kenilworth-第51部分

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

〃My　son；〃　replied　the　astrologer；　〃let　me　remind　you　I　warranted
not　his　death；　nor　is　there　any　prognostication　that　can　be
derived　from　the　heavenly　bodies；　their　aspects　and　their
conjunctions；　which　is　not　liable　to　be　controlled　by　the　will　of
Heaven。　　ASTRA　REGUNT　HOMINES；　SED　REGIT　ASTRA　DEUS。〃

〃Of　what　avail；　then；　is　your　mystery？〃　　inquired　the　Earl。

〃Of　much；　my　son；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃since　it　can　show　the
natural　and　probable　course　of　events；　although　that　course　moves
in　subordination　to　an　Higher　Power。　　Thus；　in　reviewing　the
horoscope　which　your　Lordship　subjected　to　my　skill；　you　will
observe　that　Saturn；　being　in　the　sixth　House　in　opposition　to
Mars；　retrograde　in　the　House　of　Life；　cannot　but　denote　long　and
dangerous　sickness；　the　issue　whereof　is　in　the　will　of　Heaven；
though　death　may　probably　be　inferred。　　Yet　if　I　knew　the　name　of
the　party　I　would　erect　another　scheme。〃

〃His　name　is　a　secret；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃yet；　I　must　own；　thy
prognostication　hath　not　been　unfaithful。　　He　has　been　sick；　and
dangerously　so；　not；　however；　to　death。　　But　hast　thou　again　cast
my　horoscope　as　Varney　directed　thee；　and　art　thou　prepared　to
say　what　the　stars　tell　of　my　present　fortune？〃

〃My　art　stands　at　your　command；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃and　here；　my
son；　is　the　map　of　thy　fortunes；　brilliant　in　aspect　as　ever
beamed　from　those　blessed　signs　whereby　our　life　is　influenced；
yet　not　unchequered　with　fears；　difficulties；　and　dangers。〃

〃My　lot　were　more　than　mortal　were　it　otherwise；〃　said　the　Earl。
〃Proceed；　father；　and　believe　you　speak　with　one　ready　to　undergo
his　destiny　in　action　and　in　passion　as　may　beseem　a　noble　of
England。〃

〃Thy　courage　to　do　and　to　suffer　must　be　wound　up　yet　a　strain
higher；〃　said　the　old　man。　　〃The　stars　intimate　yet　a　prouder
title；　yet　an　higher　rank。　　It　is　for　thee　to　guess　their
meaning；　not　for　me　to　name　it。〃

〃Name　it；　I　conjure　youname　it；　I　command　you！〃　　said　the　Earl；
his　eyes　brightening　as　he　spoke。

〃I　may　not；　and　I　will　not；〃　replied　the　old　man。　　〃The　ire　of
princes　Is　as　the　wrath　of　the　lion。　　But　mark；　and　judge　for
thyself。　　Here　Venus；　ascendant　in　the　House　of　Life；　and
conjoined　with　Sol；　showers　down　that　flood　of　silver　light；
blent　with　gold；　which　promises　power；　wealth；　dignity；　all　that
the　proud　heart　of　man　desires；　and　in　such　abundance　that　never
the　future　Augustus　of　that　old　and　mighty　Rome　heard　from　his
HARUSPICES　such　a　tale　of　glory；　as　from　this　rich　text　my　lore
might　read　to　my　favourite　son。〃

〃Thou　dost　but　jest　with　me；　father；〃　said　the　Earl；　astonished
at　the　strain　of　enthusiasm　in　which　the　astrologer　delivered　his
prediction。

〃Is　it　for　him　to　jest　who　hath　his　eye　on　heaven；　who　hath　his
foot　in　the　grave？〃　　returned　the　old　man　solemnly。

The　Earl　made　two　or　three　strides　through　the　apartment；　with
his　hand　outstretched；　as　one　who　follows　the　beckoning　signal　of
some　phantom；　waving　him　on　to　deeds　of　high　import。　　As　he
turned；　however；　he　caught　the　eye　of　the　astrologer　fixed　on
him；　while　an　observing　glance　of　the　most　shrewd　penetration
shot　from　under　the　penthouse　of　his　shaggy；　dark　eyebrows。
Leicester's　haughty　and　suspicious　soul　at　once　caught　fire。　　He
darted　towards　the　old　man　from　the　farther　end　of　the　lofty
apartment；　only　standing　still　when　his　extended　hand　was　within
a　foot　of　the　astrologer's　body。

〃Wretch！〃　　he　said；　〃if　you　dare　to　palter　with　me；　I　will　have
your　skin　stripped　from　your　living　flesh！　　Confess　thou　hast
been　hired　to　deceive　and　to　betray　methat　thou　art　a　cheat；
and　I　thy　silly　prey　and　booty！〃

The　old　man　exhibited　some　symptoms　of　emotion；　but　not　more　than
the　furious　deportment　of　his　patron　might　have　extorted　from
innocence　itself。

〃What　means　this　violence；　my　lord？〃　　he　answered；　〃or　in　what
can　I　have　deserved　it　at　your　hand？〃

〃Give　me　proof；〃　said　the　Earl　vehemently；　〃that　you　have　not
tampered　with　mine　enemies。〃

〃My　lord；〃　replied　the　old　man；　with　dignity；　〃you　can　have　no
better　proof　than　that　which　you　yourself　elected。　　In　that
turret　I　have　spent　the　last　twenty…four　hours　under　the　key
which　has　been　in　your　own　custody。　　The　hours　of　darkness　I　have
spent　in　gazing　on　the　heavenly　bodies　with　these　dim　eyes；　and
during　those　of　light　I　have　toiled　this　aged　brain　to　complete
the　calculation　arising　from　their　combinations。　　Earthly　food　I
have　not　tastedearthly　voice　I　have　not　heard。　　You　are
yourself　aware　I　had　no　means　of　doing　so；　and　yet　I　tell　youI
who　have　been　thus　shut　up　in　solitude　and　studythat　within
these　twenty…four　hours　your　star　has　become　predominant　in　the
horizon；　and　either　the　bright　book　of　heaven　speaks　false；　or
there　must　have　been　a　proportionate　revolution　in　your　fortunes
upon　earth。　　If　nothing　has　happened　within　that　space　to　secure
your　power；　or　advance　your　favour；　then　am　I　indeed　a　cheat；　and
the　divine　art；　which　was　first　devised　in　the　plains　of　Chaldea；
is　a　foul　imposture。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Leicester；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　〃thou
wert　closely　immured；　and　it　is　also　true　that　the　change　has
taken　place　in　my　situation　which　thou　sayest　the　horoscope
indicates。〃

〃Wherefore　this　distrust　then；　my　son？〃　　said　the　astrologer；
assuming　a　tone　of　admonition；　〃the　celestial　intelligences　brook
not　diffidence；　even　in　their　favourites。〃

〃Peace；　father；〃　answered　Leicester；　〃I　have　erred　in　doubting
thee。　　Not　to　mortal　man；　nor　to　celestial　intelligenceunder
that　which　is　supremewill　Dudley's　lips　say　more　in
condescension　or　apology。　　Speak　rather　to　the　present　purpose。
Amid　these　bright　promises　thou　hast　said　there　was　a　threatening
aspect。　　Can　thy　skill　tell　whence；　or　by　whose　means；　such
danger　seems　to　impend？〃

〃Thus　far　only；〃　answered　the　astrologer；　〃does　my　art　enable　me
to　answer　your　query。　　The　infortune　is　threatened　by　the
malignant　and　adverse　aspect；　through　means　of　a　youth；　and；　as　I
think；　a　rival；　but　whether　in　love　or　in　prince's　favour；　I　know
not　nor　can　I　give　further　indication　respecting　him；　save　that
he　comes　from　the　western　quarter。〃

〃The　westernha！〃　　replied　Leicester；　〃it　is　enoughthe　tempest
does　indeed　brew　in　that　quarter！　　Cornwall　and　DevonRaleigh
and　Tressilianone　of　them　is　indicated…I　must　beware　of　both。
Father；　if　I　have　done　thy　skill　injustice；　I　will　make　thee　a
lordly　recompense。〃

He　took　a　purse　of　gold　from　the　strong　casket　which　stood　before
him。　　〃Have　thou　double　the　recompense　which　Varney　promised。　　Be
faithfulbe　secretobey　the　directions　thou　shalt　receive　from
my　master　of　the　horse；　and　grudge　not　a　little　seclusion　or
restraint　in　my　causeit　shall　be　richly　considered。Here；
Varneyconduct　this　venerable　man　to　thine　own　lodging；　tend　him
heedfully　in　all　things；　but　see　that　he　holds　communication　with
no　one。

Varney　bowed；　and　the　astrologer　kissed　the　Earl's　hand　in　token
of　adieu；　and　followed　the　master　of　the　horse　to　another
apartment；　in　which　were　placed　wine　and　refreshments　for　his
use。

The　astrologer　sat　down　to　his　repast；　while　Varney　shut　two
doors　with　great　precaution；　examined　the　tapestry；　lest　any
listener　lurked　behind　it；　and　then　sitting　down　opposite　to　the
sage；　began　to　question　him。

〃Saw　you　my　signal　from　the　court　beneath？〃

〃I　did；〃　said　Alasco；　for　by　such　name　he　was　at　present　called；
〃and　shaped　the　horoscope　accordingly。〃

〃And　it　passed　upon　the　patron　without　challenge？〃　　continued
Varney。

〃Not　without　challenge；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃but　it　did　pass；
and　I　added；　as　before　agreed；　danger　from　a　discovered　secret；
and　a　western　youth。〃

〃My　lord's　fear　will　stand　sponsor　to　the　one；　and　his　conscience
to　the　other；　of　these　prognostications；〃　replied　Varney。　　〃Sure
never　man　chose　to　run　such　a　race　as　his；　yet　continued　to
retain　those　silly　scruples！　　I　am　fain　to　cheat　him　to　his　own
profit。　　But　touching　your　matters；　sage　interpreter　of　the
stars；　I　can　tell　you　more　of　your　own　fortune　than　plan　or
figure　can　show。　　You　must　be　gone　from　hence　forthwith。〃

〃I　will　not；〃　said　Alasco　peevishly。　　〃I　have　been　too　much
hurried　up　and　down　of　lateimmured　for　day　and　night　in　a
desolate　turret…chamber。　　I　must　enjoy　my　liberty；　and　pursue　my
studies；　which　are　of　more　import　than　the　fate　of　fifty
statesmen　and　favourites　that　rise　and　burst　like　bubbles　in　the
atmosphere　of　a　court。〃

〃At　your　pleasure；〃　said　Varney；　with　a　sneer　that　habit　had
rendered　familiar　to　his　features；　and　which　forms　the　principal
characteristic　which　painters　have　assigned　to　that　of　Satan〃at
your　pleasure；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　enjoy　your　liberty　and　your
studies　until　the　daggers　of　Sussex's　followers　are　clashing
within　your　doublet　and　against　your　ribs。〃　　The　old　man　turned
pale；　and　Varney　proceeded。　　〃Wot　you　not　he　hath　offered　a
reward　for　the　arch…quack　and　poison…vender；　Demetrius；　who　sold
certain　precious　spices　to　his　lordship's　cook？　　What！　　turn　you
pale；　old　friend？　　Does　Hali　already　see　an　infortune　in　the
House　of　Life？　　Why；　hark　thee；　we　will　have　thee　down　to　an　old
house　of　mine　in　the　country；　where　thou　shalt　live　with　a
hobnailed　slave；　whom　thy　alchemy　may　convert　into　ducats；　for　to
such　conversion　alone　is　thy　art　serviceable。〃

〃It　is　false；　thou　foul…mouthed　railer；〃　said　Alasco；　shaking
with　impotent　anger；　〃it　is　well　known　that　I　have　approached
more　nearly　to　projection　than　any　hermetic　artist　who　now　lives。
There　are　not　six　chemists　in　the　world　who　possess　so　near　an
approximation　to　the　grand　arcanum〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　Varney；　interrupting　him；　〃what　means　this；　in
the　name　of　Heaven？　　Do　we　not　know　one　another？　　I　believe　thee
to　be　so　perfectso　very　perfectin　the　mystery　of　cheating；
that；　having　imposed　upon　all　mankind；　thou　hast　at　length　in
some　measure　imposed　upon　thyself；　and　without　ceasing　to　dupe
others；　hast　become　a　species　of　dupe　to　thine　own　imagination。
Blush　not　for　it；　manthou　art　learned；　and　shalt　have　classical
comfort：

　　'Ne　quisquam　Ajacem　possit　supera