kenilworth-第42部分

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Blount；　hast　thou　seen　our　household　put　into　their　new
braveries？　　〃But　thou　knowest　as　little　of　these　toys　as　I　do；
thou　wouldst　be　ready　enow　at　disposing　a　stand　of　pikes。〃

〃My　good　lord；〃　answered　Blount；　〃Raleigh　hath　been　here；　and
taken　that　charge　upon　himyour　train　will　glitter　like　a　May
morning。　　Marry；　the　cost　is　another　question。　　One　might　keep　an
hospital　of　old　soldiers　at　the　charge　of　ten　modern　lackeys。〃

〃He　must　not　count　cost　to…day；　Nicholas；〃　said　the　Earl　in
reply。　　〃I　am　beholden　to　Raleigh　for　his　care。　　I　trust；　though；
he　has　remembered　that　I　am　an　old　soldier；　and　would　have　no
more　of　these　follies　than　needs　must。〃

〃Nay；　I　understand　nought　about　it；〃　said　Blount；　〃but　here　are
your　honourable　lordship's　brave　kinsmen　and　friends　coming　in　by
scores　to　wait　upon　you　to　court；　where；　methinks；　we　shall　bear
as　brave　a　front　as　Leicester；　let　him　ruffle　it　as　he　will。〃

〃Give　them　the　strictest　charges；〃　said　Sussex；　〃that　they　suffer
no　provocation　short　of　actual　violence　to　provoke　them　into
quarrel。　　They　have　hot　bloods；　and　I　would　not　give　Leicester
the　advantage　over　me　by　any　imprudence　of　theirs。〃

The　Earl　of　Sussex　ran　so　hastily　through　these　directions；　that
it　was　with　difficulty　Tressilian　at　length　found　opportunity　to
express　his　surprise　that　he　should　have　proceeded　so　far　in　the
affair　of　Sir　Hugh　Robsart　as　to　lay　his　petition　at　once　before
the　Queen。　　〃It　was　the　opinion　of　the　young　lady's　friends；〃　he
said；　〃that　Leicester's　sense　of　justice　should　be　first　appealed
to；　as　the　offence　had　been　committed　by　his　officer；　and　so　he
had　expressly　told　to　Sussex。〃

〃This　could　have　been　done　without　applying　to　me；〃　said　Sussex；
somewhat　haughtily。　　〃I　at　least；　ought　not　to　have　been　a
counsellor　when　the　object　was　a　humiliating　reference　to
Leicester；　and　I　am　suprised　that　you；　Tressilian；　a　man　of
honour；　and　my　friend；　would　assume　such　a　mean　course。　　If　you
said　so；　I　certainly　understood　you　not　in　a　matter　which　sounded
so　unlike　yourself。〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃the　course　I　would　prefer；　for　my
own　sake；　is　that　you　have　adopted；　but　the　friends　of　this　most
unhappy　lady〃

〃Oh；　the　friendsthe　friends；〃　said　Sussex；　interrupting　him；
〃they　must　let　us　manage　this　cause　in　the　way　which　seems　best。
This　is　the　time　and　the　hour　to　accumulate　every　charge　against
Leicester　and　his　household；　and　yours　the　Queen　will　hold　a
heavy　one。　　But　at　all　events　she　hath　the　complaint　before　her。〃

Tressilian　could　not　help　suspecting　that；　in　his　eagerness　to
strengthen　himself　against　his　rival；　Sussex　had　purposely
adopted　the　course　most　likely　to　throw　odium　on　Leicester；
without　considering　minutely　whether　it　were　the　mode　of
proceeding　most　likely　to　be　attended　with　success。　　But　the　step
was　irrevocable；　and　Sussex　escaped　from　further　discussing　it　by
dismissing　his　company；　with　the　command；　〃Let　all　be　in　order　at
eleven　o'clock；　I　must　be　at　court　and　in　the　presence　by　high
noon　precisely。〃

While　the　rival　statesmen　were　thus　anxiously　preparing　for　their
approaching　meeting　in　the　Queen's　presence；　even　Elizabeth
herself　was　not　without　apprehension　of　what　might　chance　from
the　collision　of　two　such　fiery　spirits；　each　backed　by　a　strong
and　numerous　body　of　followers；　and　dividing　betwixt　them；　either
openly　or　in　secret；　the　hopes　and　wishes　of　most　of　her　court。
The　band　of　Gentlemen　Pensioners　were　all　under　arms；　and　a
reinforcement　of　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　was　brought　down　the
Thames　from　London。　　A　royal　proclamation　was　sent　forth；
strictly　prohibiting　nobles　of　whatever　degree　to　approach　the
Palace　with　retainers　or　followers　armed　with　shot　or　with　long
weapons；　and　it　was　even　whispered　that　the　High　Sheriff　of　Kent
had　secret　instructions　to　have　a　part　of　the　array　of　the　county
ready　on　the　shortest　notice。

The　eventful　hour；　thus　anxiously　prepared　for　on　all　sides；　at
length　approached；　and；　each　followed　by　his　long　and　glittering
train　of　friends　and　followers；　the　rival　Earls　entered　the
Palace　Yard　of　Greenwich　at　noon　precisely。

As　if　by　previous　arrangement；　or　perhaps　by　intimation　that　such
was　the　Queen's　pleasure；　Sussex　and　his　retinue　came　to　the
Palace　from　Deptford　by　water　while　Leicester　arrived　by　land；
and　thus　they　entered　the　courtyard　from　opposite　sides。　　This
trifling　circumstance　gave　Leicester　a　ascendency　in　the　opinion
of　the　vulgar；　the　appearance　of　his　cavalcade　of　mounted
followers　showing　more　numerous　and　more　imposing　than　those　of
Sussex's　party；　who　were　necessarily　upon　foot。　　No　show　or　sign
of　greeting　passed　between　the　Earls；　though　each　looked　full　at
the　other；　both　expecting　perhaps　an　exchange　of　courtesies；
which　neither　was　willing　to　commence。　　Almost　in　the　minute　of
their　arrival　the　castle…bell　tolled；　the　gates　of　the　Palace
were　opened；　and　the　Earls　entered；　each　numerously　attended　by
such　gentlemen　of　their　train　whose　rank　gave　them　that
privilege。　　The　yeomen　and　inferior　attendants　remained　in　the
courtyard；　where　the　opposite　parties　eyed　each　other　with　looks
of　eager　hatred　and　scorn；　as　if　waiting　with　impatience　for　some
cause　of　tumult；　or　some　apology　for　mutual　aggression。　　But　they
were　restrained　by　the　strict　commands　of　their　leaders；　and
overawed；　perhaps；　by　the　presence　of　an　armed　guard　of　unusual
strength。

In　the　meanwhile；　the　more　distinguished　persons　of　each　train
followed　their　patrons　into　the　lofty　halls　and　ante…chambers　of
the　royal　Palace；　flowing　on　in　the　same　current；　like　two
streams　which　are　compelled　into　the　same　channel；　yet　shun　to
mix　their　waters。　　The　parties　arranged　themselves；　as　it　were
instinctively；　on　the　different　sides　of　the　lofty　apartments；
and　seemed　eager　to　escape　from　the　transient　union　which　the
narrowness　of　the　crowded　entrance　had　for　an　instant　compelled
them　to　submit　to。　　The　folding　doors　at　the　upper　end　of　the
long　gallery　were　immediately　afterwards　opened；　and　it　was
announced　in　a　whisper　that　the　Queen　was　in　her　presence…
chamber；　to　which　these　gave　access。　　Both　Earls　moved　slowly　and
stately　towards　the　entranceSussex　followed　by　Tressilian；
Blount；　and　Raleigh；　and　Leicester　by　Varney。　　The　pride　of
Leicester　was　obliged　to　give　way　to　court…forms；　and　with　a
grave　and　formal　inclination　of　the　head；　he　paused　until　his
rival；　a　peer　of　older　creation　than　his　own；　passed　before　him。
Sussex　returned　the　reverence　with　the　same　formal　civility；　and
entered　the　presence…room。　　Tressilian　and　Blount　offered　to
follow　him；　but　were　not　permitted；　the　Usher　of　the　Black　Rod
alleging　in　excuse　that　he　had　precise　orders　to　look　to　all
admissions　that　day。　　To　Raleigh；　who　stood　back　on　the　repulse
of　his　companions；　he　said；　〃You；　sir；　may　enter；〃　and　he　entered
accordingly。

〃Follow　me　close；　Varney；〃　said　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　who　had
stood　aloof　for　a　moment　to　mark　the　reception　of　Sussex；　and
advancing　to　the　entrance；　he　was　about　to　pass　on；　when　Varney；
who　was　close　behind　him；　dressed　out　in　the　utmost　bravery　of
the　day；　was　stopped　by　the　usher；　as　Tressilian　and　Blount　had
been　before　him；　〃How　is　this；　Master　Bowyer？〃　　said　the　Earl　of
Leicester。　　〃Know　you　who　I　am；　and　that　this　is　my　friend　and
follower？〃

〃Your　lordship　will　pardon　me；〃　replied　Bowyer　stoutly；　〃my
orders　are　precise；　and　limit　me　to　a　strict　discharge　of　my
duty。〃

〃Thou　art　a　partial　knave；〃　said　Leicester；　the　blood　mounting　to
his　face；　〃to　do　me　this　dishonour；　when　you　but　now　admitted　a
follower　of　my　Lord　of　Sussex。〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　Bowyer；　〃Master　Raleigh　is　newly　admitted　a　sworn
servant　of　her　Grace；　and　to　him　my　orders　did　not　apply。〃

〃Thou　art　a　knavean　ungrateful　knave；〃　said　Leicester；　〃but　he
that　hath　done　can　undothou　shalt　not　prank　thee　in　thy
authority　long！〃

This　threat　he　uttered　aloud；　with　less　than　his　usual　policy　and
discretion；　and　having　done　so；　he　entered　the　presence…chamber；
and　made　his　reverence　to　the　Queen；　who；　attired　with　even　more
than　her　usual　splendour；　and　surrounded　by　those　nobles　and
statesmen　whose　courage　and　wisdom　have　rendered　her　reign
immortal；　stood　ready　to　receive　the　hommage　of　her　subjects。
She　graciously　returned　the　obeisance　of　the　favourite　Earl；　and
looked　alternately　at　him　and　at　Sussex；　as　if　about　to　speak；
when　Bowyer；　a　man　whose　spirit　could　not　brook　the　insult　he　had
so　openly　received　from　Leicester；　in　the　discharge　of　his
office；　advanced　with　his　black　rad　in　his　hand；　and　knelt　down
before　her。

〃Why；　how　now；　Bowyer？〃　　said　Elizabeth；　〃thy　courtesy　seems
strangely　timed！〃

〃My　Liege　Sovereign；〃　he　said；　while　every　courtier　around
trembled　at　his　audacity；　〃I　come　but　to　ask　whether；　in　the
discharge　of　mine　office；　I　am　to　obey　your　Highness's　commands；
or　those　of　the　Earl　of　Leicester；　who　has　publicly　menaced　me
with　his　displeasure；　and　treated　me　with　disparaging　terms；
because　I　denied　entry　to　one　of　his　followers；　in　obedience　to
your　Grace's　precise　orders？〃

The　spirit　of　Henry　VIII。　　was　instantly　aroused　in　the　bosom　of
his　daughter；　and　she　turned　on　Leicester　with　a　severity　which
appalled　him；　as　well　as　all　his　followers。

〃God's　death！　　my　lord。〃　　such　was　her　emphatic　phrase；　〃what
means　this？　　We　have　thought　well　of　you；　and　brought　you　near　to
our　person；　but　it　was　not　that　you　might　hide　the　sun　from　our
other　faithful　subjects。　　Who　gave　you　license　to　contradict　our
orders；　or　control　our　officers？　　I　will　have　in　this　court；　ay；
and　in　this　realm；　but　one　mistress；　and　no　master。　　Look　to　it
that　Master　Bowyer　sustains　no　harm　for　his　duty　to　me　faithfully
discharged；　for；　as　I　am　Christian　woman　and　crowned　Queen；　I
will　hold　you　dearly　answerable。Go；　Bowyer；　you　have　done　the
part　of　an　honest　man　and　a　true　subject。　　We　will　brook　no　mayor
of　the　palace　here。

Bowyer　kissed　the　hand　which　she　extended　towards　him；　and
withdrew　to　his　post！　　astonished　at　the　success　of　his　own
audacity。　　A　smile　of　triumph　pervaded　the　faction　of　Sussex；
that　of　Leicester　seemed　proportionally　dismayed；　and　the
favourite　himself；　assuming　an