kenilworth-第50部分

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in　that　matter。　　Here　is　my　ring；　as　a　pledge　to　Giles　Gosling。
Here　is　besides　gold；　which　shall　be　trebled　if　thou　serve　me
faithfully。　　Away　down　to　Cumnor；　and　see　what　happens　there。〃

〃I　go　with　double　good…will；〃　said　the　artist；　〃first；　because　I
serve　your　honour；　who　has　been　so　kind　to　me；　and　then；　that　I
may　escape　my　old　master；　who；　if　not　an　absolute　incarnation　of
the　devil；　has；　at　least；　as　much　of　the　demon　about　him；　in
will；　word；　and　action；　as　ever　polluted　humanity。　　And　yet　let
him　take　care　of　me。　　I　fly　him　now；　as　heretofore；　but　if；　like
the　Scottish　wild　cattle；　I　am　vexed　by　frequent　pursuit；　I　may
turn　on　him　in　hate　and　desperation。　　＇A　remnant　of　the　wild
cattle　of　Scotland　are　preserved　at　Chillingham　Castle；　near
Wooler；　in　Northumberland；　the　seat　of　Lord　Tankerville。　　They
fly　before　strangers；　but　if　disturbed　and　followed；　they　turn
with　fury　on　those　who　persist　in　annoying　them。＇　　Will　your
honour　command　my　nag　to　be　saddled？　　I　will　but　give　the
medicine　to　my　lord；　divided　in　its　proper　proportions；　with　a
few　instructions。　　His　safety　will　then　depend　on　the　care　of　his
friends　and　domestics；　for　the　past　he　is　guarded；　but　let　him
beware　of　the　future。〃

Wayland　Smith　accordingly　made　his　farewell　visit　to　the　Earl　of
Sussex；　dictated　instructions　as　to　his　regimen；　and　precautions
concerning　his　diet；　and　left　Sayes　Court　without　waiting　for
morning。



CHAPTER　XVIII。

　　　　　　　　The　moment　comes
　　It　is　already　comewhen　thou　must　write
　　The　absolute　total　of　thy　life's　vast　sum。
　　The　constellations　stand　victorious　o'er　thee；
　　The　planets　shoot　good　fortune　in　fair　junctions；
　　And　tell　thee；　〃Now's　the　time。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SCHILLER'S　WALLENSTEIN；　BY　COLERIDGE。

When　Leicester　returned　to　his　lodging；　alter　a　day　so　important
and　so　harassing；　in　which；　after　riding　out　more　than　one　gale；
and　touching　on　more　than　one　shoal；　his　bark　had　finally　gained
the　harbour　with　banner　displayed；　he　seemed　to　experience　as
much　fatigue　as　a　mariner　after　a　perilous　storm。　　He　spoke　not　a
word　while　his　chamberlain　exchanged　his　rich　court…mantle　for　a
furred　night…robe；　and　when　this　officer　signified　that　Master
Varney　desired　to　speak　with　his　lordship；　he　replied　only　by　a
sullen　nod。　　Varney；　however；　entered；　accepting　this　signal　as　a
permission；　and　the　chamberlain　withdrew。

The　Earl　remained　silent　and　almost　motionless　in　his　chair；　his
head　reclined　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　resting　upon　the　table
which　stood　beside　him；　without　seeming　to　be　conscious　of　the
entrance　or　of　the　presence　of　his　confidant。　　Varney　waited　for
some　minutes　until　he　should　speak；　desirous　to　know　what　was　the
finally　predominant　mood　of　a　mind　through　which　so　many　powerful
emotions　had　that　day　taken　their　course。　　But　he　waited　in　vain；
for　Leicester　continued　still　silent；　and　the　confidant　saw
himself　under　the　necessity　of　being　the　first　to　speak。　　〃May　I
congratulate　your　lordship；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　deserved
superiority　you　have　this　day　attained　over　your　most　formidable
rival？〃

Leicester　raised　his　head；　and　answered　sadly；　but　without　anger；
〃Thou；　Varney；　whose　ready　invention　has　involved　me　in　a　web　of
most　mean　and　perilous　falsehood；　knowest　best　what　small　reason
there　is　for　gratulation　on　the　subject。〃

〃Do　you　blame　me；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃for　not　betraying；　on
the　first　push；　the　secret　on　which　your　fortunes　depended；　and
which　you　have　so　oft　and　so　earnestly　recommended　to　my　safe
keeping？　　Your　lordship　was　present　in　person；　and　might　have
contradicted　me　and　ruined　yourself　by　an　avowal　of　the　truth；
but　surely　it　was　no　part　of　a　faithful　servant　to　have　done　so
without　your　commands。〃

〃I　cannot　deny　it；　Varney；〃　said　the　Earl；　rising　and　walking
across　the　room；　〃my　own　ambition　has　been　traitor　to　my　love。〃

〃Say　rather；　my　lord；　that　your　love　has　been　traitor　to　your
greatness；　and　barred　you　from　such　a　prospect　of　honour　and
power　as　the　world　cannot　offer　to　any　other。　　To　make　my
honoured　lady　a　countess；　you　have　missed　the　chance　of　being
yourself〃

He　paused；　and　seemed　unwilling　to　complete　the　sentence。

〃Of　being　myself　what？〃　　demanded　Leicester；　〃speak　out　thy
meaning；　Varney。〃

〃Of　being　yourself　a　KING；　my　lord；〃　replied　Varney；　〃and　King　of
England　to　boot！　　It　is　no　treason　to　our　Queen　to　say　so。　　It
would　have　chanced　by　her　obtaining　that　which　all　true　subjects
wish　hera　lusty；　noble；　and　gallant　husband。〃

〃Thou　ravest；　Varney；〃　answered　Leicester。　　〃Besides；　our　times
have　seen　enough　to　make　men　loathe　the　Crown　Matrimonial　which
men　take　from　their　wives'　lap。　　There　was　Darnley　of　Scotland。〃

〃He！〃　　said　Varney；　〃a；　gull；　a　fool；　a　thrice…sodden　ass；　who
suffered　himself　to　be　fired　off　into　the　air　like　a　rocket　on　a
rejoicing　day。　　Had　Mary　had　the　hap　to　have　wedded　the　noble
Earl　ONCE　destined　to　share　her　throne；　she　had　experienced　a
husband　of　different　metal；　and　her　husband　had　found　in　her　a
wife　as　complying　and　loving　as　the　mate　of　the　meanest　squire
who　follows　the　hounds　a…horseback；　and　holds　her　husband's
bridle　as　he　mounts。〃

〃It　might　have　been　as　thou　sayest；　Varney；〃　said　Leicester；　a
brief　smile　of　self…satisfaction　passing　over　his　anxious
countenance。　　〃Henry　Darnley　knew　little　of　womenwith　Mary；　a
man　who　knew　her　sex　might　have　had　some　chance　of　holding　his
own。　　But　not　with　Elizabeth；　Varney　for　I　thank　God；　when　he
gave　her　the　heart　of　a　woman；　gave　her　the　head　of　a　man　to
control　its　follies。　　No；　I　know　her。　　She　will　accept　love…
tokens；　ay；　and　requite　them　with　the　likeput　sugared　sonnets
in　her　bosom；　ay；　and　answer　them　toopush　gallantry　to　the　very
verge　where　it　becomes　exchange　of　affection；　but　she　writes　NIL
ULTRA　to　all　which　is　to　follow；　and　would　not　barter　one　iota　of
her　own　supreme　power　for　all　the　alphabet　of　both　Cupid　and
Hymen。〃

〃The　better　for　you；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney〃that　is；　in　the　case
supposed；　if　such　be　her　disposition；　since　you　think　you　cannot
aspire　to　become　her　husband。　　Her　favourite　you　are；　and　may
remain；　if　the　lady　at　Cumnor　place　continues　in　her　present
obscurity。〃

〃Poor　Amy！〃　　said　Leicester；　with　a　deep　sigh；　〃she　desires　so
earnestly　to　be　acknowledged　in　presence　of　God　and　man！〃

〃Ay；　but；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃is　her　desire　reasonable？　　That
is　the　question。　　Her　religious　scruples　are　solved；　she　is　an
honoured　and　beloved　wife；　enjoying　the　society　of　her　husband　at
such　times　as　his　weightier　duties　permit　him　to　afford　her　his
company。　　What　would　she　more？　　I　am　right　sure　that　a　lady　so
gentle　and　so　loving　would　consent　to　live　her　life　through　in　a
certain　obscuritywhich　is；　after　all；　not　dimmer　than　when　she
was　at　Lidcote　Hallrather　than　diminish　the　least　jot　of　her
lord's　honours　and　greatness　by　a　premature　attempt　to　share
them。〃

〃There　is　something　in　what　thou　sayest；〃　said　Leicester；　〃and
her　appearance　here　were　fatal。　　Yet　she　must　be　seen　at
Kenilworth；　Elizabeth　will　not　forget　that　she　has　so　appointed。〃

〃Let　me　sleep　on　that　hard　point；〃　said　Varney；　〃I　cannot　else
perfect　the　device　I　have　on　the　stithy；　which　I　trust　will
satisfy　the　Queen　and　please　my　honoured　lady；　yet　leave　this
fatal　secret　where　it　is　now　buried。　　Has　your　lordship　further
commands　for　the　night？〃

〃I　would　be　alone；〃　said　Leicester。　　〃Leave　me；　and　place　my
steel　casket　on　the　table。　　Be　within　summons。〃

Varney　retired；　and　the　Earl；　opening　the　window　of　his
apartment；　looked　out　long　and　anxiously　upon　the　brilliant　host
of　stars　which　glimmered　in　the　splendour　of　a　summer　firmament。
The　words　burst　from　him　as　at　unawares；　〃I　had　never　more　need
that　the　heavenly　bodies　should　befriend　me；　for　my　earthly　path
is　darkened　and　confused。〃

It　is　well　known　that　the　age　reposed　a　deep　confidence　in　the
vain　predictions　of　judicial　astrology；　and　Leicester；　though
exempt　from　the　general　control　of　superstition；　was　not　in　this
respect　superior　to　his　time；　but；　on　the　contrary；　was
remarkable　for　the　encouragement　which　he　gave　to　the　professors
of　this　pretended　science。　　Indeed；　the　wish　to　pry　into
futurity；　so　general　among　the　human　race；　is　peculiarly　to　be
found　amongst　those　who　trade　in　state　mysteries　and　the
dangerous　intrigues　and　cabals　of　courts。　　With　heedful
precaution　to　see　that　it　had　not　been　opened；　or　its　locks
tampered　with；　Leicester　applied　a　key　to　the　steel　casket；　and
drew　from　it；　first；　a　parcel　of　gold　pieces；　which　he　put　into　a
silk　purse；　then　a　parchment　inscribed　with　planetary　signs；　and
the　lines　and　calculations　used　in　framing　horoscopes；　on　which
he　gazed　intently　for　a　few　moments；　and；　lastly；　took　forth　a
large　key；　which；　lifting　aside　the　tapestry；　he　applied　to　a
little；　concealed　door　in　the　corner　of　the　apartment；　and
opening　it；　disclosed　a　stair　constructed　in　the　thickness　of　the
wall。

〃Alasco；〃　said　the　Earl；　with　a　voice　raised；　yet　no　higher
raised　than　to　be　heard　by　the　inhabitant　of　the　small　turret　to
which　the　stair　conducted〃Alasco；　I　say；　descend。〃

〃I　come；　my　lord；〃　answered　a　voice　from　above。　　The　foot　of　an
aged　man　was　heard　slowly　descending　the　narrow　stair；　and　Alasco
entered　the　Earl's　apartment。　　The　astrologer　was　a　little　man；
and　seemed　much　advanced　in　age；　for　his　heard　was　long　and
white；　and　reached　over　his　black　doublet　down　to　his　silken
girdle。　　His　hair　was　of　the　same　venerable　hue。　　But　his
eyebrows　were　as　dark　as　the　keen　and　piercing　black　eyes　which
they　shaded；　and　this　peculiarity　gave　a　wild　and　singular　cast
to　the　physiognomy　of　the　old　man。　　His　cheek　was　still　fresh　and
ruddy；　and　the　eyes　we　have　mentioned　resembled　those　of　a　rat　in
acuteness　and　even　fierceness　of　expression。　　His　manner　was　not
without　a　sort　of　dignity；　and　the　interpreter　of　the　stars；
though　respectful；　seemed　altogether　at　his　ease；　and　even
assumed　a　tone　of　instruction　and　command　in　conversing　with　the
prime　favourite　of　Elizabeth。

〃Your　prognostications　have　failed；　Alasco；〃　said　the　Earl；　when
they　had　exchanged　salutations〃he　is　recovering。〃

〃My　son；〃　replied　the　ast