kenilworth-第52章

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would　spare　him　for　considerations；　but　he　will　thrust　himself　on
his　fate。　　Sussex；　too；　is　almost　as　well　as　ever　in　his　health。〃

〃My　lord；〃　replied　Varney；　〃there　will　be　rubs　in　the　smoothest
road；　specially　when　it　leads　uphill。　　Sussex's　illness　was　to　us
a　godsend；　from　which　I　hoped　much。　　He　has　recovered；　indeed；
but　he　is　not　now　more　formidable　than　ere　he　fell　ill；　when　he
received　more　than　one　foil　in　wrestling　with　your　lordship。　　Let
not　your　heart　fail　you；　my　lord；　and　all　shall　be　well。〃

〃My　heart　never　failed　me；　sir；〃　replied　Leicester。

〃No；　my　lord；〃　said　Varney；　〃but　it　has　betrayed　you　right　often。
He　that　would　climb　a　tree；　my　lord；　must　grasp　by　the　branches；
not　by　the　blossom。〃

〃Well；　well；　well！〃　　said　Leicester　impatiently；　〃I　understand
thy　meaningmy　heart　shall　neither　fail　me　nor　seduce　me。　　Have
my　retinue　in　ordersee　that　their　array　be　so　splendid　as　to
put　down；　not　only　the　rude　companions　of　Ratcliffe；　but　the
retainers　of　every　other　nobleman　and　courtier。　　Let　them　be　well
armed　withal；　but　without　any　outward　display　of　their　weapons；
wearing　them　as　if　more　for　fashion's　sake　than　for　use。　　Do　thou
thyself　keep　close　to　me；　I　may　have　business　for　you。〃

The　preparations　of　Sussex　and　his　party　were　not　less　anxious
than　those　of　Leicester。

〃Thy　Supplication；　impeaching　Varney　of　seduction；〃　said　the　Earl
to　Tressilian；　〃is　by　this　time　in　the　Queen's　handI　have　sent
it　through　a　sure　channel。　　Methinks　your　suit　should　succeed；
being；　as　it　is；　founded　in　justice　and　honour；　and　Elizabeth
being　the　very　muster　of　both。　　ButI　wot　not　howthe　gipsy〃
（so　Sussex　was　wont　to　call　his　rival　on　account　of　his　dark
complexion）　〃hath　much　to　say　with　her　in　these　holyday　times　of
peace。　　Were　war　at　the　gates；　I　should　be　one　of　her　white　boys；
but　soldiers；　like　their　bucklers　and　Bilboa　blades；　get　out　of
fashion　in　peace　time；　and　satin　sleeves　and　walking　rapiers　bear
the　bell。　　Well；　we　must　be　gay；　since　such　is　the　fashion。
Blount；　hast　thou　seen　our　household　put　into　their　new
braveries？　　〃But　thou　knowest　as　little　of　these　toys　as　I　do；
thou　wouldst　be　ready　enow　at　disposing　a　stand　of　pikes。〃

〃My　good　lord；〃　answered　Blount；　〃Raleigh　hath　been　here；　and
taken　that　charge　upon　himyour　train　will　glitter　like　a　May
morning。　　Marry；　the　cost　is　another　question。　　One　might　keep　an
hospital　of　old　soldiers　at　the　charge　of　ten　modern　lackeys。〃

〃He　must　not　count　cost　to…day；　Nicholas；〃　said　the　Earl　in
reply。　　〃I　am　beholden　to　Raleigh　for　his　care。　　I　trust；　though；
he　has　remembered　that　I　am　an　old　soldier；　and　would　have　no
more　of　these　follies　than　needs　must。〃

〃Nay；　I　understand　nought　about　it；〃　said　Blount；　〃but　here　are
your　honourable　lordship's　brave　kinsmen　and　friends　coming　in　by
scores　to　wait　upon　you　to　court；　where；　methinks；　we　shall　bear
as　brave　a　front　as　Leicester；　let　him　ruffle　it　as　he　will。〃

〃Give　them　the　strictest　charges；〃　said　Sussex；　〃that　they　suffer
no　provocation　short　of　actual　violence　to　provoke　them　into
quarrel。　　They　have　hot　bloods；　and　I　would　not　give　Leicester
the　advantage　over　me　by　any　imprudence　of　theirs。〃

The　Earl　of　Sussex　ran　so　hastily　through　these　directions；　that
it　was　with　difficulty　Tressilian　at　length　found　opportunity　to
express　his　surprise　that　he　should　have　proceeded　so　far　in　the
affair　of　Sir　Hugh　Robsart　as　to　lay　his　petition　at　once　before
the　Queen。　　〃It　was　the　opinion　of　the　young　lady's　friends；〃　he
said；　〃that　Leicester's　sense　of　justice　should　be　first　appealed
to；　as　the　offence　had　been　committed　by　his　officer；　and　so　he
had　expressly　told　to　Sussex。〃

〃This　could　have　been　done　without　applying　to　me；〃　said　Sussex；
somewhat　haughtily。　　〃I　at　least；　ought　not　to　have　been　a
counsellor　when　the　object　was　a　humiliating　reference　to
Leicester；　and　I　am　suprised　that　you；　Tressilian；　a　man　of
honour；　and　my　friend；　would　assume　such　a　mean　course。　　If　you
said　so；　I　certainly　understood　you　not　in　a　matter　which　sounded
so　unlike　yourself。〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　Tressilian；　〃the　course　I　would　prefer；　for　my
own　sake；　is　that　you　have　adopted；　but　the　friends　of　this　most
unhappy　lady〃

〃Oh；　the　friendsthe　friends；〃　said　Sussex；　interrupting　him；
〃they　must　let　us　manage　this　cause　in　the　way　which　seems　best。
This　is　the　time　and　the　hour　to　accumulate　every　charge　against
Leicester　and　his　household；　and　yours　the　Queen　will　hold　a
heavy　one。　　But　at　all　events　she　hath　the　complaint　before　her。〃

Tressilian　could　not　help　suspecting　that；　in　his　eagerness　to
strengthen　himself　against　his　rival；　Sussex　had　purposely
adopted　the　course　most　likely　to　throw　odium　on　Leicester；
without　considering　minutely　whether　it　were　the　mode　of
proceeding　most　likely　to　be　attended　with　success。　　But　the　step
was　irrevocable；　and　Sussex　escaped　from　further　discussing　it　by
dismissing　his　company；　with　the　command；　〃Let　all　be　in　order　at
eleven　o'clock；　I　must　be　at　court　and　in　the　presence　by　high
noon　precisely。〃

While　the　rival　statesmen　were　thus　anxiously　preparing　for　their
approaching　meeting　in　the　Queen's　presence；　even　Elizabeth
herself　was　not　without　apprehension　of　what　might　chance　from
the　collision　of　two　such　fiery　spirits；　each　backed　by　a　strong
and　numerous　body　of　followers；　and　dividing　betwixt　them；　either
openly　or　in　secret；　the　hopes　and　wishes　of　most　of　her　court。
The　band　of　Gentlemen　Pensioners　were　all　under　arms；　and　a
reinforcement　of　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　was　brought　down　the
Thames　from　London。　　A　royal　proclamation　was　sent　forth；
strictly　prohibiting　nobles　of　whatever　degree　to　approach　the
Palace　with　retainers　or　followers　armed　with　shot　or　with　long
weapons；　and　it　was　even　whispered　that　the　High　Sheriff　of　Kent
had　secret　instructions　to　have　a　part　of　the　array　of　the　county
ready　on　the　shortest　notice。

The　eventful　hour；　thus　anxiously　prepared　for　on　all　sides；　at
length　approached；　and；　each　followed　by　his　long　and　glittering
train　of　friends　and　followers；　the　rival　Earls　entered　the
Palace　Yard　of　Greenwich　at　noon　precisely。

As　if　by　previous　arrangement；　or　perhaps　by　intimation　that　such
was　the　Queen's　pleasure；　Sussex　and　his　retinue　came　to　the
Palace　from　Deptford　by　water　while　Leicester　arrived　by　land；
and　thus　they　entered　the　courtyard　from　opposite　sides。　　This
trifling　circumstance　gave　Leicester　a　ascendency　in　the　opinion
of　the　vulgar；　the　appearance　of　his　cavalcade　of　mounted
followers　showing　more　numerous　and　more　imposing　than　those　of
Sussex's　party；　who　were　necessarily　upon　foot。　　No　show　or　sign
of　greeting　passed　between　the　Earls；　though　each　looked　full　at
the　other；　both　expecting　perhaps　an　exchange　of　courtesies；
which　neither　was　willing　to　commence。　　Almost　in　the　minute　of
their　arrival　the　castle…bell　tolled；　the　gates　of　the　Palace
were　opened；　and　the　Earls　entered；　each　numerously　attended　by
such　gentlemen　of　their　train　whose　rank　gave　them　that
privilege。　　The　yeomen　and　inferior　attendants　remained　in　the
courtyard；　where　the　opposite　parties　eyed　each　other　with　looks
of　eager　hatred　and　scorn；　as　if　waiting　with　impatience　for　some
cause　of　tumult；　or　some　apology　for　mutual　aggression。　　But　they
were　restrained　by　the　strict　commands　of　their　leaders；　and
overawed；　perhaps；　by　the　presence　of　an　armed　guard　of　unusual
strength。

In　the　meanwhile；　the　more　distinguished　persons　of　each　train
followed　their　patrons　into　the　lofty　halls　and　ante…chambers　of
the　royal　Palace；　flowing　on　in　the　same　current；　like　two
streams　which　are　compelled　into　the　same　channel；　yet　shun　to
mix　their　waters。　　The　parties　arranged　themselves；　as　it　were
instinctively；　on　the　different　sides　of　the　lofty　apartments；
and　seemed　eager　to　escape　from　the　transient　union　which　the
narrowness　of　the　crowded　entrance　had　for　an　instant　compelled
them　to　submit　to。　　The　folding　doors　at　the　upper　end　of　the
long　gallery　were　immediately　afterwards　opened；　and　it　was
announced　in　a　whisper　that　the　Queen　was　in　her　presence…
chamber；　to　which　these　gave　access。　　Both　Earls　moved　slowly　and