kenilworth-第101章
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would have loved a good sword better。 As it is with me； I like
to look on one； and could； like the Fairy of whom I have read in
some Italian rhymeswere my godson Harrington here； he could
tell me the passageeven trim my hair； and arrange my head…gear；
in such a steel mirror as this is。Richard Varney； come forth；
and kneel down。 In the name of God and Saint George； we dub thee
knight！ Be Faithful； Brave； and Fortunate。 Arise； Sir Richard
Varney。〃
＇The incident alluded to occurs in the poem of Orlando Innamorato
of Boiardo； libro ii。 canto 4； stanza 25。
〃Non era per ventura；〃 etc。
It may be rendered thus：
As then； perchance； unguarded was the tower；
So enter'd free Anglante's dauntless knight。
No monster and no giant guard the bower
In whose recess reclined the fairy light；
Robed in a loose cymar of lily white；
And on her lap a sword of breadth and might；
In whose broad blade； as in a mirror bright；
Like maid that trims her for a festal night；
The fairy deck'd her hair； and placed her coronet aright。
Elizabeth's attachment to the Italian school of poetry was
singularly manifested on a well…known occasion。 Her godson； Sir
John Harrington； having offended her delicacy by translating some
of the licentious passages of the Orlando Furioso； she imposed on
him； as a penance； the task of rendering the WHOLE poem into
English。＇
Varney arose and retired； making a deep obeisance to the
Sovereign who had done him so much honour。
〃The buckling of the spur； and what other rites remain；〃 said the
Queen； 〃may be finished to…morrow in the chapel； for we intend
Sir Richard Varney a companion in his honours。 And as we must
not be partial in conferring such distinction； we mean on this
matter to confer with our cousin of Sussex。〃
That noble Earl； who since his arrival at Kenilworth； and indeed
since the commencement of this Progress； had found himself in a
subordinate situation to Leicester； was now wearing a heavy cloud
on his brow； a circumstance which had not escaped the Queen； who
hoped to appease his discontent； and to follow out her system of
balancing policy by a mark of peculiar favour； the more
gratifying as it was tendered at a moment when his rival's
triumph appeared to be complete。
At the summons of Queen Elizabeth； Sussex hastily approached her
person； and being asked on which of his followers； being a
gentleman and of merit； he would wish the honour of knighthood to
be conferred； he answered； with more sincerity than policy； that
he would have ventured to speak for Tressilian； to whom he
conceived he owed his own life； and who was a distinguished
soldier and scholar； besides a man of unstained lineage； 〃only；〃
he said； 〃he feared the events of that night〃 And then he
stopped。
〃I am glad your lordship is thus considerate；〃 said Elizabeth。
〃The events of this night would make us； in the eyes of our
subjects； as mad as this poor brain…sick gentleman himselffor
we ascribe his conduct to no maliceshould we choose this moment
to do him grace。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Earl of Sussex； somewhat
discountenanced； your Majesty will allow me to name my master of
the horse； Master Nicholas Blount； a gentleman of fair estate and
ancient name； who has served your Majesty both in Scotland and
Ireland； and brought away bloody marks on his person； all
honourably taken and requited。〃
The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders slightly even at
this second suggestion； and the Duchess of Rutland； who read in
the Queen's manner that she had expected that Sussex would have
named Raleigh； and thus would have enabled her to gratify her own
wish while she honoured his recommendation； only waited the
Queen's assent to what he had proposed； and then said that she
hoped； since these two high nobles had been each permitted to
suggest a candidate for the honours of chivalry； she； in behalf
of the ladies in presence； might have a similar indulgence。
〃I were no woman to refuse you such a boon；〃 said the Queen；
smiling。
〃Then；〃 pursued the Duchess； 〃in the name of these fair ladies
present； I request your Majesty to confer the rank of knighthood
on Walter Raleigh； whose birth； deeds of arms； and promptitude to
serve our sex with sword or pen； deserve such distinction from us
all。〃
〃Gramercy； fair ladies；〃 said Elizabeth； smiling； 〃your boon is
granted； and the gentle squire Lack…Cloak shall become the good
knight Lack…Cloak； at your desire。 Let the two aspirants for the
honour of chivalry step forward。〃
Blount was not as yet returned from seeing Tressilian； as he
conceived； safely disposed of； but Raleigh came forth； and
kneeling down； received at the hand of the Virgin Queen that
title of honour； which was never conferred on a more
distinguished or more illustrious object。
Shortly afterwards Nicholas Blount entered； and hastily apprised
by Sussex； who met him at the door of the hall； of the Queen's
gracious purpose regarding him； he was desired to advance towards
the throne。 It is a sight sometimes seen； and it is both
ludicrous and pitiable； when an honest man of plain common sense
is surprised； by the coquetry of a pretty woman； or any other
cause； into those frivolous fopperies which only sit well upon
the youthful； the gay； and those to whom long practice has
rendered them a second nature。 Poor Blount was in this
situation。 His head was already giddy from a consciousness of
unusual finery； and the supposed necessity of suiting his manners
to the gaiety of his dress； and now this sudden view of promotion
altogether completed the conquest of the newly inhaled spirit of
foppery over his natural disposition； and converted a plain；
honest； awkward man into a coxcomb of a new and most ridiculous
kind。
The knight…expectant advanced up the hall； the whole length of
which he had unfortunately to traverse； turning out his toes with
so much zeal that he presented his leg at every step with its
broadside foremost； so that it greatly resembled an old…fashioned
table…knife with a curved point； when seen sideways。 The rest of
his gait was in proportion to this unhappy amble； and the implied
mixture of bashful rear and self…satisfaction was so unutterably
ridiculous that Leicester's friends did not suppress a titter； in
which many of Sussex's partisans were unable to resist joining；
though ready to eat their nails with mortification。 Sussex
himself lost all patience； and could not forbear whispering into
the ear of his friend； 〃Curse thee！ canst thou not walk like a
man and a soldier？〃 an interjection which only made honest
Blount start and stop； until a glance at his yellow roses and
crimson stockings restored his self…confidence； when on he went
at the same pace as before。
The Queen conferred on poor Blount the honour of knighthood with
a marked sense of reluctance。 That wise Princess was fully aware
of the propriety of using great circumspection and economy in
bestowing those titles of honour； which the Stewarts； who
succeeded to her throne； distributed with an imprudent liberality
which greatly diminished their value。 Blount had no sooner
arisen and retired than she turned to the Duchess of Rutland。
〃Our woman wit；〃 she said； 〃dear Rutland； is sharper than that of
those proud things in doublet and hose。 Seest thou； out of these
three knights； thine is the only true metal to stamp chivalry's
imprint upon？〃
〃Sir Richard Varney； surelythe friend of my Lord of Leicester
surely he has merit；〃 replied the Duchess。
〃Varney has a sly countenance and a smooth tongue；〃 replied the
Queen； 〃I fear me he will prove a knave。 But the promise was of
ancient standing。 My Lord of Sussex must have lost his own wits；
I think； to recommend to us first a madman like Tressilian； and
then a clownish fool like this other fellow。 I protest； Rutland；
that while he sat on his knees before me； mopping and mowing as
if he had scalding porridge in his mouth； I had much ado to
forbear cutting him over the pate； instead of striking his
shoulder。〃
〃Your Majesty gave him a smart ACCOLADE；〃 said the Duchess； 〃we
who stood behind heard the blade clatter on his collar…bone； and
the poor
