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will lay our noble lord in a noble green grave； have a blow at
those who have hurried him thither； if opportunity suits； and
then sail for the Indies with heavy hearts and light purses。〃
〃It may be；〃 said Tressilian； 〃that I will embrace the same
purpose； so soon as I have settled some business at court。〃
〃Thou business at court！〃 they both exclaimed at once； 〃and thou
make the Indian voyage！〃
〃Why； Tressilian；〃 said the younger man； 〃art thou not wedded；
and beyond these flaws of fortune； that drive folks out to sea
when their bark bears fairest for the haven？ What has become of
the lovely Indamira that was to match my Amoret for truth and
beauty？〃
〃Speak not of her！〃 said Tressilian； averting his face。
〃Ay； stands it so with you？〃 said the youth； taking his hand
very affectionately； 〃then； fear not I will again touch the green
wound。 But it is strange as well as sad news。 Are none of our
fair and merry fellowship to escape shipwreck of fortune and
happiness in this sudden tempest？ I had hoped thou wert in
harbour； at least； my dear Edmund。 But truly says another dear
friend of thy name；
'What man that sees the ever whirling wheel
Of Chance； the which all mortal things doth sway；
But that thereby doth find and plainly feel；
How Mutability in them doth play
Her cruel sports to many men's decay。'〃
The elder gentleman had risen from his bench； and was pacing the
hall with some impatience； while the youth； with much earnestness
and feeling； recited these lines。 When he had done； the other
wrapped himself in his cloak； and again stretched himself down；
saying； 〃I marvel； Tressilian； you will feed the lad in this
silly humour。 If there were ought to draw a judgment upon a
virtuous and honourable household like my lord's； renounce me if
I think not it were this piping； whining； childish trick of
poetry； that came among us with Master Walter Wittypate here and
his comrades； twisting into all manner of uncouth and
incomprehensible forms of speech； the honest plain English phrase
which God gave us to express our meaning withal。〃
〃Blount believes；〃 said his comrade； laughing； 〃the devil woo'd
Eve in rhyme； and that the mystic meaning of the Tree of
Knowledge refers solely to the art of clashing rhymes and meting
out hexameters。〃 ＇See Note 4。 Sir Walter Raleigh。＇
At this moment the Earl's chamberlain entered； and informed
Tressilian that his lord required to speak with him。
He found Lord Sussex dressed； but unbraced； and lying on his
couch； and was shocked at the alteration disease had made in his
person。 The Earl received him with the most friendly cordiality；
and inquired into the state of his courtship。 Tressilian evaded
his inquiries for a moment； and turning his discourse on the
Earl's own health； he discovered； to his surprise； that the
symptoms of his disorder corresponded minutely with those which
Wayland had predicated concerning it。 He hesitated not；
therefore； to communicate to Sussex the whole history of his
attendant； and the pretensions he set up to cure the disorder
under which he laboured。 The Earl listened with incredulous
attention until the name of Demetrius was mentioned； and then
suddenly called to his secretary to bring him a certain casket
which contained papers of importance。 〃Take out from thence；〃 he
said； 〃the declaration of the rascal cook whom we had under
examination； and look heedfully if the name of Demetrius be not
there mentioned。〃
The secretary turned to the passage at once； and read； 〃And said
declarant； being examined； saith； That he remembers having made
the sauce to the said sturgeon…fish； after eating of which the
said noble Lord was taken ill； 〃and he put the usual ingredients
and condiments therein； namely〃
〃Pass over his trash；〃 said the Earl； 〃and see whether he had not
been supplied with his materials by a herbalist called
Demetrius。〃
〃It is even so；〃 answered the secretary。 〃And he adds； he has
not since seen the said Demetrius。〃
〃This accords with thy fellow's story； Tressilian；〃 said the
Earl； 〃call him hither。〃
On being summoned to the Earl's presence； Wayland Smith told his
former tale with firmness and consistency。
〃It may be；〃 said the Earl； 〃thou art sent by those who have
begun this work； to end it for them； but bethink； if I miscarry
under thy medicine； it may go hard with thee。〃
〃That were severe measure；〃 said Wayland； 〃since the issue of
medicine； and the end of life； are in God's disposal。 But I will
stand the risk。 I have not lived so long under ground to be
afraid of a grave。〃
〃Nay； if thou be'st so confident；〃 said the Earl of Sussex； 〃I
will take the risk too； for the learned can do nothing for me。
Tell me how this medicine is to be taken。〃
〃That will I do presently；〃 said Wayland； 〃but allow me to
condition that； since I incur all the risk of this treatment； no
other physician shall be permitted to interfere with it。〃
〃That is but fair；〃 replied the Earl； 〃and now prepare your
drug。〃
While Wayland obeyed the Earl's commands； his servants； by the
artist's direction； undressed their master； and placed him in
bed。
〃I warn you；〃 he said； 〃that the first operation of this medicine
will be to produce a heavy sleep； during which time the chamber
must be kept undisturbed； as the consequences may otherwise he
fatal。 I myself will watch by the Earl with any of the gentlemen
of his chamber。〃
〃Let all leave the room； save Stanley and this good fellow；〃 said
the Earl。
〃And saving me also；〃 said Tressilian。 〃I too am deeply
interested in the effects of this potion。〃
〃Be it so； good friend；〃 said the Earl。 〃And now for our
experiment； but first call my secretary and chamberlain。〃
〃Bear witness；〃 he continued； when these officers arrived〃bear
witness for me； gentlemen； that our honourable friend Tressilian
is in no way responsible for the effects which this medicine may
produce upon me； the taking it being my own free action and
choice； in regard I believe it to be a remedy which God has
furnished me by unexpected means to recover me of my present
malady。 Commend me to my noble and princely Mistress； and say
that I live and die her true servant； and wish to all about her
throne the same singleness of heart and will to serve her； with
more ability to do so than hath been assigned to poor Thomas
Ratcliffe。〃
He then folded his hands； and seemed for a second or two absorbed
in mental devotion； then took the potion in his hand； and；
pausing； regarded Wayland with a look that seemed designed to
penetrate his very soul； but which caused no anxiety or
hesitation in the countenance or manner of the artist。
〃Here is nothing to be feared；〃 said Sussex to Tressilian； and
swallowed the medicine without further hesitation
〃I am now to pray your lordship；〃 said Wayland； 〃to dispose
yourself to rest as commodiously as you can； and of you；
gentlemen； to remain as still and mute as if you waited at your
mother's deathbed。〃
The chamberlain and secretary then withdrew； giving orders that
all doors should be bolted； and all noise in the house strictly
prohibited。 Several gentlemen were voluntary wat