joan of naples- 第4部分

〃Long　live　the　King　of　Naples！〃

But　there　was　no　echo　to　his　cry；　and　Charles　of　Durazzo；　measuring　the　Dominican　with　a　terrible　look；　approached　the　queen；　and　taking　her　by　the　hand；　slid　back　the　curtains　of　the　balcony；　from　which　was　seen　the　square　and　the　town　of　Naples。　　So　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　there　stretched　an　immense　crowd；　illuminated　by　streams　of　light；　and　thousands　of　heads　were　turned　upward　towards　Castel　Nuovo　to　gather　any　news　that　might　be　announced。　　Charles　respectfully　drawing　back　and　indicating　his　fair　cousin　with　his　hand；　cried　out

〃People　of　Naples；　the　King　is　dead：　long　live　the　Queen！〃

〃Long　live　Joan；　（queen　of　Naples！〃　replied　the　people；　with　a　single　mighty　cry　that　resounded　through　every　quarter　of　the　town。

The　events　that　on　this　night　had　followed　each　other　with　the　rapidity　of　a　dream　had　produced　so　deep　an　impression　on　Joan's　mind；　that；　agitated　by　a　thousand　different　feelings；　she　retired　to　her　own　rooms；　and　shutting　herself　up　in　her　chamber；　gave　free　vent　to　her　grief。　　So　long　as　the　conflict　of　so　many　ambitions　waged　about　the　tomb；　the　young　queen；　refusing　every　consolation　that　was　offered　her；　wept　bitterly　for　the　death　of　her　grandfather；　who　had　loved　her　to　the　point　of　weakness。　　The　king　was　buried　with　all　solemnity　in　the　church　of　Santa　Chiara；　which　he　had　himself　founded　and　dedicated　to　the　Holy　Sacrament；　enriching　it　with　magnificent　frescoes　by　Giotto　and　other　precious　relics；　among　which　is　shown　still；　behind　the　tribune　of　the　high　altar；　two　columns　of　white　marble　taken　from　Solomon's　temple。　　There　still　lies　Robert；　represented　on　his　tomb　in　the　dress　of　a　king　and　in　a　monk's　frock；　on　the　right　of　the　monument　to　his　son　Charles；　the　Duke　of　Calabria。




CHAPTER　II

As　soon　as　the　obsequies　were　over；　Andre's　tutor　hastily　assembled　the　chief　Hungarian　lords；　and　it　was　decided　in　a　council　held　in　the　presence　of　the　prince　and　with　his　consent；　to　send　letters　to　his　mother；　Elizabeth　of　Poland；　and　his　brother；　Louis　of　Hungary；　to　make　known　to　them　the　purport　of　Robert's　will；　and　at　the　same　time　to　lodge　a　complaint　at　the　court　of　Avignon　against　the　conduct　of　the　princes　and　people　of　Naples　in　that　they　had　proclaimed　Joan　alone　Queen　of　Naples；　thus　overlooking　the　rights　of　her　husband；　and　further　to　demand　for　him　the　pope's　order　for　Andre's　coronation。　　Friar　Robert；　who　had　not　only　a　profound　knowledge　of　the　court　intrigues；　but　also　the　experience　of　a　philosopher　and　all　a　monk's　cunning；　told　his　pupil　that　he　ought　to　profit　by　the　depression　of　spirit　the　king's　death　had　produced　in　Joan；　and　ought　not　to　suffer　her　favourites　to　use　this　time　in　influencing　her　by　their　seductive　counsels。

But　Joan's　ability　to　receive　consolation　was　quite　as　ready　as　her　grief　had　at　first　been　impetuous　the　sobs　which　seemed　to　be　breaking　her　heart　ceased　all　at　once；　new　thoughts；　more　gentle；　less　lugubrious；　took　possession　of　the　young　queen's　mind；　the　trace　of　tears　vanished；　and　a　smile　lit　up　her　liquid　eyes　like　the　sun's　ray　following　on　rain。　　This　change；　anxiously　awaited；　was　soon　observed　by　Joan's　chamberwoman　：　she　stole　to　the　queen's　room；　and　falling　on　her　knees；　in　accents　of　flattery　and　affection；　she　offered　her　first　congratulations　to　her　lovely　mistress。　　Joan　opened　her　arms　and　held　her　in　a　long　embrace；　far　Dona　Cancha　was　far　more　to　her　than　a　lady…in…waiting；　she　was　the　companion　of　infancy；　the　depositary　of　all　her　secrets；　the　confidante　of　her　most　private　thoughts。　　One　had　but　to　glance　at　this　young　girl　to　understand　the　fascination　she　could　scarcely　fail　to　exercise　over　the　queen's　mind。　　She　had　a　frank　and　smiling　countenance；　such　as　inspires　confidence　and　captivates　the　mind　at　first　sight。　　Her　face　had　an　irresistible　charm；　with　clear　blue　eyes；　warm　golden　hair；　mouth　bewitchingly　turned　up　at　the　corners；　and　delicate　little　chin。　　Wild；　happy；　light　of　heart；　pleasure　and　love　were　the　breath　of　her　being；　her　dainty　refinement；　her　charming　inconstancies；　all　made　her　at　sixteen　as　lovely　as　an　angel；　though　at　heart　she　was　corrupt。　　The　whole　court　was　at　her　feet；　and　Joan　felt　more　affection　for　her　than　for　her　own　sister。

〃Well；　my　dear　Cancha；〃　she　murmured；　with　a　sigh；　〃you　find　me　very　sad　and　very　unhappy！〃

〃And　you　find　me；　fair　queen；〃　replied　the　confidante；　fixing　an　admiring　look　on　Joan；〃you　find　me　just　the　opposite；　very　happy　that　I　can　lay　at　your　feet　before　anyone　else　the　proof　of　the　joy　that　the　people　of　Naples　are　at　this　moment　feeling。　　Others　perhaps　may　envy　you　the　crown　that　shines　upon　your　brow；　the　throne　which　is　one　of　the　noblest　in　the　world；　the　shouts　of　this　entire　town　that　sound　rather　like　worship　than　homage；　but　I；　madam；　I　envy　you　your　lovely　black　hair；　your　dazzling　eyes；　your　more　than　mortal　grace；　which　make　every　man　adore　you。〃

〃And　yet　you　know；　my　Cancha；　I　am　much　to　be　pitied　both　as　a　queen　and　as　a　woman：　when　one　is　fifteen　a　crown　is　heavy　to　wear；　and　I　have　not　the　liberty　of　the　meanest　of　my　subjectsI　mean　in　my　affections；　for　before　I　reached　an　age　when　I　could　think　I　was　sacrificed　to　a　man　whom　I　can　never　love。〃

〃Yet；　madam；〃　replied　Cancha　in　a　more　insinuating　voice；　〃　in　this　court　there　is　a　young　cavalier　who　might　by　virtue　of　respect；　love；　and　devotion　have　made　you　forget　the　claims　of　this　foreigner；　alike　unworthy　to　be　our　king　and　to　be　your　husband。〃

The　queen　heaved　a　heavy　sigh。

〃When　did　you　lose　your　skill　to　read　my　heart？〃　she　cried。　　〃Must　I　actually　tell　you　that　this　love　is　making　me　wretched？　　True；　at　the　very　first　this　unsanctioned　love　was　a　keen　joy：　a　new　life　seemed　to　wake　within　my　heart；　I　was　drawn　on；　fascinated　by　the　prayers；　the　tears；　and　the　despair　of　this　man；　by　the　opportunities　that　his　mother　so　easily　granted；　she　whom　I　had　always　looked　upon　as　my　own　mother；　I　have　loved　him。。。。　　O　my　God；　I　am　still　so　young；　and　my　past　is　so　unhappy。　　At　times　strange　thoughts　come　into　my　mind：　I　fancy　he　no　longer　loves　me；　that　he　never　did　love　me；　I　fancy　he　has　been　led　on　by　ambition；　by　self…interest；　by　some　ignoble　motive；　and　has　only　feigned　a　feeling　that　he　has　never　really　felt。　I　feel　myself　a　coldness　I　cannot　account　for；　in　his　presence　I　am　constrained；　I　am　troubled　by　his　look；　his　voice　makes　me　tremble：　I　fear　him；　I　would　sacrifice　a　year　of　my　life　could　I；　never　have　listened　to　him。〃

These　words　seemed　to　touch　the　young　confidante　to　the　very　depths　of　her　soul；　a　shade　of　sadness　crossed　her　brow；　her　eyelids　dropped；　and　for　some　time　she　answered　nothing；　showing　sorrow　rather　than　surprise。　　Then；　lifting　her　head　gently；　she　said；　with　visible　embarrassment

〃I　should　never　have　dared　to　pass　so　severe　a　judgment　upon　a　man　whom　my　sovereign　lady　has　raised　above　other　men　by　casting　upon　him　a　look　of　kindness；　but　if　Robert　of　Cabane　has　deserved　the　reproach　of　inconstancy　and　ingratitude；　if　he　has　perjured　himself　like　a　coward；　he　must　indeed　be　the　basest　of　all　miserable　beings；　despising　a　happiness　which　other　men　might　have　entreated　of　God　the　whole　time　of　their　life　and　paid　for　through　eternity。　　One　man　I　know；　who　weeps　both　night　and　day　without　hope　or　consolation；　consumed　by　a　slow　and　painful　malady；　when　one　word　might　yet　avail　to　save　him；　did　it　come　from　the　lips　of　my　noble　mistress。〃

〃I　will　not　hear　another　word；〃　cried　Joan；　suddenly　rising；　〃there　shall　be　no　new　cause　for　remorse　in　my　life。　　Trouble　has　come　upon　me　through　my　loves；　both　lawful　and　criminal；　alas！　no　longer　will　I　try　to　control　my　awful　fate；　I　will　bow　my　head　without　a　murmur。　I　am　the　queen；　and　I　must　yield　myself　up　for　the　good　of　my　subjects。〃

〃Will　you　forbid　me；　madam；〃　replied　Dona　Cancha　in　a　kind；　affectionate　tone〃will　you　forbid　me　to　name　Bertrand　of　Artois　in　your　presence；　that　unhappy　man；　with　the　beauty　of　an　angel　and　the　modesty　of　a　girl？　　Now　that　you　are　queen　and　have　the　life　and　death　of　your　subjects　in　your　own　keeping；　will　you　feel　no　kindness　towards　an　unfortunate　one　whose　only　fault　is　to　adore　you；　who　strives　with　all　his　mind　and　strength　to　bear　a　chance　look　of　yours　without　dying　of　his　joy？〃

〃I　have　struggled　hard　never　to　look　on　him；〃　cried　the　queen；　urged　by　an　impulse　she　was　not　strong　enough　to　conquer：　then；　to　efface　the　impression　that　might　well　have　been　made　on　her　friend's　mind；　she　added　severely；　〃I　forbid　you　to　pronounce　his　name　before　me；　and　if　he　should　ever　venture　to　complain；　I　bid　you　tell　him　from　me　that　the　first　time　I　even　suspect　the　cause　of　his　distress　he　will　be　banished　for　ever　from　my　presence。〃

〃Ah；　madam；　dismiss　me　also；　for　I　shall　never　be　strong　enough　to　do　so　hard　a　bidding：　the　unhappy　man　who　cannot　awake　in　your　heart　so　much　as　a　feeling　of　pity　may　now　be　struck　down　by　yourself　in　your　wrath；　for　here　he　stands；　he　has　heard　your　sentence；　and　come　to　die　at　your　feet。〃

The　last　words　were　spoken　in　a　louder　voice；　so　that　they　might　be　heard　from　outside；　and　Bertrand　of　Artois　came　hurriedly　into　the　room　and　fell　on　his　knees　before　the　queen。　　For　a　long　time　pas