kenilworth-第110章

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we　have　right　to　be　offended　with　you。　　We　will　take　the　lion's
part　upon　us；　and　be　the　first　to　forgive。〃

Leicester　smoothed　his　brow；　as　by　an　effort；　but　the　trouble　was
too　deep…seated　that　its　placidity　should　at　once　return。　　He
said；　however；　that　which　fitted　the　occasion；　〃That　he　could　not
have　the　happiness　of　forgiving；　because　she　who　commanded　him　to
do　so　could　commit　no　injury　towards　him。〃

Elizabeth　seemed　content　with　this　reply；　and　intimated　her
pleasure　that　the　sports　of　the　morning　should　proceed。　　The
bugles　sounded；　the　hounds　bayed；　the　horses　pranced　but　the
courtiers　and　ladies　sought　the　amusement　to　which　they　were
summoned　with　hearts　very　different　from　those　which　had　leaped
to　the　morning's　REVIELLE。　　There　was　doubt；　and　fear；　and
expectation　on　every　brow；　and　surmise　and　intrigue　in　every
whisper。

Blount　took　an　opportunity　to　whisper　into　Raleigh's　ear；　〃This
storm　came　like　a　levanter　in　the　Mediterranean。〃

〃VARIUM　ET　MUTABILE；〃　answered　Raleigh；　in　a　similar　tone。

〃Nay；　I　know　nought　of　your　Latin；〃　said　Blount；　〃but　I　thank　God
Tressilian　took　not　the　sea　during　that　hurricane。　　He　could
scarce　have　missed　shipwreck；　knowing　as　he　does　so　little　how　to
trim　his　sails　to　a　court　gale。〃

〃Thou　wouldst　have　instructed　him！〃　　said　Raleigh。

〃Why；　I　have　profited　by　my　time　as　well　as　thou；　Sir　Walter；〃
replied　honest　Blount。　　〃I　am　knight　as　well　as　thou；　and　of　the
earlier　creation。〃

〃Now；　God　further　thy　wit；〃　said　Raleigh。　　〃But　for　Tressilian；　I
would　I　knew　what　were　the　matter　with　him。　　He　told　me　this
morning　he　would　not　leave　his　chamber　for　the　space　of　twelve
hours　or　thereby；　being　bound　by　a　promise。　　This　lady's　madness；
when　he　shall　learn　it；　will　not；　I　fear；　cure　his　infirmity。
The　moon　is　at　the　fullest；　and　men's　brains　are　working　like
yeast。　　But　hark！　　they　sound　to　mount。　　Let　us　to　horse；　Blount；
we　young　knights　must　deserve　our　spurs。〃



CHAPTER　XXXV。

　　　　　　　　Sincerity；
　　　Thou　first　of　virtues！　　let　no　mortal　leave
　　　Thy　onward　path；　although　the　earth　should　gape；
　　　And　from　the　gulf　of　hell　destruction　cry；
　　　To　take　dissimulation's　winding　way。　　　　　　　　DOUGLAS。

It　was　not　till　after　a　long　and　successful　morning's　sport；　and
a　prolonged　repast　which　followed　the　return　of　the　Queen　to　the
Castle；　that　Leicester　at　length　found　himself　alone　with　Varney；
from　whom　he　now　learned　the　whole　particulars　of　the　Countess's
escape；　as　they　had　been　brought　to　Kenilworth　by　Foster；　who；　in
his　terror　for　the　consequences；　had　himself　posted　thither　with
the　tidings。　　As　Varney；　in　his　narrative；　took　especial　care　to
be　silent　concerning　those　practices　on　the　Countess's　health
which　had　driven　her　to　so　desperate　a　resolution；　Leicester；　who
could　only　suppose　that　she　had　adopted　it　out　of　jealous
impatience　to　attain　the　avowed　state　and　appearance　belonging　to
her　rank；　was　not　a　little　offended　at　the　levity　with　which　his
wife　had　broken　his　strict　commands；　and　exposed　him　to　the
resentment　of　Elizabeth。

〃I　have　given；〃　he　said；　〃to　this　daughter　of　an　obscure
Devonshire　gentleman　the　proudest　name　in　England。　　I　have　made
her　sharer　of　my　bed　and　of　my　fortunes。　　I　ask　but　of　her　a
little　patience；　ere　she　launches　forth　upon　the　full　current　of
her　grandeur；　and　the　infatuated　woman　will　rather　hazard　her　own
shipwreck　and　minewill　rather　involve　me　in　a　thousand
whirlpools；　shoals；　and　quicksands；　and　compel　me　to　a　thousand
devices　which　shame　me　in　mine　own　eyesthan　tarry　for　a　little
space　longer　in　the　obscurity　to　which　she　was　born。　　So　lovely；
so　delicate；　so　fond；　so　faithful；　yet　to　lack　in　so　grave　a
matter　the　prudence　which　one　might　hope　from　the　veriest　fool
it　puts　me　beyond　my　patience。〃

〃We　may　post　it　over　yet　well　enough；〃　said　Varney；　〃if　my　lady
will　be　but　ruled；　and　take　on　her　the　character　which　the　time
commands。〃

〃It　is　but　too　true；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　Leicester；　〃there　is
indeed　no　other　remedy。　　I　have　heard　her　termed　thy　wife　in　my
presence；　without　contradiction。　　She　must　bear　the　title　until
she　is　far　from　Kenilworth。〃

〃And　long　afterwards；　I　trust；〃　said　Varney；　then　instantly
added；　〃For　I　cannot　but　hope　it　will　be　long　after　ere　she　bear
the　title　of　Lady　LeicesterI　fear　me　it　may　scarce　be　with
safety　during　the　life　of　this　Queen。　　But　your　lordship　is　best
judge；　you　alone　knowing　what　passages　have　taken　place　betwixt
Elizabeth　and　you。〃

〃You　are　right；　Varney；〃　said　Leicester。　　〃I　have　this　morning
been　both　fool　and　villain；　and　when　Elizabeth　hears　of　my
unhappy　marriage；　she　cannot　but　think　herself　treated　with　that
premeditated　slight　which　women　never　forgive。　　We　have　once　this
day　stood　upon　terms　little　short　of　defiance；　and　to　those；　I
fear；　we　must　again　return。〃

〃Is　her　resentment；　then；　so　implacable？〃　said　Varney。

〃Far　from　it；〃　replied　the　Earl；　〃for；　being　what　she　is　in
spirit　and　in　station；　she　has　even　this　day　been　but　too
condescending；　in　giving　me　opportunities　to　repair　what　she
thinks　my　faulty　heat　of　temper。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Varney；　〃the　Italians　say　rightin　lovers'
quarrels；　the　party　that　loves　most　is　always　most　willing　to
acknowledge　the　greater　fault。　　So　then；　my　lord；　if　this　union
with　the　lady　could　be　concealed；　you　stand　with　Elizabeth　as　you
did？〃

Leicester　sighed；　and　was　silent　for　a　moment；　ere　he　replied。

〃Varney；　I　think　thou　art　true　to　me；　and　I　will　tell　thee　all。
I　do　NOT　stand　where　I　did。　　I　have　spoken　to　Elizabethunder
what　mad　impulse　I　know　noton　a　theme　which　cannot　be　abandoned
without　touching　every　female　feeling　to　the　quick；　and　which　yet
I　dare　not　and　cannot　prosecute。　　She　can　never；　never　forgive　me
for　having　caused　and　witnessed　those　yieldings　to　human
passion。〃

〃We　must　do　something；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃and　that
speedily。〃

〃There　is　nought　to　be　done；〃　answered　Leicester；　despondingly。
〃I　am　like　one　that　has　long　toiled　up　a　dangerous　precipice；　and
when　he　is　within　one　perilous　stride　of　the　top；　finds　his
progress　arrested　when　retreat　has　become　impossible。　　I　see
above　me　the　pinnacle　which　I　cannot　reachbeneath　me　the　abyss
into　which　I　must　fall；　as　soon　as　my　relaxing　grasp　and　dizzy
brain　join　to　hurl　me　from　my　present　precarious　stance。〃

〃Think　better　of　your　situation；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃let　us
try　the　experiment　in　which　you　have　but　now　acquiesced。　　Keep　we
your　marriage　from　Elizabeth's　knowledge；　and　all　may　yet　be
well。　　I　will　instantly　go　to　the　lady　myself。　　She　hates　me；
because　I　have　been　earnest　with　your　lordship；　as　she　truly
suspects；　in　opposition　to　what　she　terms　her　rights。　　I　care　not
for　her　prejudicesshe　SHALL　listen　to　me；　and　I　will　show　her
such　reasons　for　yielding　to　the　pressure　of　the　times　that　I
doubt　not　to　bring　back　her　consent　to　whatever　measures　these
exigencies　may　require。〃

〃No；　Varney；〃　said　Leicester；　〃I　have　thought　upon　what　is　to　be
done；　and　I　will　myself　speak　with　Amy。〃

It　was　now　Varney's　turn　to　feel　upon　his　own　account　the　terrors
which　he　affected　to　participate　solely　on　account　of　his　patron。
〃Your　lordship　will　not　yourself　speak　with　the　lady？〃

〃It　is　my　fixed　purpose；〃　said　Leicester。　　〃Fetch　me　one　of　the
livery…cloaks；　I　will　pass　the　sentinel　as　thy　servant。　　Thou　art
to　have　free　access　to　her。〃

〃But；　my　lord〃

〃I　will　have　no　BUTS；〃　replied　Leicester；　〃it　shall　be　even　thus；
and　not　otherwise。　　Hunsdon　sleeps；　I　think；　in　Saintlowe's
Tower。　　We　can　go　thither　from　these　apartments　by　the　private
passage；　without　risk　of　meeting　any　one。　　Or　what　if　I　do　meet
Hunsdon？　　he　is　more　my　friend　than　enemy；　and　thick…witted
enough　to　adopt　any　belief　that　is　thrust　on　him。　　Fetch　me　the
cloak　instantly。〃

Varney　had　no　alternative　save　obedience。　　In　a　few　minutes
Leicester　was　muffled　in　the　mantle；　pulled　his　bonnet　over　his
brows；　and　followed　Varney　along　the　secret　passage　of　the　Castle
which　communicated　with　Hunsdon's　apartments；　in　which　there　was
scarce　a　chance　of　meeting　any　inquisitive　person；　and　hardly
light　enough　for　any　such　to　have　satisfied　their　curiosity。