kenilworth- 第44部分

〃I　have　nothing　to　say　to　that；〃　answered　the　messenger；　〃my
orders　are　directly　from　her　Majesty；　and　concern　this　gentleman
only。〃

So　saying；　he　walked　away；　followed　by　Walter；　leaving　the　others
behind；　Blount's　eyes　almost　starting　from　his　head　with　the
excess　of　his　astonishment。　　At　length　he　gave　vent　to　it　in　an
exclamation；　〃Who　the　good　jere　would　have　thought　this！〃　　And
shaking　his　head　with　a　mysterious　air；　he　walked　to　his　own
boat；　embarked；　and　returned　to　Deptford。

The　young　cavalier　was　in　the　meanwhile　guided　to　the　water…side
by　the　Pensioner；　who　showed　him　considerable　respect；　a
circumstance　which；　to　persons　in　his　situation；　may　be
considered　as　an　augury　of　no　small　consequence。　　He　ushered　him
into　one　of　the　wherries　which　lay　ready　to　attend　the　Queen's
barge；　which　was　already　proceeding；　up　the　river；　with　the
advantage　of　that　flood…tide　of　which；　in　the　course　of　their
descent；　Blount　had　complained　to　his　associates。

The　two　rowers　used　their　oars　with　such　expedition　at　the　signal
of　the　Gentleman　Pensioner；　that　they　very　soon　brought　their
little　skiff　under　the　stern　of　the　Queen's　boat；　where　she　sat
beneath　an　awning；　attended　by　two　or　three　ladies；　and　the
nobles　of　her　household。　　She　looked　more　than　once　at　the　wherry
in　which　the　young　adventurer　was　seated；　spoke　to　those　around
her；　and　seemed　to　laugh。　　At　length　one　of　the　attendants；　by
the　Queen's　order　apparently；　made　a　sign　for　the　wherry　to　come
alongside；　and　the　young　man　was　desired　to　step　from　his　own
skiff　into　the　Queen's　barge；　which　he　performed　with　graceful
agility　at　the　fore　part　of　the　boat；　and　was　brought　aft　to　the
Queen's　presence；　the　wherry　at　the　same　time　dropping　into　the
rear。　　The　youth　underwent　the　gaze　of　Majesty；　not　the　less
gracefully　that　his　self…possession　was　mingled　with
embarrassment。　　The　muddled　cloak　still　hung　upon　his　arm；　and
formed　the　natural　topic　with　which　the　Queen　introduced　the
conversation。

〃You　have　this　day　spoiled　a　gay　mantle　in　our　behalf；　young　man。
We　thank　you　for　your　service；　though　the　manner　of　offering　it
was　unusual；　and　something　bold。〃

〃In　a　sovereign's　need；〃　answered　the　youth；　〃it　is　each　liege…
man's　duty　to　be　bold。〃

〃God's　pity！　　that　was　well　said；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Queen；
turning　to　a　grave　person　who　sat　by　her；　and　answered　with　a
grave　inclination　of　the　head；　and　something　of　a　mumbled
assent。〃Well；　young　man；　your　gallantry　shall　not　go
unrewarded。　　Go　to　the　wardrobe　keeper；　and　he　shall　have　orders
to　supply　the　suit　which　you　have　cast　away　in　our　service。　　Thou
shalt　have　a　suit；　and　that　of　the　newest　cut；　I　promise　thee；　on
the　word　of　a　princess。〃

〃May　it　please　your　Grace；〃　said　Walter；　hesitating；　〃it　is　not
for　so　humble　a　servant　of　your　Majesty　to　measure　out　your
bounties；　but　if　it　became　me　to　choose〃

〃Thou　wouldst　have　gold；　I　warrant　me；〃　said　the　Queen；
interrupting　him。　　〃Fie；　young　man！　　I　take　shame　to　say　that　in
our　capital　such　and　so　various　are　the　means　of　thriftless
folly；　that　to　give　gold　to　youth　is　giving　fuel　to　fire；　and
furnishing　them　with　the　means　of　self…destruction。　　If　I　live
and　reign；　these　means　of　unchristian　excess　shall　be　abridged。
Yet　thou　mayest　be　poor；〃　she　added；　〃or　thy　parents　may　be。　　It
shall　be　gold；　if　thou　wilt；　but　thou　shalt　answer　to　me　for　the
use　on't。〃

Walter　waited　patiently　until　the　Queen　had　done；　and　then
modestly　assured　her　that　gold　was　still　less　in　his　wish　than
the　raiment　her　Majesty　had　before　offered。

〃How；　boy！〃　　said　the　Queen；　〃neither　gold　nor　garment？　　What　is
it　thou　wouldst　have　of　me；　then？〃

〃Only　permission；　madamif　it　is　not　asking　too　high　an　honour
permission　to　wear　the　cloak　which　did　you　this　trifling
service。〃

〃Permission　to　wear　thine　own　cloak；　thou　silly　boy！〃　　said　the
Queen。

〃It　is　no　longer　mine；〃　said　Walter；　〃when　your　Majesty's　foot
touched　it；　it　became　a　fit　mantle　for　a　prince；　but　far　too　rich
a　one　for　its　former　owner。〃

The　Queen　again　blushed；　and　endeavoured　to　cover；　by　laughing；　a
slight　degree　of　not　unpleasing　surprise　and　confusion。

〃Heard　you　ever　the　like；　my　lords？　　The　youth's　head　is　turned
with　reading　romances。　　I　must　know　something　of　him；　that　I　may
send　him　safe　to　his　friends。What　art　thou？〃

〃A　gentleman　of　the　household　of　the　Earl　of　Sussex；　so　please
your　Grace；　sent　hither　with　his　master　of　horse　upon　message　to
your　Majesty。〃

In　a　moment　the　gracious　expression　which　Elizabeth's　face　had
hitherto　maintained；　gave　way　to　an　expression　of　haughtiness　and
severity。

〃My　Lord　of　Sussex；〃　she　said；　〃has　taught　us　how　to　regard　his
messages　by　the　value　he　places　upon　ours。　　We　sent　but　this
morning　the　physician　in　ordinary　of　our　chamber；　and　that　at　no
usual　time；　understanding　his　lordship's　illness　to　be　more
dangerous　than　we　had　before　apprehended。　　There　is　at　no　court
in　Europe　a　man　more　skilled　in　this　holy　and　most　useful　science
than　Doctor　Masters；　and　he　came　from　Us　to　our　subject。
Nevertheless；　he　found　the　gate　of　Sayes　Court　defended　by　men
with　culverins；　as　if　it　had　been　on　the　borders　of　Scotland；　not
in　the　vicinity　of　our　court；　and　when　he　demanded　admittance　in
our　name；　it　was　stubbornly　refused。　　For　this　slight　of　a
kindness；　which　had　but　too　much　of　condescension　in　it；　we　will
receive；　at　present　at　least；　no　excuse；　and　some　such　we　suppose
to　have　been　the　purport　of　my　Lord　of　Sussex's　message。〃

This　was　uttered　in　a　tone　and　with　a　gesture　which　made　Lord
Sussex's　friends　who　were　within　hearing　tremble。　　He　to　whom　the
speech　was　addressed；　however；　trembled　not；　but　with　great
deference　and　humility；　as　soon　as　the　Queen's　passion　gave　him
an　opportunity；　he　replied；　〃So　please　your　most　gracious
Majesty；　I　was　charged　with　no　apology　from　the　Earl　of　Sussex。〃

〃With　what　were　you　then　charged；　sir？〃　　said　the　Queen；　with　the
impetuosity　which；　amid　nobler　qualities；　strongly　marked　her
character。　　〃Was　it　with　a　justification？or；　God's　death！　　with
a　defiance？〃

〃Madam；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃my　Lord　of　Sussex　knew　the　offence
approached　towards　treason；　and　could　think　of　nothing　save　of
securing　the　offender；　and　placing　him　in　your　Majesty's　hands；
and　at　your　mercy。　　The　noble　Earl　was　fast　asleep　when　your　most
gracious　message　reached　him；　a　potion　having　been　administered
to　that　purpose　by　his　physician；　and　his　Lordship　knew　not　of
the　ungracious　repulse　your　Majesty's　royal　and　most　comfortable
message　had　received；　until　after　he　awoke　this　morning。〃

〃And　which　of　his　domestics；　then；　in　the　name　of　Heaven；
presumed　to　reject　my　message；　without　even　admitting　my　own
physician　to　the　presence　of　him　whom　I　sent　him　to　attend？〃
said　the　Queen；　much　surprised。

〃The　offender；　madam；　is　before　you；〃　replied　Walter；　bowing　very
low；　〃the　full　and　sole　blame　is　mine；　and　my　lord　has　most
justly　sent　me　to　abye　the　consequences　of　a　fault；　of　which　he
is　as　innocent　as　a　sleeping　man's　dreams　can　be　of　a　waking
man's　actions。〃

〃What！　　was　it　thou？thou　thyself；　that　repelled　my　messenger
and　my　physician　from　Sayes　Court？〃　　said　the　Queen。　　〃What　could
occasion　such　boldness　in　one　who　seems　devotedthat　is；　whose
exterior　bearing　shows　devotionto　his　Sovereign？〃

〃Madam；〃　said　the　youthwho；　notwithstanding　an　assumed
appearance　of　severity；　thought　that　he　saw　something　in　the
Queen's　face　that　resembled　not　implacability〃we　say　in　our
country；　that　the　physician　is　for　the　time　the　liege　sovereign
of　his　patient。　　Now；　my　noble　master　was　then　under　dominion　of
a　leech；　by　whose　advice　he　hath　greatly　profited；　who　had　issued
his　commands　that　his　patient　should　not　that　night　be　disturbed；
on　the　very　peril　of　his　life。〃

〃Thy　master　hath　trusted　some　false　varlet　of　an　empiric；〃　said
the　Queen。

〃I　know　not；　madam；　but　by　the　fact　that　he　is　nowthis　very
morningawakened　much　refreshed　and　strengthened　from　the　only
sleep　he　hath　had　for　many　hours。〃

The　nobles　looked　at　each　other；　but　more　with　the　purpose　to　see
what　each　thought　of　this　news；　than　to　exchange　any　remarks　on
what　had　happened。　　The　Queen　answered　hastily；　and　without
affecting　to　disguise　her　satisfaction；　〃By　my　word；　I　am　glad　he
is　better。　　But　thou　wert　over…bold　to　deny　the　access　of　my
Doctor　Masters。　　Knowest　thou　not　the　Holy　Writ　saith；　'In　the
multitude　of　counsel　there　is　safety'？〃

〃Ay；　madam；〃　said　Walter；　〃but　I　have　heard　learned　men　say　that
the　safety　spoken　of　is　for　the　physicians；　not　for　the　patient。〃

〃By　my　faith；　child；　thou　hast　pushed　me　home；〃　said　the　Queen；
laughing；　〃for　my　Hebrew　learning　does　not　come　quite　at　a　call。
How　say　you；　my　Lord　of　Lincoln？　　Hath　the　lad　given　a　just
interpretation　of　the　text？〃

〃The　word　SAFETY；　most　gracious　madam；〃　said　the　Bishop　of
Lincoln；　〃for　so　hath　been　translated；　it　may　be　somewhat
hastily；　the　Hebrew　word；　being〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　the　Queen；　interrupting　him；　〃we　said　we　had
forgotten　our　Hebrew。But　for　thee；　young　man；　what　is　thy　name
and　birth？〃

〃Raleigh　is　my　name；　most　gracious　Queen；　the　youngest　son　of　a
large　but　hon