kenilworth-第71章

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occurred　to　Wayland　Smith　that　Leicester　himself　might　be　the
party　chiefly　interested。　　Her　marriage　with　the　Earl　he　could
not　suspect；　but　even　the　discovery　of　such　a　passing　intrigue
with　a　lady　of　Mistress　Amy　Robsart's　rank　was　a　secret　of　the
deepest　importance　to　the　stability　of　the　favourite's　power　over
Elizabeth。　　〃If　Leicester　himself　should　hesitate　to　stifle　such
a　rumour　by　very　strange　means；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃he　has
those　about　him　who　would　do　him　that　favour　without　waiting　for
his　consent。　　If　I　would　meddle　in　this　business；　it　must　be　in
such　guise　as　my　old　master　uses　when　he　compounds　his　manna　of
Satan；　and　that　is　with　a　close　mask　on　my　face。　　So　I　will　quit
Giles　Gosling　to…morrow；　and　change　my　course　and　place　of
residence　as　often　as　a　hunted　fox。　　I　should　like　to　see　this
little　Puritan；　too；　once　more。　　She　looks　both　pretty　and
intelligent　to　have　come　of　such　a　caitiff　as　Anthony　Fire…the…
Fagot。〃

Giles　Gosling　received　the　adieus　of　Wayland　rather　joyfully　than
otherwise。　　The　honest　publican　saw　so　much　peril　in　crossing　the
course　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester's　favourite　that　his　virtue　was
scarce　able　to　support　him　in　the　task；　and　he　was　well　pleased
when　it　was　likely　to　be　removed　from　his　shoulders　still；
however；　professing　his　good…will；　and　readiness；　in　case　of
need；　to　do　Mr。　Tressilian　or　his　emissary　any　service；　in　so　far
as　consisted　with　his　character　of　a　publican。



CHAPTER　XXI。

　　Vaulting　ambition；　that　o'erleaps　itself；
　　And　falls　on　t'other　side。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MACBETH。

The　splendour　of　the　approaching　revels　at　Kenilworth　was　now　the
conversation　through　all　England；　and　everything　was　collected　at
home；　or　from　abroad；　which　could　add　to　the　gaiety　or　glory　of
the　prepared　reception　of　Elizabeth　at　the　house　of　her　most
distinguished　favourite；　Meantime　Leicester　appeared　daily　to
advance　in　the　Queen's　favour。　　He　was　perpetually　by　her　side　in
councilwillingly　listened　to　in　the　moments　of　courtly
recreationfavoured　with　approaches　even　to　familiar　intimacy
looked　up　to　by　all　who　had　aught　to　hope　at　courtcourted　by
foreign　ministers　with　the　most　flattering　testimonies　of　respect
from　their　sovereigns；the　ALTER　EGO；　as　it　seemed；　of　the
stately　Elizabeth；　who　was　now　very　generally　supposed　to　be
studying　the　time　and　opportunity　for　associating　him；　by
marriage；　into　her　sovereign　power。

Amid　such　a　tide　of　prosperity；　this　minion　of　fortune　and　of　the
Queen's　favour　was　probably　the　most　unhappy　man　in　the　realm
which　seemed　at　his　devotion。　　He　had　the　Fairy　King's
superiority　over　his　friends　and　dependants；　and　saw　much　which
they　could　not。　　The　character　of　his　mistress　was　intimately
known　to　him。　　It　was　his　minute　and　studied　acquaintance　with
her　humours；　as　well　as　her　noble　faculties；　which；　joined　to　his
powerful　mental　qualities；　and　his　eminent　external
accomplishments；　had　raised　him　so　high　in　her　favour；　and　it　was
that　very　knowledge　of　her　disposition　which　led　him　to　apprehend
at　every　turn　some　sudden　and　overwhelming　disgrace。　　Leicester
was　like　a　pilot　possessed　of　a　chart　which　points　out　to　him　all
the　peculiarities　of　his　navigation；　but　which　exhibits　so　many
shoals；　breakers；　and　reefs　of　rocks；　that　his　anxious　eye　reaps
little　more　from　observing　them　than　to　be　convinced　that　his
final　escape　can　be　little　else　than　miraculous。

In　fact；　Queen　Elizabeth　had　a　character　strangely　compounded　of
the　strongest　masculine　sense；　with　those　foibles　which　are
chiefly　supposed　proper　to　the　female　sex。　　Her　subjects　had　the
full　benefit　of　her　virtues；　which　far　predominated　over　her
weaknesses；　but　her　courtiers；　and　those　about　her　person；　had
often　to　sustain　sudden　and　embarrassing　turns　of　caprice；　and
the　sallies　of　a　temper　which　was　both　jealous　and　despotic。　　She
was　the　nursing…mother　of　her　people；　but　she　was　also　the　true
daughter　of　Henry　VIII。；　and　though　early　sufferings　and　an
excellent　education　had　repressed　and　modified；　they　had　not
altogether　destroyed；　the　hereditary　temper　of　that　〃hard…ruled
king。〃　　〃Her　mind；〃　says　her　witty　godson；　Sir　John　Harrington；
who　had　experienced　both　the　smiles　and　the　frowns　which　he
describes；　〃was　ofttime　like　the　gentle　air　that　cometh　from　the
western　point　in　a　summer's　morn'twas　sweet　and　refreshing　to
all　around　her。　　Her　speech　did　win　all　affections。　　And　again；
she　could　put　forth　such　alterations；　when　obedience　was　lacking；
as　left　no　doubting　WHOSE　daughter　she　was。　　When　she　smiled；　it
was　a　pure　sunshine；　that　every　one　did　choose　to　bask　in；　if
they　could；　but　anon　came　a　storm　from　a　sudden　gathering　of
clouds；　and　the　thunder　fell　in　a　wondrous　manner　on　all　alike。〃
＇Nugae　Antiquae；　vol。i。；　pp。355；　356…362。＇

This　variability　of　disposition；　as　Leicester　well　knew；　was
chiefly　formidable　to　those　who　had　a　share　in　the　Queen's
affections；　and　who　depended　rather　on　her　personal　regard　than
on　the　indispensable　services　which　they　could　render　to　her
councils　and　her　crown。　　The　favour　of　Burleigh　or　of　Walsingham；
of　a　description　far　less　striking　than　that　by　which　he　was
himself　upheld；　was　founded；　as　Leicester　was　well　aware；　on
Elizabeth's　solid　judgment；　not　on　her　partiality；　and　was；
therefore；　free　from　all　those　principles　of　change　and　decay
necessarily　incident　to　that　which　chiefly　arose　from　personal
accomplishments　and　female　predilection。　　These　great　and　sage
statesmen　were　judged　of　by　the　Queen　only　with　reference　to　the
measures　they　suggested；　and　the　reasons　by　which　they　supported
their　opinions　in　council；　whereas　the　success　of　Leicester's
course　depended　on　all　those　light　and　changeable　gales　of
caprice　and　humour　which　thwart　or　favour　the　progress　of　a　lover
in　the　favour　of　his　mistress；　and　she；　too；　a　mistress　who　was
ever　and　anon　becoming　fearful　lest　she　should　forget　the
dignity；　or　compromise　the　authority；　of　the　Queen；　while　she
indulged　the　affections　of　the　woman。　　Of　the　difficulties　which
surrounded　his　power；　〃too　great　to　keep　or　to　resign；〃　Leicester
was　fully　sensible；　and　as　he　looked　anxiously　round　for　the
means　of　maintaining　himself　in　his　precarious　situation；　and
sometimes　contemplated　those　of　descending　from　it　in　safety；　he
saw　but　little　hope　of　either。　　At　such　moments　his　thoughts
turned　to　dwell　upon　his　secret　marriage　and　its　consequences；
and　it　was　in　bitterness　against　himself；　if　not　against　his
unfortunate　Countess；　that　he　ascribed　to　that　hasty　measure；
adopted　in　the　ardour　of　what　he　now　called　inconsiderate
passion；　at　once　the　impossibility　of　placing　his　power　on　a
solid　basis；　and　the　immediate　prospect　of　its　precipitate
downfall。

〃Men　say；〃　thus　ran　his　thoughts；　in　these　anxious　and　repentant
moments；　〃that　I　might　marry　Elizabeth；　and　become　King　of
England。　　All　things　suggest　this。　　The　match　is　carolled　in
ballads；　while　the　rabble　throw　their　caps　up。　　It　has　been
touched　upon　in　the　schoolswhispered　in　the　presence…chamber
recommended　from　the　pulpitprayed　for　in　the　Calvinistic
churches　abroadtouched　on　by　statists　in　the　very　council　at
home。　　These　bold　insinuations　have　been　rebutted　by　no　rebuke；
no　resentment；　no　chiding；　scarce　even　by　the　usual　female
protestation　that　she　would　live　and　die　a　virgin　princess。　　Her
words　have　been　more　courteous　than　ever；　though　she　knows　such
rumours　are　abroadher　actions　more　gracious；　her　looks　more
kindnought　seems　wanting　to　make　me　King　of　England；　and　place
me　beyond　the　storms　of　court…favour；　excepting　the　putting　forth
of　mine　own　hand　to　take　that　crown　imperial　which　is　the　glory
of　the　universe！　　And　when　I　might　stretch　that　hand　out　most
boldly；　it　is　fettered　down　by　a　secret　and　inextricable　bond！
And　here　I　have　letters　from　Amy；〃　he　would　say；　catching　them　up
with　a　movement　of　peevishness；　〃persecuting　me　to　acknowledge
her　openlyto　do　justice　to　her　and　to　myselfand　I　wot　not
what。　　Methinks　I　have　done　less　than　justice　to　myself　already。
And　she　speaks　as　if　Elizabeth　were　to　receive　the　knowledge　of
this　matter　with　the　glee　of　a　mother　hearing　of　the　happy
marriage　of　a