　ease　in　Oxfordshire；　are　false　as　hell！〃

〃Let　go　my　train；　sir！〃　　said　Elizabeth；　who　was　startled　at　his
vehemence；　though　she　had　too　much　of　the　lion　in　her　to　fear；
〃the　fellow　must　be　distraught。　　That　witty　knave；　my　godson
Harrington；　must　have　him　into　his　rhymes　of　Orlando　Furioso！
And　yet；　by　this　light；　there　is　something　strange　in　the
vehemence　of　his　demand。Speak；　Tressilian；　what　wilt　thou　do
if；　at　the　end　of　these　four…and…twenty　hours；　thou　canst　not
confute　a　fact　so　solemnly　proved　as　this　lady's　illness？〃

〃I　will　lay　down　my　head　on　the　block；〃　answered　Tressilian。

〃Pshaw！〃　　replied　the　Queen；　〃God's　light！　　thou　speakest　like　a
fool。　　What　head　falls　in　England　but　by　just　sentence　of　English
law？　　I　ask　thee；　manif　thou　hast　sense　to　understand　mewilt
thou；　if　thou　shalt　fail　in　this　improbable　attempt　of　thine；
render　me　a　good　and　sufficient　reason　why　thou　dost　undertake
it？〃

Tressilian　paused；　and　again　hesitated；　because　he　felt　convinced
that　if；　within　the　interval　demanded；　Amy　should　become
reconciled　to　her　husband；　he　would　in　that　case　do　her　the　worst
of　offices　by　again　ripping　up　the　whole　circumstances　before
Elizabeth；　and　showing　how　that　wise　and　jealous　princess　had
been　imposed　upon　by　false　testimonials。　　The　consciousness　of
this　dilemma　renewed　his　extreme　embarrassment　of　look；　voice；
and　manner；　he　hesitated；　looked　down；　and　on　the　Queen　repeating
her　question　with　a　stern　voice　and　flashing　eye；　he　admitted
with　faltering　words；　〃That　it　might　behe　could　not　positively
that　is；　in　certain　eventsexplain　the　reasons　and　grounds　on
which　he　acted。〃

〃Now；　by　the　soul　of　King　Henry；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃this　is　either
moonstruck　madness　or　very　knavery！Seest　thou；　Raleigh；　thy
friend　is　far　too　Pindaric　for　this　presence。　　Have　him　away；　and
make　us　quit　of　him；　or　it　shall　be　the　worse　for　him；　for　his
flights　are　too　unbridled　for　any　place　but　Parnassus；　or　Saint
Luke's　Hospital。　　But　come　back　instantly　thyself；　when　he　is
placed　under　fitting　restraint。We　wish　we　had　seen　the　beauty
which　could　make　such　havoc　in　a　wise　man's　brain。〃

Tressilian　was　again　endeavouring　to　address　the　Queen；　when
Raleigh；　in　obedience　to　the　orders　he　had　received；　interfered；
and　with　Blount's　assistance；　half　led；　half　forced　him　out　of
the　presence…chamber；　where　he　himself　indeed　began　to　think　his
appearance　did　his　cause　more　harm　than　good。

When　they　had　attained　the　antechamber；　Raleigh　entreated　Blount
to　see　Tressilian　safely　conducted　into　the　apartments　allotted
to　the　Earl　of　Sussex's　followers；　and；　if　necessary；　recommended
that　a　guard　should　be　mounted　on　him。

〃This　extravagant　passion；〃　he　said；　〃and；　as　it　would　seem；　the
news　of　the　lady's　illness；　has　utterly　wrecked　his　excellent
judgment。　　But　it　will　pass　away　if　he　be　kept　quiet。　　Only　let
him　break　forth　again　at　no　rate；　for　he　is　already　far　in　her
Highness's　displeasure；　and　should　she　be　again　provoked；　she
will　find　for　him　a　worse　place　of　confinement；　and　sterner
keepers。〃

〃I　judged　as　much　as　that　he　was　mad；〃　said　Nicholas　Blount；
looking　down　upon　his　own　crimson　stockings　and　yellow　roses；
〃whenever　I　saw　him　wearing　yonder　damned　boots；　which　stunk　so
in　her　nostrils。　　I　will　but　see　him　stowed；　and　be　back　with　you
presently。　　But；　Walter；　did　the　Queen　ask　who　I　was？methought
she　glanced　an　eye　at　me。〃

〃Twentytwenty　eye…glances　she　sent！　　and　I　told　her　allhow
thou　wert　a　brave　soldier；　and　a　But　for　God's　sake；　get　off
Tressilian！〃

〃I　willI　will；〃　said　Blount；　〃but　methinks　this　court…haunting
is　no　such　bad　pastime；　after　all。　　We　shall　rise　by　it；　Walter；
my　brave　lad。　　Thou　saidst　I　was　a　good　soldier；　and　a　what
besides；　dearest　Walter？〃

〃An　all　unutterable…codshead。　　For　God's　sake；　begone！〃

Tressilian；　without　further　resistance　or　expostulation　followed；
or　rather　suffered　himself　to　be　conducted　by　Blount　to　Raleigh's
lodging；　where　he　was　formally　installed　into　a　small　truckle…bed
placed　in　a　wardrobe；　and　designed　for　a　domestic。　　He　saw　but
too　plainly　that　no　remonstrances　would　avail　to　procure　the　help
or　sympathy　of　his　friends；　until　the　lapse　of　the　time　for　which
he　had　pledged　himself　to　remain　inactive　should　enable　him
either　to　explain　the　whole　circumstances　to　them；　or　remove　from
him　every　pretext　or　desire　of　further　interference　with　the
fortunes　of　Amy；　by　her　having　found　means　to　place　herself　in　a
state　of　reconciliation　with　her　husband。

With　great　difficulty；　and　only　by　the　most　patient　and　mild
remonstrances　with　Blount；　he　escaped　the　disgrace　and
mortification　of　having　two　of　Sussex's　stoutest　yeomen　quartered
in　his　apartment。　　At　last；　however；　when　Nicholas　had　seen　him
fairly　deposited　in　his　truckle…bed；　and　had　bestowed　one　or　two
hearty　kicks；　and　as　hearty　curses；　on　the　boots；　which；　in　his
lately　acquired　spirit　of　foppery；　he　considered　as　a　strong
symptom；　if　not　the　cause；　of　his　friend's　malady；　he　contented
himself　with　the　modified　measure　of　locking　the　door　on　the
unfortunate　Tressilian；　whose　gallant　and　disinterested　efforts
to　save　a　female　who　had　treated　him　with　ingratitude　thus
terminated　for　the　present　in　the　displeasure　of　his　Sovereign
and　the　conviction　of　his　friends　that　he　was　little　better　than
a　madman。



CHAPTER　XXXII。

　　The　wisest　Sovereigns　err　like　private　men；
　　And　royal　hand　has　sometimes　laid　the　sword
　　Of　chivalry　upon　a　worthless　shoulder；
　　Which　better　had　been　branded　by　the　hangman。
　　What　then？Kings　do　their　best；　and　they　and　we
　　Must　answer　for　the　intent；　and　not　the　event。　　　　OLD　PLAY。

〃It　is　a　melancholy　matter；〃　said　the　Queen；　when　Tressilian　was
withdrawn；　〃to　see　a　wise　and　learned　man's　wit　thus　pitifully
unsettled。　　Yet　this　public　display　of　his　imperfection　of　brain
plainly　shows　us　that　his　supposed　injury　and　accusation　were
fruitless；　and　therefore；　my　Lord　of　Leicester；　we　remember　your
suit　formerly　made　to　us　in　behalf　of　your　faithful　servant
Varney；　whose　good　gifts　and　fidelity；　as　they　are　useful　to　you；
ought　to　have　due　reward　from　us；　knowing　well　that　your
lordship；　and　all　you　have；　are　so　earnestly　devoted　to　our
service。　　And　we　render　Varney　the　honour　more　especially　that　we
are　a　guest；　and；　we　fear；　a　chargeable　and　troublesome　one；
under　your　lordship's　roof；　and　also　for　the　satisfaction　of　the
good　old　Knight　of　Devon；　Sir　Hugh　Robsart；　whose　daughter　he
hath　married；　and　we　trust　the　especial　mark　of　grace　which　we
are　about　to　confer　may　reconcile　him　to　his　son…in…law。Your
sword；　my　Lord　of　Leicester。〃

The　Earl　unbuckled　his　sword；　and　taking　it　by　the　point；
presented　on　bended　knee　the　hilt　to　Elizabeth。

She　took　it　slowly　drew　it　from　the　scabbard；　and　while　the
ladies　who　stood　around　turned　away　their　eyes　with　real　or
affected　shuddering；　she　noted　with　a　curious　eye　the　high　polish
and　rich；　damasked　ornaments　upon　the　glittering　blade。

〃Had　I　been　a　man；〃　she　said；　〃methinks　none　of　my　ancestors
would　have　loved　a　good　sword　better。　　As　it　is　with　me；　I　like
to　look　on　one；　and　cou