kenilworth-第86章

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noble　Castle。　　The　lordly　structure　itself；　which　rose　near　the
centre　of　this　spacious　enclosure；　was　composed　of　a　huge　pile　of
magnificent　castellated　buildings；　apparently　of　different　ages；
surrounding　an　inner　court；　and　bearing　in　the　names　attached　to
each　portion　of　the　magnificent　mass；　and　in　the　armorial
bearings　which　were　there　blazoned；　the　emblems　of　mighty　chiefs
who　had　long　passed　away；　and　whose　history；　could　Ambition　have
lent　ear　to　it；　might　have　read　a　lesson　to　the　haughty　favourite
who　had　now　acquired　and　was　augmenting　the　fair　domain。　　A　large
and　massive　Keep；　which　formed　the　citadel　of　the　Castle；　was　of
uncertain　though　great　antiquity。　　It　bore　the　name　of　Caesar；
perhaps　from　its　resemblance　to　that　in　the　Tower　of　London　so
called。　　Some　antiquaries　ascribe　its　foundation　to　the　time　of
Kenelph；　from　whom　the　Castle　had　its　name；　a　Saxon　King　of
Mercia；　and　others　to　an　early　era　after　the　Norman　Conquest。　　On
the　exterior　walls　frowned　the　scutcheon　of　the　Clintons；　by　whom
they　were　founded　in　the　reign　of　Henry　I。；　and　of　the　yet　more
redoubted　Simon　de　Montfort；　by　whom；　during　the　Barons'　wars；
Kenilworth　was　long　held　out　against　Henry　III。　　Here　Mortimer；
Earl　of　March；　famous　alike　for　his　rise　and　his　fall；　had　once
gaily　revelled　in　Kenilworth；　while　his　dethroned　sovereign；
Edward　II。；　languished　in　its　dungeons。　　Old　John　of　Gaunt；
〃time…honoured　Lancaster；〃　had　widely　extended　the　Castle；
erecting　that　noble　and　massive　pile　which　yet　bears　the　name　of
Lancaster's　Buildings；　and　Leicester　himself　had　outdone　the
former　possessors；　princely　and　powerful　as　they　were；　by
erecting　another　immense　structure；　which　now　lies　crushed　under
its　own　ruins；　the　monument　of　its　owner's　ambition。　　The
external　wall　of　this　royal　Castle　was；　on　the　south　and　west
sides；　adorned　and　defended　by　a　lake　partly　artificial；　across
which　Leicester　had　constructed　a　stately　bridge；　that　Elizabeth
might　enter　the　Castle　by　a　path　hitherto　untrodden；　instead　of
the　usual　entrance　to　the　northward；　over　which　he　had　erected　a
gatehouse　or　barbican；　which　still　exists；　and　is　equal　in
extent；　and　superior　in　architecture；　to　the　baronial　castle　of
many　a　northern　chief。

Beyond　the　lake　lay　an　extensive　chase；　full　of　red　deer；　fallow
deer；　roes；　and　every　species　of　game；　and　abounding　with　lofty
trees；　from　amongst　which　the　extended　front　and　massive　towers
of　the　Castle　were　seen　to　rise　in　majesty　and　beauty。　　We　cannot
but　add；　that　of　this　lordly　palace；　where　princes　feasted　and
heroes　fought；　now　in　the　bloody　earnest　of　storm　and　siege；　and
now　in　the　games　of　chivalry；　where　beauty　dealt　the　prize　which
valour　won；　all　is　now　desolate。　　The　bed　of　the　lake　is　but　a
rushy　swamp；　and　the　massive　ruins　of　the　Castle　only　serve　to
show　what　their　splendour　once　was；　and　to　impress　on　the　musing
visitor　the　transitory　value　of　human　possessions；　and　the
happiness　of　those　who　enjoy　a　humble　lot　in　virtuous
contentment。

It　was　with　far　different　feelings　that　the　unfortunate　Countess
of　Leicester　viewed　those　grey　and　massive　towers；　when　she　first
beheld　them　rise　above　the　embowering　and　richly…shaded　woods；
over　which　they　seemed　to　preside。　　She；　the　undoubted　wife　of
the　great　Earl；　of　Elizabeth's　minion；　and　England's　mighty
favourite；　was　approaching　the　presence　of　her　husband；　and　that
husband's　sovereign；　under　the　protection；　rather　than　the
guidance；　of　a　poor　juggler；　and　though　unquestioned　Mistress　of
that　proud　Castle；　whose　lightest　word　ought　to　have　had　force
sufficient　to　make　its　gates　leap　from　their　massive　hinges　to
receive　her；　yet　she　could　not　conceal　from　herself　the
difficulty　and　peril　which　she　must　experience　in　gaining
admission　into　her　own　halls。

The　risk　and　difficulty；　indeed；　seemed　to　increase　every　moment；
and　at　length　threatened　altogether　to　put　a　stop　to　her　further
progress　at　the　great　gate　leading　to　a　broad　and　fair　road；
which；　traversing　the　breadth　of　the　chase　for　the　space　of　two
miles；　and　commanding　several　most　beautiful　views　of　the　Castle
and　lake；　terminated　at　the　newly　constructed　bridge；　to　which　it
was　an　appendage；　and　which　was　destined　to　form　the　Queen's
approach　to　the　Castle　on　that　memorable　occasion。

Here　the　Countess　and　Wayland　found　the　gate　at　the　end　of　this
avenue；　which　opened　on　the　Warwick　road；　guarded　by　a　body　of
the　Queen's　mounted　yeomen　of　the　guard；　armed　in　corselets
richly　carved　and　gilded；　and　wearing　morions　instead　of　bonnets；
having　their　carabines　resting　with　the　butt…end　on　their　thighs。
These　guards；　distinguished　for　strength　and　stature；　who　did
duty　wherever　the　Queen　went　in　person；　were　here　stationed　under
the　direction　of　a　pursuivant；　graced　with　the　Bear　and　Ragged
Staff　on　his　arm；　as　belonging　to　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　and
peremptorily　refused　all　admittance；　excepting　to　such　as　were
guests　invited　to　the　festival；　or　persons　who　were　to　perform
some　part　in　the　mirthful　exhibitions　which　were　proposed。

The　press　was　of　consequence　great　around　the　entrance；　and
persons　of　all　kinds　presented　every　sort　of　plea　for　admittance；
to　which　the　guards　turned　an　inexorable　ear；　pleading；　in　return
to　fair　words；　and　even　to　fair　offers；　the　strictness　of　their
orders；　founded　on　the　Queen's　well…known　dislike　to　the　rude
pressing　of　a　multitude。　　With　those　whom　such　reasons　did　not
serve；they　dealt　more　rudely；　repelling　them　without　ceremony　by
the　pressure　of　their　powerful；　barbed　horses；　and　good　round
blows　from　the　stock　of　their　carabines。　　These　last　manoeuvres
produced　undulations　amongst　the　crowd；　which　rendered　Wayland
much　afraid　that　he　might　perforce　be　separated　from　his　charge
in　the　throng。　　Neither　did　he　know　what　excuse　to　make　in　order
to　obtain　admittance；　and　he　was　debating　the　matter　in　his　head
with　great　uncertainty；　when　the　Earl's　pursuivant；　having　cast
an　eye　upon　him；　exclaimed；　to　his　no　small　surprise；　〃Yeomen；
make　room　for　the　fellow　in　the　orange…tawny　cloak。Come
forward；　Sir　Coxcomb；　and　make　haste。　　What；　in　the　fiend's　name；
has　kept　you　waiting？　Come　forward　with　your　bale　of　woman's
gear。〃

While　the　pursuivant　gave　Wayland　this　pressing　yet　uncourteous
invitation；　which；　for　a　minute　or　two；　he　could　not　imagine　was
applied　to　him；　the　yeomen　speedily　made　a　free　passage　for　him；
while；　only　cautioning　his　companion　to　keep　the　muffler　close
around　her　face；　he　entered　the　gate　leading　her　palfrey；　but
with　such　a　drooping　crest；　and　such　a　look　of　conscious　fear　and
anxiety；　that　the　crowd；　not　greatly　pleased　at　any　rate　with　the
preference　bestowed　upon　them；　accompanied　their　admission　with
hooting　and　a　loud　laugh　of　derision。

Admitted　thus　within　the　chase；　though　with　no　very　flattering
notice　or　distinction；　Wayland　and　his　charge　rode　forward；
musing　what　difficulties　it　would　be　next　their　lot　to　encounter；
through　the　broad　avenue；　which　was　sentinelled　on　either　side　by
a　long　line　of　retainers；　armed　with　swords；　and　partisans　richly
dressed　in　the　Earl　of　Leicester's　liveries；　and　bearing　his
cognizance　of　the　Bear　and　Ragged　Staff；　each　placed　within　three
paces　of　each　other；　so　as　to　line　the　whole　road　from　the
entrance　into　the　park　to　the　bridge。　　And；　indeed；　when　the　lady
obtained　the　first　commanding　view　of　the　Castle；　with　its
stately　towers　rising　from　within　a　long；　sweeping　line　of
outward　walls；　ornamented　with　battlements　and　turrets　and
platforms　at　every　point　of　defence；　with　many　a　banner　streaming
from　its　walls；　and　such　a　bustle　of　gay　crests　and　waving　plumes
disposed　on　the　terraces　and　battlements；　and　all　the　gay　and
gorgeous　scene；　her　heart；　unaccustomed　to　such　splendour；　sank
as　if　it　died　within　her；　and　for　a　moment　she　asked　herself　what
she　had　offered　up　to　Leicester　to　deserve　to　become　the　partner
of　this　princely　splendour。　　But　her　pride　and　generous　spirit
resisted　the　whisper　which　bade　her　despair。

〃I　have　given　him；〃　she　said；　〃all　that　woman　has　to　give。　　Name
and　fame；　heart　and　hand；　have　I　given　the　lord　of　all　this
magnificence　at　the　altar；　and　England