kenilworth-第98章
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Coventry and Radcliffe of Birmingham。 It contains reprints of
Laneham's Letter； Gascoigne's PrinceIy Progress； and other scarce
pieces； annotated with accuracy and ability。 The author takes
the liberty to refer to this work as his authority for the
account of the festivities。
I am indebted for a curious ground…plan of the Castle of
Kenilworth； as it existed in Queen Elizabeth's time； to the
voluntary kindness of Richard Badnall Esq。 of Olivebank； near
Liverpool。 From his obliging communication； I learn that the
original sketch was found among the manuscripts of the celebrated
J。 J。 Rousseau； when he left England。 These were entrusted by
the philosopher to the care of his friend Mr。 Davenport； and
passed from his legatee into the possession of Mr。 Badnall。＇
CHAPTER XXXI。
Nay； this is matter for the month of March；
When hares are maddest。 Either speak in reason；
Giving cold argument the wall of passion；
Or I break up the court。 BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER。
It is by no means our purpose to detail minutely all the princely
festivities of Kenilworth； after the fashion of Master Robert
Laneham； whom we quoted in the conclusion of the last chapter。
It is sufficient to say that under discharge of the splendid
fireworks； which we have borrowed Laneham's eloquence to
describe； the Queen entered the base…court of Kenilworth； through
Mortimer's Tower； and moving on through pageants of heathen gods
and heroes of antiquity； who offered gifts and compliments on the
bended knee； at length found her way to the Great Hall of the
Castle； gorgeously hung for her reception with the richest silken
tapestry； misty with perfumes； and sounding to strains of soft
and delicious music。 From the highly…carved oaken roof hung a
superb chandelier of gilt bronze； formed like a spread eagle；
whose outstretched wings supported three male and three female
figures； grasping a pair of branches in each hand。 The Hall was
thus illuminated by twenty…four torches of wax。 At the upper end
of the splendid apartment was a state canopy； overshadowing a
royal throne； and beside it was a door； which opened to a long
suite of apartments； decorated with the utmost magnificence for
the Queen and her ladies； whenever it should be her pleasure to
be private。
The Earl of Leicester having handed the Queen up to her throne；
and seated her there； knelt down before her； and kissing the hand
which she held out； with an air in which romantic and respectful
gallantry was happily mingled with the air of loyal devotion； he
thanked her； in terms of the deepest gratitude； for the highest
honour which a sovereign could render to a subject。 So handsome
did he look when kneeling before her； that Elizabeth was tempted
to prolong the scene a little longer than there was； strictly
speaking； necessity for； and ere she raised him； she passed her
hand over his head； so near as almost to touch his long； curled；
and perfumed hair； and with a movement of fondness that seemed to
intimate she would； if she dared； have made the motion a slight
caress。
＇To justify what may be considered as a high…coloured picture；
the author quotes the original of the courtly and shrewd Sir
James Melville； being then Queen Mary's envoy at the court of
London。
〃I was required；〃 says Sir James； 〃to stay till I had seen him
made Earle of Leicester； and Baron of Denbigh； with great
solemnity； herself （Elizabeth） helping to put on his ceremonial；
he sitting on his knees before her； keeping a great gravity and a
discreet behaviour； but she could not refrain from putting her
hand to his neck to kittle （i。e。； tickle） him； smilingly； the
French Ambassador and I standing beside her。〃MELVILLE'S
MEMOIRS； BANNATYNE EDITION； p。 120。＇
She at length raised him； and standing beside the throne； he
explained to her the various preparations which had been made for
her amusement and accommodation； all of which received her prompt
and gracious approbation。 The Earl then prayed her Majesty for
permission that he himself； and the nobles who had been in
attendance upon her during the journey； might retire for a few
minutes； and put themselves into a guise more fitting for dutiful
attendance； during which space those gentlemen of worship
（pointing to Varney； Blount； Tressilian； and others）； who had
already put themselves into fresh attire； would have the honour
of keeping her presence…chamber。
〃Be it so； my lord；〃 answered the Queen； 〃you could manage a
theatre well； who can thus command a double set of actors。 For
ourselves； we will receive your courtesies this evening but
clownishly； since it is not our purpose to change our riding
attire； being in effect something fatigued with a journey which
the concourse of our good people hath rendered slow； though the
love they have shown our person hath； at the same time； made it
delightful。〃
Leicester； having received this permission； retired accordingly；
and was followed by those nobles who had attended the Queen to
Kenilworth in person。 The gentlemen who had preceded them； and
were； of course； dressed for the solemnity； remained in
attendance。 But being most of them of rather inferior rank； they
remained at an awful distance from the throne which Elizabeth
occupied。 The Queen's sharp eye soon distinguished Raleigh
amongst them； with one or two others who were personally known to
her； and she instantly made them a sign to approach； and accosted
them very graciously。 Raleigh； in particular； the adventure of
whose cloak； as well as the incident of the verses； remained on
her mind； was very graciously received； and to him she most
frequently applied for information concerning the names and rank
of those who were in presence。 These he communicated concisely；
and not without some traits of humorous satire； by which
Elizabeth seemed much amused。 〃And who is yonder clownish
fellow？〃 she said； looking at Tressilian； whose soiled dress on
this occasion greatly obscured his good mien。
〃A poet； if it please your Grace；〃 replied Raleigh。
〃I might have guessed that from his careless garb；〃 said
Elizabeth。 〃I have known some poets so thoughtless as to throw
their cloaks into gutters。〃
〃It must have been when the sun dazzled both their eyes and their
judgment；〃 answered Raleigh。
Elizabeth smiled； and proceeded； 〃I asked that slovenly fellow's
name； and you only told me his profession。〃
〃Tressilian is his name；〃 said Raleigh； with internal reluctance；
for he foresaw nothing favourable to his friend from the manner
in which she took notice of him。
〃Tressilian！〃 answered Elizabeth。 〃Oh； the Menelaus of our
romance。 Why； he has dressed himself in a guise that will go far
to exculpate his fair and false Helen。 And where is Farnham； or
whatever his name ismy Lord of Leicester's man； I meanthe
Paris of this Devonshire tale？〃
With still greater reluctance Raleigh named and pointed out to
her Varney； for whom the tailor had done all that art could
perform in making his exterior agreeable； and who； if he had not
grace； had a sort of tact and habitual knowledge of breeding；
which came in place of it。
The Queen turned her eyes from the one to the other。 〃I doubt；〃
she said； 〃this same poetical Master Tressilian； who is too
learned； I warrant me； to remember whose presence he was to
appear in； may be one of those of whom Geoffrey Chaucer says
wittily； the wisest clerks are not the wisest men。 I remember
that Varney is a smooth…tongued varlet。 I doubt this fair
runaway hath had reasons for breaking her faith。〃
To this Raleigh durst make no answer； aware how little he should
benefit Tressilian by contradicting the Queen's sentiments； and
not at all certain； on the whole； whether the best thing that
could befall him would not be that she should put an end at once
by her authority to this affair； upon which it seemed to him
Tressilian's thoughts were fixed with unavailing and distressing
pertinacity。 As these reflections passed through his active
brain； the lower door of the hall opened； and Leicester；
accompanied by several of his kinsmen； and of the nobles who had
embraced his faction； re…entered the Castle Hall。
The favourite
