kenilworth-第41章
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Tressilian and the curate joined in urging the exhausted old man
to lay himself to rest； and at length prevailed。 Tressilian
remained by his pillow till he saw that slumber at length sunk
down on him； and then returned to consult with the curate what
steps should be adopted in these unhappy circumstances。
They could not exclude from these deliberations Master Michael
Mumblazen； and they admitted him the more readily； that besides
what hopes they entertained from his sagacity； they knew him to
be so great a friend to taciturnity； that there was no doubt of
his keeping counsel。 He was an old bachelor； of good family； but
small fortune； and distantly related to the House of Robsart； in
virtue of which connection； Lidcote Hall had been honoured with
his residence for the last twenty years。 His company was
agreeable to Sir Hugh； chiefly on account of his profound
learning； which； though it only related to heraldry and
genealogy； with such scraps of history as connected themselves
with these subjects； was precisely of a kind to captivate the
good old knight； besides the convenience which he found in having
a friend to appeal to when his own memory； as frequently
happened； proved infirm and played him false concerning names and
dates； which； and all similar deficiencies； Master Michael
Mumblazen supplied with due brevity and discretion。 And； indeed；
in matters concerning the modern world； he often gave； in his
enigmatical and heraldic phrase； advice which was well worth
attending to； or； in Will Badger's language； started the game
while others beat the bush。
〃We have had an unhappy time of it with the good knight； Master
Edmund；〃 said the curate。 〃I have not suffered so much since I
was torn away from my beloved flock； and compelled to abandon
them to the Romish wolves。〃
〃That was in TERTIO MARIAE；〃 said Master Mumblazen。
〃In the name of Heaven；〃 continued the curate； 〃tell us； has your
time been better spent than ours； or have you any news of that
unhappy maiden； who； being for so many years the principal joy of
this broken…down house； is now proved our greatest unhappiness？
Have you not at least discovered her place of residence？〃
〃I have；〃 replied Tressilian。 〃Know you Cumnor Place； near
Oxford？〃
〃Surely；〃 said the clergyman； 〃it was a house of removal for the
monks of Abingdon。〃
〃Whose arms；〃 said Master Michael； 〃I have seen over a stone
chimney in the hall；a cross patonce betwixt four martlets。〃
〃There；〃 said Tressilian； 〃this unhappy maiden resides； in
company with the villain Varney。 But for a strange mishap； my
sword had revenged all our injuries； as well as hers； on his
worthless head。〃
〃Thank God； that kept thine hand from blood…guiltiness； rash
young man！〃 answered the curate。 〃Vengeance is mine； saith the
Lord； and I will repay it。 It were better study to free her from
the villain's nets of infamy。〃
〃They are called； in heraldry； LAQUEI AMORIS； or LACS D'AMOUR；〃
said Mumblazen。
〃It is in that I require your aid； my friends；〃 said Tressilian。
〃I am resolved to accuse this villain； at the very foot of the
throne； of falsehood； seduction； and breach of hospitable laws。
The Queen shall hear me； though the Earl of Leicester； the
villain's patron； stood at her right hand。〃
〃Her Grace；〃 said the curate； 〃hath set a comely example of
continence to her subjects； and will doubtless do justice on this
inhospitable robber。 But wert thou not better apply to the Earl
of Leicester； in the first place； for justice on his servant？ If
he grants it； thou dost save the risk of making thyself a
powerful adversary； which will certainly chance if； in the first
instance； you accuse his master of the horse and prime favourite
before the Queen。〃
〃My mind revolts from your counsel；〃 said Tressilian。 〃I cannot
brook to plead my noble patron's cause the unhappy Amy's cause
before any one save my lawful Sovereign。 Leicester； thou wilt
say； is noble。 Be it so； he is but a subject like ourselves； and
I will not carry my plaint to him； if I can do better。 Still； I
will think on what thou hast said； but I must have your
assistance to persuade the good Sir Hugh to make me his
commissioner and fiduciary in this matter； for it is in his name
I must speak； and not in my own。 Since she is so far changed as
to dote upon this empty profligate courtier； he shall at least do
her the justice which is yet in his power。〃
〃Better she died CAELEBS and SINE PROLE；〃 said Mumblazen； with
more animation than he usually expressed； 〃than part； PER PALE；
the noble coat of Robsart with that of such a miscreant！〃
〃If it be your object； as I cannot question；〃 said the clergyman；
〃to save； as much as is yet possible； the credit of this unhappy
young woman； I repeat； you should apply； in the first instance；
to the Earl of Leicester。 He is as absolute in his household as
the Queen in her kingdom； and if he expresses to Varney that such
is his pleasure； her honour will not stand so publicly
committed。〃
〃You are right； you are right！〃 said Tressilian eagerly； 〃and I
thank you for pointing out what I overlooked in my haste。 I
little thought ever to have besought grace of Leicester； but I
could kneel to the proud Dudley； if doing so could remove one
shade of shame from this unhappy damsel。 You will assist me then
to procure the necessary powers from Sir Hugh Robsart？〃
The curate assured him of his assistance； and the herald nodded
assent。
〃You must hold yourselves also in readiness to testify； in case
you are called upon； the openhearted hospitality which our good
patron exercised towards this deceitful traitor； and the
solicitude with which he laboured to seduce his unhappy
daughter。〃
〃At first；〃 said the clergyman； 〃she did not； as it seemed to me；
much affect his company； but latterly I saw them often together。〃
〃SEIANT in the parlour；〃 said Michael Mumblazen； 〃and PASSANT in
the garden。〃
〃I once came on them by chance；〃 said the priest； 〃in the South
wood； in a spring evening。 Varney was muffled in a russet cloak；
so that I saw not his face。 They separated hastily； as they
heard me rustle amongst the leaves； and I observed she turned her
head and looked long after him。〃
〃With neck REGUARDANT；〃 said the herald。 〃And on the day of her
flight； and that was on Saint Austen's Eve； I saw Varney's groom；
attired in his liveries； hold his master's horse and Mistress
Amy's palfrey； bridled and saddled PROPER； behind the wall of the
churchyard；〃
〃And now is she found mewed up in his secret place of
retirement；〃 said Tressilian。 〃The villain is taken in the
manner； and I well wish he may deny his crime； that I may thrust
conviction down his false throat！ But I must prepare for my
journey。 Do you； gentlemen； dispose my patron to grant me such
powers as are needful to act in his name。〃
So saying； Tressilian left the room。
〃He is too hot；〃 said the curate； 〃and I pray to God that He may
grant him the patience to deal with Varney as is fitting。〃
〃Patience and Varney；〃 said Mumblazen； 〃is worse heraldry than
metal upon metal。 He is more false than a siren； more rapacious
than a griffin； more poisonous than a wyvern； and more cruel than
a lion rampant。〃
〃Yet I doubt much；〃 said the curate； 〃whether we can with
propriety ask from Sir Hugh Robsart； being in his present
condition； any deed deputing his paternal right in Mistress Amy
to whomsoever〃
〃Your reverence need not doubt that；〃 said Will Badger； who
entered as he spoke； 〃for I will lay my life he is another man
when he wakes than he has been these thirty days past。〃
〃Ay； Will；〃 said the curate； 〃hast thou then so much confidence
in Doctor Diddleum's draught？〃
〃Not a whit；〃 said Will； 〃because master ne'er tasted a drop
on't； seeing it was emptied out by the housemaid。 But here's a
gentleman； who came attending on Master Tressilian； has given Sir
Hugh a draught that is worth twenty of yon un。 I have spoken
cunningly with him； and a better farrier or one who hath a more
just notion of horse and dog ailment I have never seen； and such
a one would never be unjust to a Christian man。〃
〃A farrier！ you saucy groomand by whose
