kenilworth-第60章
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commons from busying themselves with state affairs； and listening
to traitorous speeches； idle rumours； and disloyal insinuations。
When men are agape to see how Marlow； Shakespeare； and other play
artificers work out their fanciful plots； as they call them； the
mind of the spectators is withdrawn from the conduct of their
rulers。〃
〃We would not have the mind of our subjects withdrawn from the
consideration of our own conduct； my lord；〃 answered Elizabeth；
〃because the more closely it is examined； the true motives by
which we are guided will appear the more manifest。〃
〃I have heard； however； madam；〃 said the Dean of St。 Asaph's； an
eminent Puritan； 〃that these players are wont； in their plays；
not only to introduce profane and lewd expressions； tending to
foster sin and harlotry； but even to bellow out such reflections
on government； its origin and its object； as tend to render the
subject discontented； and shake the solid foundations of civil
society。 And it seems to be； under your Grace's favour； far less
than safe to permit these naughty foul…mouthed knaves to ridicule
the godly for their decent gravity； and； in blaspheming heaven
and slandering its earthly rulers； to set at defiance the laws
both of God and man。〃
〃If we could think this were true； my lord；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃we
should give sharp correction for such offences。 But it is ill
arguing against the use of anything from its abuse。 And touching
this Shakespeare； we think there is that in his plays that is
worth twenty Bear…gardens； and that this new undertaking of his
Chronicles； as he calls them； may entertain； with honest mirth；
mingled with useful instruction； not only our subjects； but even
the generation which may succeed to us。〃
〃Your Majesty's reign will need no such feeble aid to make it
remembered to the latest posterity；〃 said Leicester。 〃And yet；
in his way； Shakespeare hath so touched some incidents of your
Majesty's happy government as may countervail what has been
spoken by his reverence the Dean of St。 Asaph's。 There are some
lines； for exampleI would my nephew； Philip Sidney； were here；
they are scarce ever out of his mouththey are spoken in a mad
tale of fairies； love…charms； and I wot not what besides； but
beautiful they are； however short they may and must fall of the
subject to which they bear a bold relationand Philip murmurs
them； I think； even in his dreams。〃
〃You tantalize us； my lord；〃 said the Queen〃Master Philip
Sidney is； we know； a minion of the Muses； and we are pleased it
should be so。 Valour never shines to more advantage than when
united with the true taste and love of letters。 But surely there
are some others among our young courtiers who can recollect what
your lordship has forgotten amid weightier affairs。Master
Tressilian； you are described to me as a worshipper of Minerva
remember you aught of these lines？〃
Tressilian's heart was too heavy； his prospects in life too
fatally blighted； to profit by the opportunity which the Queen
thus offered to him of attracting her attention； but he
determined to transfer the advantage to his more ambitious young
friend； and excusing himself on the score of want of
recollection； he added that he believed the beautiful verses of
which my Lord of Leicester had spoken were in the remembrance of
Master Walter Raleigh。
At the command of the Queen； that cavalier repeated； with accent
and manner which even added to their exquisite delicacy of tact
and beauty of description； the celebrated vision of Oberon：
〃That very time I saw （but thou couldst not）；
Flying between the cold moon and the earth；
Cupid； allarm'd： a certain aim he took
At a fair vestal； throned by the west；
And loos'd his love…shaft smartly from his bow；
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts：
But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft
Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon；
And the imperial vot'ress passed on；
In maiden meditation； fancy free。〃
The voice of Raleigh； as he repeated the last lines； became a
little tremulous； as if diffident how the Sovereign to whom the
homage was addressed might receive it； exquisite as it was。 If
this diffidence was affected； it was good policy； but if real；
there was little occasion for it。 The verses were not probably
new to the Queen； for when was ever such elegant flattery long in
reaching the royal ear to which it was addressed？ But they were
not the less welcome when repeated by such a speaker as Raleigh。
Alike delighted with the matter； the manner； and the graceful
form and animated countenance of the gallant young reciter；
Elizabeth kept time to every cadence with look and with finger。
When the speaker had ceased； she murmured over the last lines as
if scarce conscious that she was overheard； and as she uttered
the words；
〃In maiden meditation； fancy free；〃 she dropped into the Thames
the supplication of Orson Pinnit； keeper of the royal bears； to
find more favourable acceptance at Sheerness； or wherever the
tide might waft it。
Leicester was spurred to emulation by the success of the young
courtier's exhibition； as the veteran racer is roused when a
high…mettled colt passes him on the way。 He turned the discourse
on shows； banquets； pageants； and on the character of those by
whom these gay scenes were then frequented。 He mixed acute
observation with light satire； in that just proportion which was
free alike from malignant slander and insipid praise。 He
mimicked with ready accent the manners of the affected or the
clownish； and made his own graceful tone and manner seem doubly
such when he resumed it。 Foreign countriestheir customs； their
manners； the rules of their courts…the fashions； and even the
dress of their ladies…were equally his theme； and seldom did he
conclude without conveying some compliment； always couched in
delicacy； and expressed with propriety； to the Virgin Queen； her
court； and her government。 Thus passed the conversation during
this pleasure voyage； seconded by the rest of the attendants upon
the royal person； in gay discourse； varied by remarks upon
ancient classics and modern authors； and enriched by maxims of
deep policy and sound morality； by the statesmen and sages who
sat around and mixed wisdom with the lighter talk of a female
court。
When they returned to the Palace； Elizabeth accepted； or rather
selected； the arm of Leicester to support her from the stairs
where they landed to the great gate。 It even seemed to him
（though that might arise from the flattery of his own
imagination） that during this short passage she leaned on him
somewhat more than the slippiness of the way necessarily
demanded。 Certainly her actions and words combined to express a
degree of favour which； even in his proudest day he had not till
then attained。 His rival； indeed； was repeatedly graced by the
Queen's notice； but it was in manner that seemed to flow less
from spontaneous inclination than as extorted by a sense of his
merit。 And in the opinion of many experienced courtiers； all the
favour she showed him was overbalanced by her whispering in the
ear of the Lady Derby that 〃now she saw sickness was a better
alchemist than she before wotted of； seeing it had changed my
Lord of Sussex's copper nose into a golden one。〃
The jest transpired； and the Earl of Leicester enjoyed his
triumph； as one to whom court…favour had been both the primary
and the ultimate motive of life； while he forgot； in the
intoxication of the moment； the perplexities and dangers of his
own situation。 Indeed； strange as it may appear； he thought less
at that moment of the perils arising from his secret union； than
of the marks of grace which Elizabeth from time to time showed to
young Raleigh。 They were indeed transient； but they were
conferred on one accomplished in mind and body； with grace；
gallantry； literature； and valour。 An accident occurred in the
course of the evening which riveted Leicester's attention to this
object。
The nobles and courtiers who had attended the Queen on her
pleasure expedition were invited； with royal hospitality； to a
splendid banquet in the hall of the Palace。 The table was not；
in
