kenilworth-第21章
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enough； and I wish him not to be judge or privy…councillor in my
affairs。〃
〃Tush；〃 said Varney； 〃what has the surly groom to do with your
ladyship's concerns？no more； surely； than the ban…dog which
watches his courtyard。 If he is in aught distasteful to your
ladyship； I have interest enough to have him exchanged for a
seneschal that shall be more agreeable to you。〃
〃Master Varney；〃 said the Countess； 〃let us drop this theme。
When I complain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around
me； it must be to my lord himself。Hark！ I hear the trampling
of horse。 He comes！ he comes！〃 she exclaimed； jumping up in
ecstasy。
〃I cannot think it is he；〃 said Varney； 〃or that you can hear the
tread of his horse through the closely…mantled casements。〃
〃Stop me not； Varneymy ears are keener than thine。 It is he！〃
〃But； madam！but； madam！〃 exclaimed Varney anxiously； and still
placing himself in her way； 〃I trust that what I have spoken in
humble duty and service will not be turned to my ruin？ I hope
that my faithful advice will not be bewrayed to my prejudice？ I
implore that〃
〃Content thee； mancontent thee！〃 said the Countess； 〃and quit
my skirtyou are too bold to detain me。 Content thyself； I
think not of thee。〃
At this moment the folding…doors flew wide open； and a man of
majestic mien； muffled in the folds of a long dark riding…cloak；
entered the apartment。
CHAPTER VII。
This is he
Who rides on the court…gale； controls its tides；
Knows all their secret shoals and fatal eddies；
Whose frown abases； and whose smile exalts。
He shines like any rainbowand； perchance；
His colours are as transient。〃 OLD PLAY。
There was some little displeasure and confusion on the Countess's
brow； owing to her struggle with Varney's pertinacity； but it was
exchanged for an expression of the purest joy and affection； as
she threw herself into the arms of the noble stranger who
entered； and clasping him to her bosom； exclaimed； 〃At lengthat
length thou art come！〃
Varney discreetly withdrew as his lord entered； and Janet was
about to do the same； when her mistress signed to her to remain。
She took her place at the farther end of the apartment； and
continued standing； as if ready for attendance。
Meanwhile the Earl； for he was of no inferior rank； returned his
lady's caress with the most affectionate ardour； but affected to
resist when she strove to take his cloak from him。
〃Nay；〃 she said； 〃but I will unmantle you。 I must see if you
have kept your word to me； and come as the great Earl men call
thee； and not as heretofore like a private cavalier。〃
〃Thou art like the rest of the world； Amy；〃 said the Earl；
suffering her to prevail in the playful contest； 〃the jewels； and
feathers； and silk are more to them than the man whom they adorn
many a poor blade looks gay in a velvet scabbard。〃
〃But so cannot men say of thee； thou noble Earl；〃 said his lady；
as the cloak dropped on the floor； and showed him dressed as
princes when they ride abroad； 〃thou art the good and well…tried
steel； whose inly worth deserves； yet disdains； its outward
ornaments。 Do not think Amy can love thee better in this
glorious garb than she did when she gave her heart to him who
wore the russet…brown cloak in the woods of Devon。〃
〃And thou too；〃 said the Earl； as gracefully and majestically he
led his beautiful Countess towards the chair of state which was
prepared for them both〃thou too； my love； hast donned a dress
which becomes thy rank； though it cannot improve thy beauty。
What think'st thou of our court taste？〃
The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they
passed it by； and then said； 〃I know not how it is； but I think
not of my own person while I look at the reflection of thine。
Sit thou there；〃 she said； as they approached the chair of state；
〃like a thing for men to worship and to wonder at。〃
〃Ay； love；〃 said the Earl； 〃if thou wilt share my state with me。〃
〃Not so；〃 said the Countess； 〃I will sit on this footstool at thy
feet； that I may spell over thy splendour； and learn； for the
first time； how princes are attired。〃
And with a childish wonder； which her youth and rustic education
rendered not only excusable but becoming； mixed as it was with a
delicate show of the most tender conjugal affection； she examined
and admired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire
of him who formed the proudest ornament of the court of England's
Maiden Queen； renowned as it was for splendid courtiers； as well
as for wise counsellors。 Regarding affectionately his lovely
bride； and gratified by her unrepressed admiration； the dark eye
and noble features of the Earl expressed passions more gentle
than the commanding and aspiring look which usually sat upon his
broad forehead； and in the piercing brilliancy of his dark eye；
and he smiled at the simplicity which dictated the questions she
put to him concerning the various ornaments with which he was
decorated。
〃The embroidered strap； as thou callest it； around my knee；〃 he
said； 〃is the English Garter； an ornament which kings are proud
to wear。 See； here is the star which belongs to it； and here the
Diamond George； the jewel of the order。 You have heard how King
Edward and the Countess of Salisbury〃
〃Oh； I know all that tale；〃 said the Countess； slightly blushing；
〃and how a lady's garter became the proudest badge of English
chivalry。〃
〃Even so；〃 said the Earl； 〃and this most honourable Order I had
the good hap to receive at the same time with three most noble
associates； the Duke of Norfolk； the Marquis of Northampton； and
the Earl of Rutland。 I was the lowest of the four in rankbut
what then？ he that climbs a ladder must begin at the first
round。〃
〃But this other fair collar； so richly wrought； with some jewel
like a sheep hung by the middle attached to it； what；〃 said the
young Countess； 〃does that emblem signify？〃
〃This collar；〃 said the Earl； 〃with its double fusilles
interchanged with these knobs； which are supposed to present
flint…stones sparkling with fire； and sustaining the jewel you
inquire about； is the badge of the noble Order of the Golden
Fleece； once appertaining to the House of Burgundy it hath high
privileges； my Amy； belonging to it； this most noble Order； for
even the King of Spain himself； who hath now succeeded to the
honours and demesnes of Burgundy； may not sit in judgment upon a
knight of the Golden Fleece； unless by assistance and consent of
the Great Chapter of the Order。〃
〃And is this an Order belonging to the cruel King of Spain？〃
said the Countess。 〃Alas！ my noble lord； that you will defile
your noble English breast by bearing such an emblem！ Bethink you
of the most unhappy Queen Mary's days； when this same Philip held
sway with her in England； and of the piles which were built for
our noblest； and our wisest； and our most truly sanctified
prelates and divinesand will you； whom men call the standard…
bearer of the true Protestant faith； be contented to wear the
emblem and mark of such a Romish tyrant as he of Spain？〃
〃Oh； content you； my love；〃 answered the Earl； 〃we who spread our
sails to gales of court favour cannot always display the ensigns
we love the best； or at all times refuse sailing under colours
which we like not。 Believe me； I am not the less good
Protestant； that for policy I must accept the honour offered me
by Spain； in admitting me to this his highest order of
knighthood。 Besides； it belongs properly to Flanders； and
Egmont； Orange； and others have pride in seeing it displayed on
an English bosom。〃
〃Nay； my lord； you know your own path best；〃 replied the
Countess。 〃And this other collar； to what country does this fair
jewel belong？〃
〃To a very poor one； my love；〃 replied the Earl； 〃this is the
Order of Saint Andrew； revived by the last James of Scotland。 It
was bestowed on me when it was thought the young widow of France
and Scotland would gladly have wedded an English baron； but a
free coronet of England is worth a crown matrimonial held at the
humour of a woman； and owning only the poor rocks and bogs of the
north。〃
The Countess paused；
