consideration of consistency and of self…interest。 〃Oh； if I
did； I foully belied him。 May God so judge me； as I believe he
was never privy to a thought that would harm me！〃
〃Woman！〃 said Elizabeth； 〃I will know who has moved thee to
this； or my wrathand the wrath of kings is a flaming fire
shall wither and consume thee like a weed in the furnace！〃
As the Queen uttered this threat； Leicester's better angel called
his pride to his aid； and reproached him with the utter extremity
of meanness which would overwhelm him for ever if he stooped to
take shelter under the generous interposition of his wife； and
abandoned her； in return for her kindness； to the resentment of
the Queen。 He had already raised his head with the dignity of a
man of honour to avow his marriage； and proclaim himself the
protector of his Countess； when Varney； born； as it appeared； to
be his master's evil genius； rushed into the presence with every
mark of disorder on his face and apparel。
〃What means this saucy intrusion？〃 said Elizabeth。
Varney； with the air of a man altogether overwhelmed with grief
and confusion； prostrated himself before her feet； exclaiming；
〃Pardon； my Liege； pardon！or at least let your justice avenge
itself on me； where it is due； but spare my noble； my generous；
my innocent patron and master！〃
Amy； who was yet kneeling； started up as she saw the man whom she
deemed most odious place himself so near her； and was about to
fly towards Leicester； when； checked at once by the uncertainty
and even timidity which his looks had reassumed as soon as the
appearance of his confidant seemed to open a new scene； she hung
back； and uttering a faint scream； besought of her Majesty to
cause her to be imprisoned in the lowest dungeon of the Castle
to deal with her as the worst of criminals〃but spare；〃 she
exclaimed； 〃my sight and hearing what will destroy the little
judgment I have leftthe sight of that unutterable and most
shameless villain！〃
〃And why； sweetheart？〃 said the Queen； moved by a new impulse；
〃what hath he； this false knight； since such thou accountest him；
done to thee？〃
〃Oh； worse than sorrow； madam； and worse than injuryhe has sown
dissension where most there should be peace。 I shall go mad if I
look longer on him！〃
〃Beshrew me； but I think thou art distraught already；〃 answered
the Queen。〃My Lord Hunsdon； look to this poor distressed young
woman； and let her be safely bestowed； and in honest keeping；
till we require her to be forthcoming。〃
Two or three of the ladies in attendance； either moved by
compassion for a creature so interesting； or by some other
motive； offered their services to look after her； but the Queen
briefly answered； 〃Ladies； under favour； no。 You have all （give
God thanks） sharp ears and nimble tongues； our kinsman Hunsdon
has ears of the dullest； and a tongue somewhat rough； but yet of
the slowest。Hunsdon； look to it that none have speech of her。〃
〃By Our Lady；〃 said Hunsdon； taking in his strong； sinewy arms
the fading and almost swooning form of Amy； 〃she is a lovely
child！ and though a rough nurse； your Grace hath given her a
kind one。 She is safe with me as one of my own ladybirds of
daughters。〃
So saying； he carried her off； unresistingly and almost
unconsciously； his war…worn locks and long； grey beard mingling
with her light…brown tresses； as her head reclined on his strong；
square shoulder。 The Queen followed him with her eye。 She had
already； with that self…command which forms so necessary a part
of a Sovereign's accomplishments； suppressed every appearance of
agitation； and seemed as if she desired to banish all traces of
her burst of passion from the recollection of those who had
witnessed it。 〃My Lord of Hunsdon says well；〃 she observed； 〃he
is indeed but a rough nurse for so tender a babe。〃
〃My Lord of Hunsdon；〃 said the Dean of St。 Asaph〃I speak it not
in defamation of his more noble qualitieshath a broad license
in speech； and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with
the cruel and superstitious oaths which savour both of
profaneness and of old Papistrie。〃
〃It is the fault of his blood； Mr。 Dean；〃 said the Queen； turning
sharply round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke； 〃and you
may blame mine for the same distemperature。 The Boleyns were
ever a hot and plain…spoken race； more hasty to speak their mind
than careful to choose their expressions。 And by my wordI hope
there is no sin in that affirmationI question if it were much
cooled by mixing with that of Tudor。〃
As she made this last observation she smiled graciously； and
stole her eyes almost insensibly round to seek those of the Earl
of Leicester； to whom she now began to think she had spoken with
hasty harshness upon the unfounded suspicion of a moment。
The Queen's eye found the Earl in no mood to accept the implied
offer of conciliation。 His own looks had followed； with late and
rueful repentance； the faded form which Hunsdon had just borne
from the presence。 They now reposed gloomily on the ground； but
moreso at least it seemed to Elizabethwith the expression of
one who has received an unjust affront； than of him who is
conscious of guilt。 She turned her face angrily from him； and
said to Varney； 〃Speak； Sir Richard； and explain these riddles
thou hast sense and the use of speech； at least； which elsewhere
we look for in vain。〃
As she said this； she darted another resentful glance towards
Leicester； while the wily Varney hastened to tell his own story。
〃Your Majesty's piercing eye；〃 he said； 〃has already detected the
cruel malady of my beloved lady； which； unhappy that I am； I
would not suffer to be expressed in the certificate of her
physician； seeking to conceal what has now broken out with so
much the more scandal。〃
〃She is then distraught？〃 said the Queen。 〃Indeed we doubted
not of it； her whole demeanour bears it out。 I found her moping
in a corner of yonder grotto； and every word she spokewhich
indeed I dragged from her as by the rackshe instantly recalled
and forswore。 But how came she hither？ Why had you her not in
safe…keeping？〃
〃My gracious Liege；〃 said Varney； 〃the worthy gentleman under
whose charge I left her； Master Anthony Foster； has come hither
but now； as fast as man and horse can travel； to show me of her
escape； which she managed with the art peculiar to many who are
afflicted with this malady。 He is at hand for examination。〃
〃Let it be for another time；〃 said the Queen。 〃But； Sir Richard；
we envy you not your domestic felicity； your lady railed on you
bitterly； and seemed ready to swoon at beholding you。〃
〃It is the nature of persons in her disorder； so please your
Grace；〃 answered Varney； 〃to be ever most inveterate in their
spleen against those whom； in their better moments； they hold
nearest and dearest。〃
〃We have heard so； indeed；〃 said Elizabeth； 〃and give faith to
the saying。〃
〃May your Grace then be pleased；〃 said Varney； 〃 to command my
unfortunate wife to be delivered into the custody of her
friends？〃
Leicester partly started； but making a strong effort； he subdued
his emotion； while Elizabeth answered sharply； 〃You are something
too hasty； Master Varney。 We will have first a report of the
lady's health and state of mind from Masters； our own physician；
and then determine what shall be thought just。 You shall have
license； however； to see her； that if there be any matrimonial
quarrel betwixt yousuch things we have heard do occur； even
betwixt a loving coupleyou may make it up； without further
scandal to our court or trouble to ourselves。〃
Varney bowed low； and made no other answer。
Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester； and said； with a degree
of condescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt
interest； 〃Discord； as the Italian poet says； will find her way
into peaceful convents； as well as into the privacy of families；
and we fear our own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her
from courts。 My Lord of Leicester； you are offended with us； and
we have right to be offended with you。 We will take the lion's
part upon us； and be the first to forgive。〃
Leicester smoothed his brow； as by an effort； but the trouble was
too deep…seated that its placidity should at once return。 He
said； however； that which fitted the occasion； 〃That he could not
have the happiness of forgiving； because she who commanded him to
do so could commit no injury towards him。〃
Elizabeth seemed content with this reply； and intimated her
pleasure that the sports of the morning should proceed。 The
bugles sounded； the hounds bayed； the horses pranced but the
courtiers and ladies sought the amusement to which they were
summoned with hearts very different from those which had leaped
to the morning's REVIELLE。 There was doubt； and fear； and
expectation on every brow； and surmise and intrigue in every
whisper。
Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear； 〃This
storm came like a levanter in the Mediterranean。〃
〃VARIUM ET MUTABILE；〃 answered Raleigh； in a similar tone。
〃Nay； I know nought of your Latin；〃 said Blount； 〃but I thank God
Tressilian took not the sea during that hurrica