按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that of Leicester seemed proportionally dismayed； and the
favourite himself； assuming an aspect of the deepest humility；
did not even attempt a word in his own esculpation。
He acted wisely； for it was the policy of Elizabeth to humble；
not to disgrace him； and it was prudent to suffer her； without
opposition or reply； to glory in the exertion of her authority。
The dignity of the Queen was gratified； and the woman began soon
to feel for the mortification which she had imposed on her
favourite。 Her keen eye also observed the secret looks of
congratulation exchanged amongst those who favoured Sussex； and
it was no part of her policy to give either party a decisive
triumph。
〃What I say to my Lord of Leicester；〃 she said； after a moment's
pause； 〃I say also to you； my Lord of Sussex。 You also must
needs ruffle in the court of England； at the head of a faction of
your own？〃
〃My followers； gracious Princess；〃 said Sussex； 〃have indeed
ruffled in your cause in Ireland； in Scotland； and against yonder
rebellious Earls in the north。 I am ignorant that〃
〃Do you bandy looks and words with me； my lord？〃 said the Queen；
interrupting him； 〃methinks you might learn of my Lord of
Leicester the modesty to be silent； at least； under our censure。
I say； my lord； that my grandfather and my father； in their
wisdom； debarred the nobles of this civilized land from
travelling with such disorderly retinues； and think you； that
because I wear a coif； their sceptre has in my hand been changed
into a distaff？ I tell you； no king in Christendom will less
brook his court to be cumbered； his people oppressed； and his
kingdom's peace disturbed； by the arrogance of overgrown power；
than she who now speaks with you。My Lord of Leicester； and you；
my Lord of Sussex； I command you both to be friends with each
other； or by the crown I wear； you shall find an enemy who will
be too strong for both of you！〃
〃Madam；〃 said the Earl of Leicester； 〃you who are yourself the
fountain of honour know best what is due to mine。 I place it at
your disposal； and only say that the terms on which I have stood
with my Lord of Sussex have not been of my seeking； nor had he
cause to think me his enemy； until he had done me gross wrong。〃
〃For me； madam；〃 said the Earl of Sussex； 〃I cannot appeal from
your sovereign pleasure； but I were well content my Lord of
Leicester should say in what I have； as he terms it； wronged him；
since my tongue never spoke the word that I would not willingly
justify either on foot or horseback。
〃And for me；〃 said Leicester； 〃always under my gracious
Sovereign's pleasure； my hand shall be as ready to make good my
words as that of any man who ever wrote himself Ratcliffe。〃
〃My lords；〃 said the Queen； 〃these are no terms for this
presence； and if you cannot keep your temper； we will find means
to keep both that and you close enough。 Let me see you join
hands； my lords； and forget your idle animosities。〃
The two rivals looked at each other with reluctant eyes； each
unwilling to make the first advance to execute the Queen's will。
〃Sussex；〃 said Elizabeth；〃I entreatLeicester； I command you。〃
Yet； so were her words accented； that the entreaty sounded like
command； and the command like entreaty。 They remained still and
stubborn； until she raised her voice to a height which argued at
once impatience and absolute command。
〃Sir Henry Lee；〃 she said； to an officer in attendance； 〃have a
guard in present readiness； and man a barge instantly。My Lords
of Sussex and Leicester； I bid you once more to join hands； and；
God's death！ he that refuses shall taste of our Tower fare ere
he sees our face again。 I will lower your proud hearts ere we
part； and that I promise； on the word of a Queen！〃
〃The prison？〃 said Leicester； 〃might be borne； but to lose your
Grace's presence were to lose light and life at once。Here；
Sussex； is my hand。〃
〃And here；〃 said Sussex； 〃is mine in truth and honesty； but〃
〃Nay； under favour； you shall add no more；〃 said the Queen。
〃Why； this is as it should be；〃 she added； looking on them more
favourably； 〃and when you the shepherds of the people； unite to
protect them； it shall be well with the flock we rule over。 For；
my lords； I tell you plainly； your follies and your brawls lead
to strange disorders among your servants。My Lord of Leicester；
you have a gentleman in your household called Varney？〃
〃Yes； gracious madam；〃 replied Leicester； 〃I presented him to
kiss your royal hand when you were last at Nonsuch。〃
〃His outside was well enough；〃 said the Queen； 〃but scarce so
fair； I should have thought； as to have caused a maiden of
honourable birth and hopes to barter her fame for his good looks；
and become his paramour。 Yet so it is； this fellow of yours hath
seduced the daughter of a good old Devonshire knight； Sir Hugh
Robsart of Lidcote Hall； and she hath fled with him from her
father's house like a castaway。My Lord of Leicester； are you
ill； that you look so deadly pale？〃
〃No； gracious madam；〃 said Leicester； and it required every
effort he could make to bring forth these few words。
〃You are surely ill； my lord？〃 said Elizabeth； going towards him
with hasty speech and hurried step； which indicated the deepest
concern。 〃Call Masterscall our surgeon in ordinary。Where be
these loitering fools？we lose the pride of our court through
their negligence。Or is it possible； Leicester；〃 she continued；
looking on him with a very gentle aspect； 〃can fear of my
displeasure have wrought so deeply on thee？ Doubt not for a
moment； noble Dudley； that we could blame THEE for the folly of
thy retainerthee； whose thoughts we know to be far otherwise
employed。 He that would climb the eagle's nest； my lord； cares
not who are catching linnets at the foot of the precipice。〃
〃Mark you that？〃 said Sussex aside to Raleigh。 〃The devil aids
him surely； for all that would sink another ten fathom deep seems
but to make him float the more easily。 Had a follower of mine
acted thus〃
〃Peace； my good lord；〃 said Raleigh； 〃for God's sake； peace！
Wait the change of the tide； it is even now on the turn。〃
The acute observation of Raleigh； perhaps； did not deceive him；
for Leicester's confusion was so great； and； indeed； for the
moment； so irresistibly overwhelming； that Elizabeth； after
looking at him with a wondering eye； and receiving no
intelligible answer to the unusual expressions of grace and
affection which had escaped from her； shot her quick glance
around the circle of courtiers； and reading； perhaps； in their
faces something that accorded with her own awakened suspicions；
she said suddenly； 〃Or is there more in this than we seeor than
you； my lord； wish that we should see？ Where is this Varney？
Who saw him？〃
〃An it please your Grace；〃 said Bowyer； 〃it is the same against
whom I this instant closed the door of the presence…room。〃
〃An it please me？〃 repeated Elizabeth sharply； not at that
moment in the humour of being pleased with anything。〃It does
NOT please me that he should pass saucily into my presence； or
that you should exclude from it one who came to justify himself
from an accusation。〃
〃May i