kenilworth-第86部分

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murmured　to　herself；　〃Were　it　possiblewere　it　BUT　possible！
but　nono；　Elizabeth　must　be　the　wife　and　mother　of　England
alone。〃

As　she　spoke　thus；　and　in　order　to　avoid　some　one　whose　step　she
heard　approaching；　the　Queen　turned　into　the　grotto　in　which　her
hapless；　and　yet　but　too　successful；　rival　lay　concealed。

The　mind　of　England's　Elizabeth；　if　somewhat　shaken　by　the
agitating　interview　to　which　she　had　just　put　a　period；　was　of
that　firm　and　decided　character　which　soon　recovers　its　natural
tone。　　It　was　like　one　of　those　ancient　Druidical　monuments
called　Rocking…stones。　　The　finger　of　Cupid；　boy　as　he　is
painted；　could　put　her　feelings　in　motion；　but　the　power　of
Hercules　could　not　have　destroyed　their　equilibrium。　　As　she
advanced　with　a　slow　pace　towards　the　inmost　extremity　of　the
grotto；　her　countenance；　ere　she　had　proceeded　half　the　length；
had　recovered　its　dignity　of　look；　and　her　mien　its　air　of
command。

It　was　then　the　Queen　became　aware　that　a　female　figure　was
placed　beside；　or　rather　partly　behind；　an　alabaster　column；　at
the　foot　of　which　arose　the　pellucid　fountain　which　occupied　the
inmost　recess　of　the　twilight　grotto。　　The　classical　mind　of
Elizabeth　suggested　the　story　of　Numa　and　Egeria；　and　she　doubted
not　that　some　Italian　sculptor　had　here　represented　the　Naiad
whose　inspirations　gave　laws　to　Rome。　　As　she　advanced；　she
became　doubtful　whether　she　beheld　a　statue；　or　a　form　of　flesh
and　blood。　　The　unfortunate　Amy；　indeed；　remained　motionless；
betwixt　the　desire　which　she　had　to　make　her　condition　known　to
one　of　her　own　sex；　and　her　awe　for　the　stately　form　which
approached　her；　and　which；　though　her　eyes　had　never　before
beheld；　her　fears　instantly　suspected　to　be　the　personage　she
really　was。　　Amy　had　arisen　from　her　seat　with　the　purpose　of
addressing　the　lady　who　entered　the　grotto　alone；　and；　as　she　at
first　thought；　so　opportunely。　　But　when　she　recollected　the
alarm　which　Leicester　had　expressed　at　the　Queen's　knowing　aught
of　their　union；　and　became　more　and　more　satisfied　that　the
person　whom　she　now　beheld　was　Elizabeth　herself；　she　stood　with
one　foot　advanced　and　one　withdrawn；　her　arms；　head；　and　hands
perfectly　motionless；　and　her　cheek　as　pallid　as　the　alabaster
pedestal　against　which　she　leaned。　　Her　dress　was　of　pale　sea…
green　silk；　little　distinguished　in　that　imperfect　light；　and
somewhat　resembled　the　drapery　of　a　Grecian　Nymph；　such　an
antique　disguise　having　been　thought　the　most　secure；　where　so
many　maskers　and　revellers　were　assembled；　so　that　the　Queen's
doubt　of　her　being　a　living　form　was　well　justified　by　all
contingent　circumstances；　as　well　as　by　the　bloodless　cheek　and
the　fixed　eye。

Elizabeth　remained　in　doubt；　even　after　she　had　approached　within
a　few　paces；　whether　she　did　not　gaze　on　a　statue　so　cunningly
fashioned　that　by　the　doubtful　light　it　could　not　be
distinguished　from　reality。　　She　stopped；　therefore；　and　fixed
upon　this　interesting　object　her　princely　look　with　so　much
keenness　that　the　astonishment　which　had　kept　Amy　immovable　gave
way　to　awe；　and　she　gradually　cast　down　her　eyes；　and　drooped　her
head　under　the　commanding　gaze　of　the　Sovereign。　　Still；　however；
she　remained　in　all　respects；　saving　this　slow　and　profound
inclination　of　the　head；　motionless　and　silent。

From　her　dress；　and　the　casket　which　she　instinctively　held　in
her　hand；　Elizabeth　naturally　conjectured　that　the　beautiful　but
mute　figure　which　she　beheld　was　a　performer　in　one　of　the
various　theatrical　pageants　which　had　been　placed　in　different
situations　to　surprise　her　with　their　homage；　and　that　the　poor
player；　overcome　with　awe　at　her　presence；　had　either　forgot　the
part　assigned　her；　or　lacked　courage　to　go　through　it。　　It　was
natural　and　courteous　to　give　her　some　encouragement；　and
Elizabeth　accordingly　said；　in　a；　tone　of　condescending　kindness；
〃How　now；　fair　Nymph　of　this　lovely　grotto；　art　thou　spell…bound
and　struck　with　dumbness　by　the　charms　of　the　wicked　enchanter
whom　men　term　Fear？　　We　are　his　sworn　enemy；　maiden；　and　can
reverse　his　charm。　　Speak；　we　command　thee。〃

Instead　of　answering　her　by　speech；　the　unfortunate　Countess
dropped　on　her　knee　before　the　Queen；　let　her　casket　fall　from
her　hand；　and　clasping　her　palms　together；　looked　up　in　the
Queen's　face　with　such　a　mixed　agony　of　fear　and　supplication；
that　Elizabeth　was　considerably　affected。

〃What　may　this　mean？〃　　she　said；　〃this　is　a　stronger　passion　than
befits　the　occasion。　　Stand　up；　damselwhat　wouldst　thou　have
with　us？〃

〃Your　protection；　madam；〃　faltered　forth　the　unhappy　petitioner。

〃Each　daughter　of　England　has　it　while　she　is　worthy　of　it；〃
replied　the　Queen；　〃but　your　distress　seems　to　have　a　deeper　root
than　a　forgotten　task。　　Why；　and　in　what；　do　you　crave　our
protection？〃

Amy　hastily　endeavoured　to　recall　what　she　were　best　to　say；
which　might　secure　herself　from　the　imminent　dangers　that
surrounded　her；　without　endangering　her　husband；　and　plunging
from　one　thought　to　another；　amidst　the　chaos　which　filled　her
mind；　she　could　at　length；　in　answer　to　the　Queen's　repeated
inquiries　in　what　she　sought　protection；　only　falter　out；　〃Alas！
I　know　not。〃

〃This　is　folly；　maiden；〃　said　Elizabeth　impatiently；　for　there
was　something　in　the　extreme　confusion　of　the　suppliant　which
irritated　her　curiosity；　as　well　as　interested　her　feelings。
〃The　sick　man　must　tell　his　malady　to　the　physician；　nor　are　WE
accustomed　to　ask　questions　so　oft　without　receiving　an　answer。〃

〃I　requestI　implore；〃　stammered　forth　the　unfortunate　Countess
〃I　beseech　your　gracious　protectionagainstagainst　one
Varney。〃　　She　choked　well…nigh　as　she　uttered　the　fatal　word；
which　was　instantly　caught　up　by　the　Queen。

〃What；　VarneySir　Richard　Varneythe　servant　of　Lord　Leicester！
what；　damsel；　are　you　to　him；　or　he　to　you？〃

〃IIwas　his　prisonerand　he　practised　on　my　lifeand　I　broke
forth　toto〃

〃To　throw　thyself　on　my　protection；　doubtless；〃　said　Elizabeth。
〃Thou　shalt　have　itthat　is；　if　thou　art　worthy；　for　we　will
sift　this　matter　to　the　uttermost。　　Thou　art；〃　she　said；　bending
on　the　Countess　an　eye　which　seemed　designed　to　pierce　her　very
inmost　soul〃thou　art　Amy；　daughter　of　Sir　Hugh　Robsart　of
Lidcote　Hall？〃

〃Forgive　meforgive　me；　most　gracious　Princess！〃　　said　Amy；
dropping　once　more　on　her　knee；　from　which　she　had　arisen。

〃For　what　should　I　forgive　thee；　silly　wench？〃　　said　Elizabeth；
〃for　being　the　daughter　of　thine　own　father？　　Thou　art　brain…
sick；　surely。　　Well　I　see　I　must　wring　the　story　from　thee　by
inches。　Thou　didst　deceive　thine　old　and　honoured　fatherthy
look　confesses　itcheated　Master　Tressilianthy　blush　avouches
itand　married　this　same　Varney。〃

Amy　sprung　on　her　feet；　and　interrupted　the　Queen　eagerly　with；
〃No；　madam；　no！　　as　there　is　a　God　above　us；　I　am　not　the　sordid
wretch　you　would　make　me！　　I　am　not　the　wife　of　that　contemptible
slaveof　that　most　deliberate　villain！　　I　am　not　the　wife　of
Varney！　　I　would　rather　be　the　bride　of　Destruction！〃

The　Queen；　overwhelmed　in　her　turn　by　Amy's　vehemence；　stood
silent　for　an　instant；　and　then　replied；　〃Why；　God　ha'　mercy；
woman！　　I　see　thou　canst　talk　fast　enough　when　the　theme　likes
thee。　　Nay；　tell　me；　woman；〃　she　continued；　for　to　the　impulse　of
curiosity　was　now　added　that　of　an　undefined　jealousy　that　some
deception　had　been　practised　on　her〃tell　me；　womanfor；　by
God's　day；　I　WILL　knowwhose　wife；　or　whose　paramour；　art　thou！
Speak　out；　and　be　speedy。　　Thou　wert　better　daily　with　a　lioness
than　with　Elizabeth。〃

Urged　to　this　extremity；　dragged　as　it　were　by　irresistible　force
to　the　verge　of　the　precipice　which　she　saw；　but　could　not　avoid
permitted　not　a　moment's　respite　by　the　eager　words　and
menacing　gestures　of　the　offended　Queen；　Amy　at　length　uttered　in
despair；　〃The　Earl　of　Leicester　knows　it　all。〃

〃The　Earl　of　Leicester！〃　　said　Elizabeth；　in　utter　astonishment。
〃The　Earl　of　Leicester！〃　　she　repeated　with　kindling　anger。
〃Woman；　thou　art　set　on　to　thisthou　dost　belie　himhe　takes　no
keep　of　such　things　as　thou　art。　　Thou　art　suborned　to　slander
the　noblest　lord　and　the　truest…hearted　gentleman　in　England！
But　were　he　the　right　hand　of　our　trust；　or　something　yet　dearer
to　us；　thou　shalt　have　thy　hearing；　and　that　in　his　presence。
Come　with　mecome　with　me　instantly！〃

As　Amy　shrunk　back　with　terror；　which　the　incensed　Queen
interpreted　as　that　of　conscious　guilt；　Elizabeth　rapidly
advanced；　seized　on　her　arm；　and　hastened　with　swift　and　long
steps　out　of　the　grotto；　and　along　the　principal　alley　of　the
Pleasance；　dragging　with　her　the　terrified　Countess；　whom　she
still　held　by　the　arm；　and　whose　utmost　exertions　could　but　just
keep　pace　with　those　of　the　indignant　Queen。

Leicester　was　at　this　moment　the　centre　of　a　splendid　group　of
lords　and　ladies；　assembled　together　under　an　arcade；　or　portico；
which　closed　the　alley。　　The　company　had　drawn　together　in　that
place；　to　attend　the　commands　of　her　Majesty　when　the　hunting…
party　should　go　forward；　and　their　astonishment　may　be　imagined
when；　instead　of　seeing　Elizabeth　advance　towards　them　with　her
usual　measured　dignity　of　motion；　they　beheld　her　walking　so
rapidly　that　she　was　in　the　midst　of　them　ere　they　were　aware；
and　then　observed；　with　fear　and　surprise；　that　her　features　were
flushed　betwixt　anger　and　agitation；　that　her　hair　was　loosened
by　her　haste　of　motion；　and　that　her　eyes　sparkled　as　they　were
wont　when　the　spirit　of　Henry　VIII。　　mounted　highest　in　his
daughter。　　Nor　were　they　less　astonished　at　the　appearance　of　the
pale；　attenuated；　half…dead；　yet　still　lovely　female；　whom　the
Queen　upheld　by　main　strength　with　one　hand；　while　with　the　other
she　waved　aside　the　ladies　and　nobles　who　pressed　towards　her；
under　the　idea　that　she　was　taken　suddenly　ill。　　〃Where　is　my
Lord　of　Leicester？〃　　she　said；　in　a　tone　that　thrilled　with
astonishment　all　the　courtiers　who　stood　around。　　〃Stand　forth；
my　Lord　of　Leicester！〃

If；　in　the　midst　of　the　most　serene　day　of　summer；　when　all　is
light　and　laughing　around；　a　thunderbolt　were　to　fall　from　the
clear　blue　vault　of　heaven；　and　rend　the　earth　at　the　very　feet
o