kenilworth-第46章

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This　preliminary　statement　is　necessary；　to　render　what　follows
intelligible　to　the　reader。　　＇See　Note　3。　Leicester　and　Sussex。＇

On　Tressilian's　arrival　at　Sayes　Court；　he　found　the　place　filled
with　the　retainers　of　the　Earl　of　Sussex；　and　of　the　gentlemen
who　came　to　attend　their　patron　in　his　illness。　　Arms　were　in
every　hand；　and　a　deep　gloom　on　every　countenance；　as　if　they　had
apprehended　an　immediate　and　violent　assault　from　the　opposite
faction。　　In　the　hall；　however；　to　which　Tressilian　was　ushered
by　one　of　the　Earl's　attendants；　while　another　went　to　inform
Sussex　of　his　arrival；　he　found　only　two　gentlemen　in　waiting。
There　was　a　remarkable　contrast　in　their　dress；　appearance；　and
manners。　　The　attire　of　the　elder　gentleman；　a　person　as　it
seemed　of　quality　and　in　the　prime　of　life；　was　very　plain　and
soldierlike；　his　stature　low；　his　limbs　stout；　his　bearing
ungraceful；　and　his　features　of　that　kind　which　express　sound
common　sense；　without　a　grain　of　vivacity　or　imagination。　　The
younger；　who　seemed　about　twenty；　or　upwards；　was　clad　in　the
gayest　habit　used　by　persons　of　quality　at　the　period；　wearing　a
crimson　velvet　cloak　richly　ornamented　with　lace　and　embroidery；
with　a　bonnet　of　the　same；　encircled　with　a　gold　chain　turned
three　times　round　it；　and　secured　by　a　medal。　　His　hair　was
adjusted　very　nearly　like　that　of　some　fine　gentlemen　of　our　own
timethat　is；　it　was　combed　upwards；　and　made　to　stand　as　it
were　on　end；　and　in　his　ears　he　wore　a　pair　of　silver　earrings；
having　each　a　pearl　of　considerable　size。　　The　countenance　of
this　youth；　besides　being　regularly　handsome　and　accompanied　by　a
fine　person；　was　animated　and　striking　in　a　degree　that　seemed　to
speak　at　once　the　firmness　of　a　decided　and　the　fire　of　an
enterprising　character；　the　power　of　reflection；　and　the
promptitude　of　determination。

Both　these　gentlemen　reclined　nearly　in　the　same　posture　on
benches　near　each　other；　but　each　seeming　engaged　in　his　own
meditations；　looked　straight　upon　the　wall　which　was　opposite　to
them；　without　speaking　to　his　companion。　　The　looks　of　the　elder
were　of　that　sort　which　convinced　the　beholder　that；　in　looking
on　the　wall；　he　saw　no　more　than　the　side　of　an　old　hall　hung
around　with　cloaks；　antlers；　bucklers；　old　pieces　of　armour；
partisans；　and　the　similar　articles　which　were　usually　the
furniture　of　such　a　place。　　The　look　of　the　younger　gallant　had
in　it　something　imaginative；　he　was　sunk　in　reverie；　and　it
seemed　as　if　the　empty　space　of　air　betwixt　him　and　the　wall　were
the　stage　of　a　theatre　on　which　his　fancy　was　mustering　his　own
DRAMATIS　PERSONAE；　and　treating　him　with　sights　far　different
from　those　which　his　awakened　and　earthly　vision　could　have
offered。

At　the　entrance　of　Tressilian　both　started　from　their　musing；　and
made　him　welcomethe　younger；　in　particular；　with　great
appearance　of　animation　and　cordiality。

〃Thou　art　welcome；　Tressilian；〃　said　the　youth。　　〃Thy　philosophy
stole　thee　from　us　when　this　household　had　objects　of　ambition　to
offer；　it　is　an　honest　philosophy；　since　it　returns　thee　to　us
when　there　are　only　dangers　to　be　shared。〃

〃Is　my　lord；　then；　so　greatly　indisposed？〃　　said　Tressilian。

〃We　fear　the　very　worst；〃　answered　the　elder　gentleman；　〃and　by
the　worst　practice。〃

〃Fie；〃　replied　Tressilian；　〃my　Lord　of　Leicester　is　honourable。〃

〃What　doth　he　with　such　attendants；　then；　as　he　hath　about　him？〃
said　the　younger　gallant。　　〃The　man　who　raises　the　devil　may　be
honest；　but　he　is　answerable　for　the　mischief　which　the　fiend
does；　for　all　that。〃

〃And　is　this　all　of　you；　my　mates；〃　inquired　Tressilian；　〃that
are　about　my　lord　in　his　utmost　straits？〃

〃No；　no；〃　replied　the　elder　gentleman；　〃there　are　Tracy；　Markham；
and　several　more；　but　we　keep　watch　here　by　two　at　once；　and　some
are　weary　and　are　sleeping　in　the　gallery　above。〃

〃And　some；〃　said　the　young　man；〃　are　gone　down　to　the　Dock　yonder
at　Deptford；　to　look　out　such　a　hull；　as　they　may　purchase　by
clubbing　their　broken　fortunes；　and　as　soon　as　all　is　over；　we
will　lay　our　noble　lord　in　a　noble　green　grave；　have　a　blow　at
those　who　have　hurried　him　thither；　if　opportunity　suits；　and
then　sail　for　the　Indies　with　heavy　hearts　and　light　purses。〃

〃It　may　be；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃that　I　will　embrace　the　same
purpose；　so　soon　as　I　have　settled　some　business　at　court。〃

〃Thou　business　at　court！〃　　they　both　exclaimed　at　once；　〃and　thou
make　the　Indian　voyage！〃

〃Why；　Tressilian；〃　said　the　younger　man；　〃art　thou　not　wedded；
and　beyond　these　flaws　of　fortune；　that　drive　folks　out　to　sea
when　their　bark　bears　fairest　for　the　haven？　What　has　become　of
the　lovely　Indamira　that　was　to　match　my　Amoret　for　truth　and
beauty？〃

〃Speak　not　of　her！〃　　said　Tressilian；　averting　his　face。

〃Ay；　stands　it　so　with　you？〃　　said　the　youth；　taking　his　hand
very　affectionately；　〃then；　fear　not　I　will　again　touch　the　green
wound。　　But　it　is　strange　as　well　as　sad　news。　　Are　none　of　our
fair　and　merry　fellowship　to　escape　shipwreck　of　fortune　and
happiness　in　this　sudden　tempest？　　I　had　hoped　thou　wert　in
harbour；　at　least；　my　dear　Edmund。　　But　truly　says　another　dear
friend　of　thy　name；

　　'What　man　that　sees　the　ever　whirling　wheel
　　Of　Chance；　the　which　all　mortal　things　doth　sway；
　　But　that　thereby　doth　find　and　plainly　feel；
　　How　Mutability　in　them　doth　play
　　Her　cruel　sports　to　many　men's　decay。'〃

The　elder　gentleman　had　risen　from　his　bench；　and　was　pacing　the
hall　with　some　impatience；　while　the　youth；　with　much　earnestness
and　feeling；　recited　these　lines。　　When　he　had　done；　the　other
wrapped　himself　in　his　cloak；　and　again　stretched　himself　down；
saying；　〃I　marvel；　Tressilian；　you　will　feed　the　lad　in　this
silly　humour。　　If　there　were　ought　to　draw　a　judgment　upon　a
virtuous　and　honourable　household　like　my　lord's；　renounce　me　if
I　think　not　it　were　this　piping；　whining；　childish　trick　of
poetry；　that　came　among　us　with　Master　Walter　Wittypate　here　and
his　comrades；　twisting　into　all　manner　of　uncouth　and
incomprehensible　forms　of　speech；　the　honest　plain　English　phrase
which　God　gave　us　to　express　our　meaning　withal。〃

〃Blount　believes；〃　said　his　comrade；　laughing；　〃the　devil　woo'd
Eve　in　rhyme；　and　that　the　mystic　meaning　of　the　Tree　of
Knowledge　refers　solely　to　the　art　of　clashing　rhymes　and　meting
out　hexameters。〃　　＇See　Note　4。　Sir　Walter　Raleigh。＇

At　this　moment　the　Earl's　chamberlain　entered；　and　informed
Tressilian　that　his　lord　required　to　speak　with　him。

He　found　Lord　Sussex　dressed；　but　unbraced；　and　lying　on　his
couch；　and　was　shocked　at　the　alteration　disease　had　made　in　his
person。　　The　Earl　received　him　with　the　most　friendly　cordiality；
and　inquired　into　the　state　of　his　courtship。　　Tressilian　evaded
his　inquiries　for　a　moment；　and　turning　his　discourse　on　the
Earl's　own　health；　he　discovered；　to　his　surprise；　that　the
symptoms　of　his　disorder　corresponded　minutely　with　those　which
Wayland　had　predicated　concerning　it。　　He　hesitated　not；
therefore；　to　communicate　to　Sussex　the　whole　history　of　his
attendant；　and　the　pretensions　he　set　up　to　cure　the　disorder
under　which　he　laboured。　　The　Earl　listened　with　incredulous
attention　until　the　name　of　Demetrius　was　mentioned；　and　then
suddenly　called　to　his　secretary　to　bring　him　a　certain　casket
which　contained　papers　of　importance。　　〃Take　out　from　thence；〃　he
said；　〃the　declaration　of　the　rascal　cook　whom　we　had　under
examination；　and　look　heedfully　if　the　name　of　Demetrius　be　not
there　mentioned。〃

The　secretary　turned　to　the　passage　at　once；　and　read；　〃And　said
declarant；　being　examined；　saith；　That　he　remembers　having　made
the　sauce　to　the　said　sturgeon…fish；　after　eating　of　which　the
said　noble　Lord　was　taken　ill；　〃and　he　put　the　usual　ingredients
and　condiments　therein；　namely〃

〃Pass　over　his　trash；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃and　see　whether　he　had　not
been　supplied　with　his　materials　by　a　herbalist　called
Demetrius。〃

〃It　is　even　so；〃　answered　the　secretary。　　〃And　he　adds；　he　has
not　since　seen　the　said　Demetrius。〃

〃This　accords　with　thy　fellow's　story；　Tressilian；〃　said　the
Earl；　〃call　him　hither。〃

On　being　summoned