kenilworth-第87章
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and fame； heart and hand； have I given the lord of all this
magnificence at the altar； and England's Queen could give him no
more。 He is my husbandI am his wifewhom God hath joined； man
cannot sunder。 I will be bold in claiming my right； even the
bolder； that I come thus unexpected； and thus forlorn。 I know my
noble Dudley well！ He will be something impatient at my
disobeying him； but Amy will weep； and Dudley will forgive her。〃
These meditations were interrupted by a cry of surprise from her
guide Wayland； who suddenly felt himself grasped firmly round the
body by a pair of long； thin black arms； belonging to some one
who had dropped himself out of an oak tree upon the croup of his
horse； amidst the shouts of laughter which burst from the
sentinels。
〃This must be the devil； or Flibbertigibbet again！〃 said
Wayland； after a vain struggle to disengage himself； and unhorse
the urchin who clung to him； 〃do Kenilworth oaks bear such
acorns？〃
〃In sooth do they； Master Wayland；〃 said his unexpected adjunct；
〃and many others； too hard for you to crack； for as old as you
are； without my teaching you。 How would you have passed the
pursuivant at the upper gate yonder； had not I warned him our
principal juggler was to follow us？ And here have I waited for
you； having clambered up into the tree from the top of the wain；
and I suppose they are all mad for want of me by this time；〃
〃Nay； then； thou art a limb of the devil in good earnest；〃 said
Wayland。 〃I give thee way； good imp； and will walk by thy
counsel； only； as thou art powerful be merciful。〃
As he spoke； they approached a strong tower； at the south
extremity of the long bridge we have mentioned； which served to
protect the outer gateway of the Castle of Kenilworth。
Under such disastrous circumstances； and in such singular
company； did the unfortunate Countess of Leicester approach； for
the first time； the magnificent abode of her almost princely
husband。
CHAPTER XXVI。
SNUG。 Have you the lion's part written？ pray； if it be； give
it me； for I am slow of study。
QUINCE。 You may do it extempore； for it is nothing but roaring。
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM。
When the Countess of Leicester arrived at the outer gate of the
Castle of Kenilworth； she found the tower； beneath which its
ample portal arch opened； guarded in a singular manner。 Upon the
battlements were placed gigantic warders； with clubs； battle…
axes； and other implements of ancient warfare； designed to
represent the soldiers of King Arthur； those primitive Britons；
by whom； according to romantic tradition； the Castle had been
first tenanted； though history carried back its antiquity only to
the times of the Heptarchy。
Some of these tremendous figures were real men； dressed up with
vizards and buskins； others were mere pageants composed of
pasteboard and buckram； which； viewed from beneath； and mingled
with those that were real； formed a sufficiently striking
representation of what was intended。 But the gigantic porter who
waited at the gate beneath； and actually discharged the duties of
warder； owed none of his terrors to fictitious means。 We was a
man whose huge stature； thews； sinews； and bulk in proportion；
would have enabled him to enact Colbrand； Ascapart； or any other
giant of romance； without raising himself nearer to heaven even
by the altitude of a chopin。 The legs and knees of this son of
Anak were bare； as were his arms from a span below the shoulder；
but his feet were defended with sandals； fastened with cross
straps of scarlet leather studded with brazen knobs。 A close
jerkin of scarlet velvet looped with gold； with short breeches of
the same； covered his body and a part of his limbs； and he wore
on his shoulders； instead of a cloak； the skin of a black bear。
The head of this formidable person was uncovered； except by his
shaggy； black hair； which descended on either side around
features of that huge； lumpish； and heavy cast which are often
annexed to men of very uncommon size； and which； notwithstanding
some distinguished exceptions； have created a general prejudice
against giants； as being a dull and sullen kind of persons。 This
tremendous warder was appropriately armed with a heavy club
spiked with steel。 In fine； he represented excellently one of
those giants of popular romance； who figure in every fairy tale
or legend of knight…errantry。
The demeanour of this modern Titan； when Wayland Smith bent his
attention to him； had in it something arguing much mental
embarrassment and vexation； for sometimes he sat down for an
instant on a massive stone bench； which seemed placed for his
accommodation beside the gateway； and then ever and anon he
started up； scratching his huge head； and striding to and fro on
his post； like one under a fit of impatience and anxiety。 It was
while the porter was pacing before the gate in this agitated
manner； that Wayland； modestly； yet as a matter of course （not；
however； without some mental misgiving）； was about to pass him；
and enter the portal arch。 The porter； however； stopped his
progress； bidding him； in a thundering voice； 〃Stand back！〃 and
enforcing his injunction by heaving up his steel…shod mace； and
dashing it on the ground before Wayland's horse's nose with such
vehemence that the pavement flashed fire； and the archway rang to
the clamour。 Wayland； availing himself of Dickie's hints； began
to state that he belonged to a band of performers to which his
presence was indispensable； that he had been accidentally
detained behind； and much to the same purpose。 But the warder
was inexorable； and kept muttering and murmuring something
betwixt his teeth； which Wayland could make little of； and
addressing betwixt whiles a refusal of admittance； couched in
language which was but too intelligible。 A specimen of his
speech might run thus：〃What； how now； my masters？〃 （to
himself）〃Here's a stirhere's a coil。〃（Then to Wayland）
〃You are a loitering knave； and shall have no entrance。〃（Again
to himself）〃Here's a thronghere's a thrusting。I shall ne'er
get through with itHere's ahumphha。〃（To Wayland）〃Back
from the gate； or I'll break the pate of thee。〃（Once more to
himself）〃Here's anoI shall never get through it。〃
〃Stand still；〃 whispered Flibbertigibbet into Wayland's ear； 〃I
know where the shoe pinches； and will tame him in an instant。〃
He dropped down from the horse； and skipping up to the porter；
plucked him by the tail of the bearskin； so as to induce him to
decline his huge head； and whispered something in his ear。 Not
at the command of the lord of some Eastern talisman did ever
Afrite change his horrid frown into a look of smooth submission
more suddenly than the gigantic porter of Kenilworth relaxed the
terrors of his looks at the instant Flibbertigibbet's whisper
reached his ears。 He flung his club upon the ground； and caught
up Dickie Sludge； raising him to such a distance from the earth
as might have proved perilous had he chanced to let him slip。
〃It is even so；〃 he said； with a thundering sound of exultation
〃it is even so； my little dandieprat。 But who the devil could
teach it thee？〃
〃Do not thou care about that；〃 said Flibbertigibbet〃but〃 he
looked at Wayland and the lady； and then sunk what he had to say
in a whisper； which needed not be a loud one； as the giant held
him for his convenience close to his ear。 The porter then gave
Dickie a warm caress； and set him on the ground with the same
care which a careful housewife uses in replacing a cracked china
cup upon her mantelpiece； calling out at the same time to Wayland
and the lady； 〃In with youin with you！ and take heed how you
come too late another day when I chance to be porter。〃
〃Ay； ay； in with you；〃 added Flibbertigibbet； 〃I must stay a
short space with mine honest Philistine； my Goliath of Gath here；
but I will be with you anon； and at the bottom of all your
secrets； were they as deep and dark as the Castle dungeon。〃
〃I do believe thou wouldst；〃 said Wayland； 〃but I trust the
secret will be soon out of my keeping； and then I shall care the
less whether thou or any one knows it。〃
They now crossed t
