This preliminary statement is necessary； to render what follows
intelligible to the reader。 ＇See Note 3。 Leicester and Sussex。＇
On Tressilian's arrival at Sayes Court； he found the place filled
with the retainers of the Earl of Sussex； and of the gentlemen
who came to attend their patron in his illness。 Arms were in
every hand； and a deep gloom on every countenance； as if they had
apprehended an immediate and violent assault from the opposite
faction。 In the hall； however； to which Tressilian was ushered
by one of the Earl's attendants； while another went to inform
Sussex of his arrival； he found only two gentlemen in waiting。
There was a remarkable contrast in their dress； appearance； and
manners。 The attire of the elder gentleman； a person as it
seemed of quality and in the prime of life； was very plain and
soldierlike； his stature low； his limbs stout； his bearing
ungraceful； and his features of that kind which express sound
common sense； without a grain of vivacity or imagination。 The
younger； who seemed about twenty； or upwards； was clad in the
gayest habit used by persons of quality at the period； wearing a
crimson velvet cloak richly ornamented with lace and embroidery；
with a bonnet of the same； encircled with a gold chain turned
three times round it； and secured by a medal。 His hair was
adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentlemen of our own
timethat is； it was combed upwards； and made to stand as it
were on end； and in his ears he wore a pair of silver earrings；
having each a pearl of considerable size。 The countenance of
this youth； besides being regularly handsome and accompanied by a
fine person； was animated and striking in a degree that seemed to
speak at once the firmness of a decided and the fire of an
enterprising character； the power of reflection； and the
promptitude of determination。
Both these gentlemen reclined nearly in the same posture on
benches near each other； but each seeming engaged in his own
meditations； looked straight upon the wall which was opposite to
them； without speaking to his companion。 The looks of the elder
were of that sort which convinced the beholder that； in looking
on the wall； he saw no more than the side of an old hall hung
around with cloaks； antlers； bucklers； old pieces of armour；
partisans； and the similar articles which were usually the
furniture of such a place。 The look of the younger gallant had
in it something imaginative； he was sunk in reverie； and it
seemed as if the empty space of air betwixt him and the wall were
the stage of a theatre on which his fancy was mustering his own
DRAMATIS PERSONAE； and treating him with sights far different
from those which his awakened and earthly vision could have
offered。
At the entrance of Tressilian both started from their musing； and
made him welcomethe younger； in particular； with great
appearance of animation and cordiality。
〃Thou art welcome； Tressilian；〃 said the youth。 〃Thy philosophy
stole thee from us when this household had objects of ambition to
offer； it is an honest philosophy； since it returns thee to us
when there are only dangers to be shared。〃
〃Is my lord； then； so greatly indisposed？〃 said Tressilian。
〃We fear the very worst；〃 answered the elder gentleman； 〃and by
the worst practice。〃
〃Fie；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃my Lord of Leicester is honourable。〃
〃What doth he with such attendants； then； as he hath about him？〃
said the younger gallant。 〃The man who raises the devil may be
honest； but he is answerable for the mischief which the fiend
does； for all that。〃
〃And is this all of you； my mates；〃 inquired Tressilian； 〃that
are about my lord in his utmost straits？〃
〃No； no；〃 replied the elder gentleman； 〃there are Tracy； Markham；
and several more； but we keep watch here by two at once； and some
are weary and are sleeping in the gallery above。〃
〃And some；〃 said the young man；〃 are gone down to the Dock yonder
at Deptford； to look out such a hull； as they may purchase by
clubbing their broken fortunes； and as soon as all is over； we
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