kenilworth-第39部分

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none　but　some　poor　groom　or　porter。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　said　the　youth；　〃but　I　am　resolved　I　will　have　my
own　cloak；　ay；　and　brush　my　doublet　to　boot；　ere　I　stir　forth
with　you。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Blount；　〃here　is　a　coil　about　a　doublet　and　a
cloak。　　Get　thyself　ready；　a　God's　name！〃

They　were　soon　launched　on　the　princely　bosom　of　the　broad
Thames；　upon　which　the　sun　now　shone　forth　in　all　its　splendour。

〃There　are　two　things　scarce　matched　in　the　universe；〃　said
Walter　to　Blount〃the　sun　in　heaven；　and　the　Thames　on　the
earth。〃

〃The　one　will　light　us　to　Greenwich　well　enough；〃　said　Blount；
〃and　the　other　would　take　us　there　a　little　faster　if　it　were
ebb…tide。〃

〃And　this　is　all　thou　thinkestall　thou　carestall　thou　deemest
the　use　of　the　King　of　Elements　and　the　King　of　Riversto　guide
three　such　poor　caitiffs　as　thyself；　and　me；　and　Tracy；　upon　an
idle　journey　of　courtly　ceremony！〃

〃It　is　no　errand　of　my　seeking；　faith；〃　replied　Blount；　〃and　I
could　excuse　both　the　sun　and　the　Thames　the　trouble　of　carrying
me　where　I　have　no　great　mind　to　go；　and　where　I　expect　but　dog's
wages　for　my　troubleand　by　my　honour；〃　he　added；　looking　out
from　the　head　of　the　boat；　〃it　seems　to　me　as　if　our　message　were
a　sort　of　labour　in　vain；　for；　see；　the　Queen's　barge　lies　at　the
stairs　as　if　her　Majesty　were　about　to　take　water。〃

It　was　even　so。　　The　royal　barge；　manned　with　the　Queen's
watermen　richly　attired　in　the　regal　liveries；　and　having　the
Banner　of　England　displayed；　did　indeed　lie　at　the　great　stairs
which　ascended　from　the　river；　and　along　with　it　two　or　three
other　boats　for　transporting　such　part　of　her　retinue　as　were　not
in　immediate　attendance　on　the　royal　person。　　The　yeomen　of　the
guard；　the　tallest　and　most　handsome　men　whom　England　could
produce；　guarded　with　their　halberds　the　passage　from　the　palace…
gate　to　the　river　side；　and　all　seemed　in　readiness　for　the
Queen's　coming　forth；　although　the　day　was　yet　so　early。

〃By　my　faith；　this　bodes　us　no　good；〃　said　Blount；　〃it　must　be
some　perilous　cause　puts　her　Grace　in　motion　thus　untimeously；　By
my　counsel；　we　were　best　put　back　again；　and　tell　the　Earl　what
we　have　seen。〃

〃Tell　the　Earl　what　we　have　seen！〃　　said　Walter；　〃why　what　have
we　seen　but　a　boat；　and　men　with　scarlet　jerkins；　and　halberds　in
their　hands？　　Let　us　do　his　errand；　and　tell　him　what　the　Queen
says　in　reply。〃

So　saying；　he　caused　the　boat　to　be　pulled　towards　a　landing…
place　at　some　distance　from　the　principal　one；　which　it　would
not；　at　that　moment；　have　been　thought　respectful　to　approach；
and　jumped　on　shore；　followed；　though　with　reluctance；　by　his
cautious　and　timid　companions。　　As　they　approached　the　gate　of
the　palace；　one　of　the　sergeant　porters　told　them　they　could　not
at　present　enter；　as　her　Majesty　was　in　the　act　of　coming　forth。
The　gentlemen　used　the　name　of　the　Earl　of　Sussex；　but　it　proved
no　charm　to　subdue　the　officer；　who　alleged；　in　reply；　that　it
was　as　much　as　his　post　was　worth　to　disobey　in　the　least　tittle
the　commands　which　he　had　received。

〃Nay；　I　told　you　as　much　before；〃　said　Blount；　〃do；　I　pray　you；
my　dear　Walter；　let　us　take　boat　and　return。〃

〃Not　till　I　see　the　Queen　come　forth；〃　returned　the　youth
composedly。

〃Thou　art　mad；　stark　mad；　by　the　Mass！〃　　answered　Blount。

〃And　thou；〃　said　Walter；　〃art　turned　coward　of　the　sudden。　　I
have　seen　thee　face　half　a　score　of　shag…headed　Irish　kerns　to
thy　own　share　of　them；　and　now　thou　wouldst　blink　and　go　back　to
shun　the　frown　of　a　fair　lady！〃

At　this　moment　the　gates　opened；　and　ushers　began　to　issue　forth
in　array；　preceded　and　flanked　by　the　band　of　Gentlemen
Pensioners。　　After　this；　amid　a　crowd　of　lords　and　ladies；　yet　so
disposed　around　her　that　she　could　see　and　be　seen　on　all　sides；
came　Elizabeth　herself；　then　in　the　prime　of　womanhood；　and　in
the　full　glow　of　what　in　a　Sovereign　was　called　beauty；　and　who
would　in　the　lowest　rank　of　life　have　been　truly　judged　a　noble
figure；　joined　to　a　striking　and　commanding　physiognomy。　　She
leant　on　the　arm　of　Lord　Hunsdon；　whose　relation　to　her　by　her
mother's　side　often　procured　him　such　distinguished　marks　of
Elizabeth's　intimacy。

The　young　cavalier　we　have　so　often　mentioned　had　probably　never
yet　approached　so　near　the　person　of　his　Sovereign；　and　he
pressed　forward　as　far　as　the　line　of　warders　permitted；　in　order
to　avail　himself　of　the　present　opportunity。　　His　companion；　on
the　contrary；　cursing　his　imprudence；　kept　pulling　him　backwards；
till　Walter　shook　him　off　impatiently；　and　letting　his　rich　cloak
drop　carelessly　from　one　shoulder；　a　natural　action；　which
served；　however；　to　display　to　the　best　advantage　his　well…
proportioned　person。　　Unbonneting　at　the　same　time；　he　fixed　his
eager　gaze　on　the　Queen's　approach；　with　a　mixture　of　respectful
curiosity　and　modest　yet　ardent　admiration；　which　suited　so　well
with　his　fine　features　that　the　warders；　struck　with　his　rich
attire　and　noble　countenance；　suffered　him　to　approach　the　ground
over　which　the　Queen　was　to　pass；　somewhat　closer　than　was
permitted　to　ordinary　spectators。　　Thus　the　adventurous　youth
stood　full　in　Elizabeth's　eyean　eye　never　indifferent　to　the
admiration　which　she　deservedly　excited　among　her　subjects；　or　to
the　fair　proportions　of　external　form　which　chanced　to
distinguish　any　of　her　courtiers。

Accordingly；　she　fixed　her　keen　glance　on　the　youth；　as　she
approached　the　place　where　he　stood；　with　a　look　in　which
surprise　at　his　boldness　seemed　to　be　unmingled　with　resentment；
while　a　trifling　accident　happened　which　attracted　her　attention
towards　him　yet　more　strongly。　　The　night　had　been　rainy；　and
just　where　the　young　gentleman　stood　a　small　quantity　of　mud
interrupted　the　Queen's　passage。　　As　she　hesitated　to　pass　on；
the　gallant；　throwing　his　cloak　from　his　shoulders；　laid　it　on
the　miry　spot；　so　as　to　ensure　her　stepping　over　it　dry…shod。
Elizabeth　looked　at　the　young　man；　who　accompanied　this　act　of
devoted　courtesy　with　a　profound　reverence；　and　a　blush　that
overspread　his　whole　countenance。　　The　Queen　was　confused；　and
blushed　in　her　turn；　nodded　her　head；　hastily　passed　on；　and
embarked　in　her　barge　without　saying　a　word。

〃Come　along；　Sir　Coxcomb；〃　said　Blount；　〃your　gay　cloak　will　need
the　brush　to…day；　I　wot。　　Nay；　if　you　had　meant　to　make　a
footcloth　of　your　mantle；　better　have　kept　Tracy's　old　drab…de…
bure；　which　despises　all　colours。〃

〃This　cloak；〃　said　the　youth；　taking　it　up　and　folding　it；　〃shall
never　be　brushed　while　in　my　possession。〃

〃And　that　will　not　be　long；　if　you　learn　not　a　little　more
economy；　we　shall　have　you　in　CUERPO　soon；　as　the　Spaniard　says。〃

Their　discourse　was　here　interrupted　by　one　of　the　band　of
Pensioners。

〃I　was　sent；〃　said　he；　after　looking　at　them　attentively；　〃to　a
gentleman　who　hath　no　cloak；　or　a　muddy　one。You；　sir；　I　think；〃
addressing　the　younger　cavalier；　〃are　the　man；　you　will　please　to
follow　me。〃

〃He　is　in　attendance　on　me；〃　said　Blount〃on　me；　the　noble　Earl
of　Sussex's　master　of　horse。〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　say　to　that；〃　answered　the　messenger；　〃my
orders　are　directly　from　her　Majesty；　and　concern　this　gentleman
only。〃

So　saying；　he　walked　away；　followed　by　Walter；　leaving　the　others
behind；　Blount's　eyes　almost　starting　from　his　head　with　the
excess　of　his　astonishment。　　At　length　he　gave　vent　to　it　in　an
exclamation；　〃Who　the　good　jere　would　have　thought　this！〃　　And
shaking　his　head　with　a　mysterious　air；　he　walked　to　his　own
boat；　embarked；　and　returned　to　Deptford。

The　young　cavalier　was　in　the　meanwhile　guided　to　the　water…side
by　the　Pensioner；　who　showed　him　considerable　respect；　a
circumstance　which；　to　persons　in　his　situation；　may　be
considered　as　an　augury　of　no　small　consequence。　　He　ushered　him
into　one　of　the　wherries　which　lay　ready　to　attend　the　Queen's
barge；　which　was　already　proceeding；　up　the　river；　with　the
advantage　of　that　flood…tide　of　which；　in　the　course　of　their
descent；　Blount　had　complained　to　his　associates。

The　two　rowers　used　their　oars　with　such　expedition　at　the　signal
of　the　Gentleman　Pensioner；　that　they　very　soon　brought　their
little　skiff　under　the　stern　of　the　Queen's　boat；　where　she　sat
beneath　an　awning；　attended　by　two　or　three　ladies；　and　the
nobles　of　her　household。　　She　looked　more　than　once　at　the　wherry
in　which　the　young　adventurer　was　seated；　spoke　to　those　around
her；　and　seemed　to　laugh。　　At　length　one　of　the　attendants；　by
the　Queen's　order　apparently；　made　a　sign　for　the　wherry　to　come
alongside；　and　the　young　man　was　desired　to　step　from　his　own
skiff　into　the　Queen's　barge；　which　he　performed　with　graceful
agility　at　the　fore　part　of　the　boat；　and　was　brought　aft　to　the
Queen's　presence；　the　wherry　at　the　same　time　dropping　into　the
rear。　　The　youth　underwent　the　gaze　of　Majesty；　not　the　less
gracefully　that　his　self…possession　was　mingled　with
embarrassment。　　The　muddled　cloak　still　hung　upon　his　arm；　and
formed　the　natural　topic　with　which　the　Queen　introduced　the
conversation。

〃You　have　this　day　spoiled　a　gay　mantle　in　our　behalf；　young　man。
We　thank　you　for　your　service；　though　the　manner　of　offering　it
was　unusual；　and　something　bold。〃

〃In　a　sovereign's　need；〃　answered　the　youth；　〃it　is　each　liege…
man's　duty　to　be　bold。〃

〃God's　pity！　　that　was　well　said；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Queen；
turning　to　a　grave　person　who　sat　by　her；　and　answered　with　a
grave　inclination　of　the　head；　and　something　of　a　mumbled
assent。〃Well；　young　man；　your　gallantry　shall　not　go
unrewarded。　　Go　to　the　wardrobe　keeper；　and　he　shall　have　orders
to　supply　the　suit　which　you　have　cast　away　in　our　service。　　Thou
shalt　have　a　suit；　and　that　of　the　newest　cut；　I　promise　thee；　on
the　word　of　a　princess。〃

〃May　it　please　your　Grace；〃　said　Walter；　hesitating；　〃it　is　not
for　so　humble　a　servant　of　your　Majesty　to　measure　out　your
bounties；　but　if　it　became　me　to　choose〃

〃Thou　wouldst　have　gold；　I　warrant　me；〃　said　the　Queen；
interrupting　him。　　〃Fie；　young　man！　　I　take　shame　to　say　that　in
our　capital　such　and　so　various　are　the　means　of　thriftless
folly；　that　to　give　gold　to　youth　is　giving　fuel　to　fire；　and
furni