kenilworth-第62章

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〃Only　by　such　caution　as　you　would　use　against　the　devil；〃
answered　Wayland。　　〃Let　my　lord's　clerk　of　the　kitchen　kill　his
lord's　meat　himself；　and　dress　it　himself；　using　no　spice　but
what　he　procures　from　the　surest　hands。　　Let　the　sewer　serve　it
up　himself；　and　let　the　master　of　my　lord's　household　see　that
both　clerk　and　sewer　taste　the　dishes　which　the　one　dresses　and
the　other　serves。　　Let　my　lord　use　no　perfumes　which　come　not
from　well　accredited　persons；　no　unguentsno　pomades。　　Let　him；
on　no　account；　drink　with　strangers；　or　eat　fruit　with　them；
either　in　the　way　of　nooning　or　otherwise。　　Especially；　let　him
observe　such　caution　if　he　goes　to　Kenilworththe　excuse　of　his
illness；　and　his　being　under　diet；　will；　and　must；　cover　the
strangeness　of　such　practice。〃

〃And　thou；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃what　dost　thou　think　to　make　of
thyself？〃

〃France；　Spain；　either　India；　East　or　West；　shall　be　my　refuge；〃
said　Wayland；　〃ere　I　venture　my　life　by　residing　within　ken　of
Doboobie；　Demetrius；　or　whatever　else　he　calls　himself　for　the
time。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃this　happens　not　inopportunely。　　I　had
business　for　you　in　Berkshire；　but　in　the　opposite　extremity　to
the　place　where　thou　art　known；　and　ere　thou　hadst　found　out　this
new　reason　for　living　private；　I　had　settled　to　send　thee　thither
upon　a　secret　embassage。〃

The　artist　expressed　himself　willing　to　receive　his　commands；　and
Tressilian；　knowing　he　was　well　acquainted　with　the　outline　of
his　business　at　court；　frankly　explained　to　him　the　whole；
mentioned　the　agreement　which　subsisted　betwixt　Giles　Gosling　and
him；　and　told　what　had　that　day　been　averred　in　the　presence…
chamber　by　Varney；　and　supported　by　Leicester。

〃Thou　seest；〃　he　added；　〃that；　in　the　circumstances　in　which　I　am
placed；　it　behoves　me　to　keep　a　narrow　watch　on　the　motions　of
these　unprincipled　men；　Varney　and　his　complices；　Foster　and
Lambourne；　as　well　as　on　those　of　my　Lord　Leicester　himself；　who；
I　suspect；　is　partly　a　deceiver；　and　not　altogether　the　deceived
in　that　matter。　　Here　is　my　ring；　as　a　pledge　to　Giles　Gosling。
Here　is　besides　gold；　which　shall　be　trebled　if　thou　serve　me
faithfully。　　Away　down　to　Cumnor；　and　see　what　happens　there。〃

〃I　go　with　double　good…will；〃　said　the　artist；　〃first；　because　I
serve　your　honour；　who　has　been　so　kind　to　me；　and　then；　that　I
may　escape　my　old　master；　who；　if　not　an　absolute　incarnation　of
the　devil；　has；　at　least；　as　much　of　the　demon　about　him；　in
will；　word；　and　action；　as　ever　polluted　humanity。　　And　yet　let
him　take　care　of　me。　　I　fly　him　now；　as　heretofore；　but　if；　like
the　Scottish　wild　cattle；　I　am　vexed　by　frequent　pursuit；　I　may
turn　on　him　in　hate　and　desperation。　　＇A　remnant　of　the　wild
cattle　of　Scotland　are　preserved　at　Chillingham　Castle；　near
Wooler；　in　Northumberland；　the　seat　of　Lord　Tankerville。　　They
fly　before　strangers；　but　if　disturbed　and　followed；　they　turn
with　fury　on　those　who　persist　in　annoying　them。＇　　Will　your
honour　command　my　nag　to　be　saddled？　　I　will　but　give　the
medicine　to　my　lord；　divided　in　its　proper　proportions；　with　a
few　instructions。　　His　safety　will　then　depend　on　the　care　of　his
friends　and　domestics；　for　the　past　he　is　guarded；　but　let　him
beware　of　the　future。〃

Wayland　Smith　accordingly　made　his　farewell　visit　to　the　Earl　of
Sussex；　dictated　instructions　as　to　his　regimen；　and　precautions
concerning　his　diet；　and　left　Sayes　Court　without　waiting　for
morning。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

　　　　　　　　The　moment　comes
　　It　is　already　comewhen　thou　must　write
　　The　absolute　total　of　thy　life's　vast　sum。
　　The　constellations　stand　victorious　o'er　thee；
　　The　planets　shoot　good　fortune　in　fair　junctions；
　　And　tell　thee；　〃Now's　the　time。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SCHILLER'S　WALLENSTEIN；　BY　COLERIDGE。

When　Leicester　returned　to　his　lodging；　alter　a　day　so　important
and　so　harassing；　in　which；　after　riding　out　more　than　one　gale；
and　touching　on　more　than　one　shoal；　his　bark　had　finally　gained
the　harbour　with　banner　displayed；　he　seemed　to　experience　as
much　fatigue　as　a　mariner　after　a　perilous　storm。　　He　spoke　not　a
word　while　his　chamberlain　exchanged　his　rich　court…mantle　for　a
furred　night…robe；　and　when　this　officer　signified　that　Master
Varney　desired　to　speak　with　his　lordship；　he　replied　only　by　a
sullen　nod。　　Varney；　however；　entered；　accepting　this　signal　as　a
permission；　and　the　chamberlain　withdrew。

The　Earl　remained　silent　and　almost　motionless　in　his　chair；　his
head　reclined　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　resting　upon　the　table
which　stood　beside　him；　without　seeming　to　be　conscious　of　the
entrance　or　of　the　presence　of　his　confidant。　　Varney　waited　for
some　minutes　until　he　should　speak；　desirous　to　know　what　was　the
finally　predominant　mood　of　a　mind　through　which　so　many　powerful
emotions　had　that　day　taken　their　course。　　But　he　waited　in　vain；
for　Leicester　continued　still　silent；　and　the　confidant　saw
himself　under　the　necessity　of　being　the　first　to　speak。　　〃May　I
congratulate　your　lordship；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　deserved
superiority　you　have　this　day　attained　over　your　most　formidable
rival？〃

Leicester　raised　his　head；　and　answered　sadly；　but　without　anger；
〃Thou；　Varney；　whose　ready　invention　has　involved　me　in　a　web　of
most　mean　and　perilous　falsehood；　knowest　best　what　small　reason
there　is　for　gratulation　on　the　subject。〃

〃Do　you　blame　me；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃for　not　betraying；　on
the　first　push；　the　secret　on　which　your　fortunes　depended；　and
which　you　have　so　oft　and　so　earnestly　recommended　to　my　safe
keeping？　　Your　lordship　was　present　in　person；　and　might　have
contradicted　me　and　ruined　yourself　by　an　avowal　of　the　truth；
but　surely　it　was　no　part　of　a　faithful　servant　to　have　done　so
without　your　commands。〃

〃I　cannot　deny　it；　Varney；〃　said　the　Earl；　rising　and　walking
across　the　room；　〃my　own　ambition　has　been　traitor　to　my　love。〃

〃Say　rather；　my　lord；　that　your　love　has　been　traitor　to　your
greatness；　and　barred　you　from　such　a　prospect　of　honour　and
power　as　the　world　cannot　offer　to　any　other。　　To　make　my
honoured　lady　a　countess；　you　have　missed　the　chance　of　being
yourself〃

He　paused；　and　seemed　unwilling　to　complete　the　sentence。

〃Of　being　myself　what？〃　　demanded　Leicester；　〃speak　out　thy
meaning；　Varney。〃

〃Of　being　yourself　a　KING；　my　lord；〃　replied　Varney；　〃and　King　of
England　to　boot！　　It　is　no　treason　to　our　Queen　to　say　so。　　It
would　have　chanced　by　her　obtaining　that　which　all　true　subjects
wish　hera　lusty；　noble；　and　gallant　husband。〃

〃Thou　ravest；　Varney；〃　answered　Leicester。　　〃Besides；　our　times
have　seen　enough　to　make　men　loathe　the　Crown　Matrimonial　which
men　take　from　their　wives'　lap。　　There　was　Darnley　of　Scotland。〃

〃He！〃　　said　Varney；　〃a；　gull；　a　fool；　a　thrice…sodden　ass；　who
suffered　himself　to　be　fired　off　into　the　air　like　a　rocket　on　a
rejoicing　day。　　Had　Mary　had　the　hap　to　have　wedded　the　noble
Earl　ONCE　destined　to　share　her　throne；　she　had　experienced　a
husband　of　different　metal；　and　her　husband　had　found　in　her　a
wife　as　complying　and　loving　as　the　mate　of　the　meanest　squire
who　follows　the　hounds　a…horseback；　and　holds　her　husband's
bridle　as　he　mounts。〃

〃It　might　have　been　as　thou　sayest；　Varney；〃　said　Leicester；　a
brief　smile　of　self…satisfaction　passing　over　his　anxious
countenance。　　〃Henry　Darnley　knew　little　of　womenwith　Mary；　a
man　who　knew　her　sex　might　have　had　some　chance　of　holding　his
own。　　But　not　with　Elizabeth；　Varney　for　I　thank　God；　when　he
gave　her　the　heart　of　a　woman；　gave　her　the　head　of　a　man　to
control　its　follies。　　No；　I　know　her。　　She　will　accept　love…
tokens；　ay；　and　requite　them　with　the　likeput　sugared　sonnets
in　her　bosom；　ay；　and　answer　them　toopush　gallantry　to　the　very
verge　where　it　becomes　exchange　of　affection；　but　she　writes　NIL
ULTRA　to　all　which　is　to　follow；　and　would　not　barter　one　iota　of
her　own　supreme　power　for　all　the　alphabet　of　both　Cupid　and
Hymen。〃

〃The　better　for　you；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney〃that　is；　in　the　case
supposed；　if　such　be　her　disposition；　since　you　think　you　cannot
aspire　to　become　her　husband。　　Her　favourite　you　are；　and　may
remain