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kenilworth-第90章

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  The fairy deck'd her hair; and placed her coronet aright。

Elizabeth's attachment to the Italian school of poetry was
singularly manifested on a well…known occasion。  Her godson; Sir
John Harrington; having offended her delicacy by translating some
of the licentious passages of the Orlando Furioso; she imposed on
him; as a penance; the task of rendering the WHOLE poem into
English。'

Varney arose and retired; making a deep obeisance to the
Sovereign who had done him so much honour。

〃The buckling of the spur; and what other rites remain;〃 said the
Queen; 〃may be finished to…morrow in the chapel; for we intend
Sir Richard Varney a companion in his honours。  And as we must
not be partial in conferring such distinction; we mean on this
matter to confer with our cousin of Sussex。〃

That noble Earl; who since his arrival at Kenilworth; and indeed
since the commencement of this Progress; had found himself in a
subordinate situation to Leicester; was now wearing a heavy cloud
on his brow; a circumstance which had not escaped the Queen; who
hoped to appease his discontent; and to follow out her system of
balancing policy by a mark of peculiar favour; the more
gratifying as it was tendered at a moment when his rival's
triumph appeared to be complete。

At the summons of Queen Elizabeth; Sussex hastily approached her
person; and being asked on which of his followers; being a
gentleman and of merit; he would wish the honour of knighthood to
be conferred; he answered; with more sincerity than policy; that
he would have ventured to speak for Tressilian; to whom he
conceived he owed his own life; and who was a distinguished
soldier and scholar; besides a man of unstained lineage; 〃only;〃
he said; 〃he feared the events of that night〃 And then he
stopped。

〃I am glad your lordship is thus considerate;〃 said Elizabeth。
〃The events of this night would make us; in the eyes of our
subjects; as mad as this poor brain…sick gentleman himselffor
we ascribe his conduct to no maliceshould we choose this moment
to do him grace。〃

〃In that case;〃 said the Earl of Sussex; somewhat
discountenanced; your Majesty will allow me to name my master of
the horse; Master Nicholas Blount; a gentleman of fair estate and
ancient name; who has served your Majesty both in Scotland and
Ireland; and brought away bloody marks on his person; all
honourably taken and requited。〃

The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders slightly even at
this second suggestion; and the Duchess of Rutland; who read in
the Queen's manner that she had expected that Sussex would have
named Raleigh; and thus would have enabled her to gratify her own
wish while she honoured his recommendation; only waited the
Queen's assent to what he had proposed; and then said that she
hoped; since these two high nobles had been each permitted to
suggest a candidate for the honours of chivalry; she; in behalf
of the ladies in presence; might have a similar indulgence。

〃I were no woman to refuse you such a boon;〃 said the Queen;
smiling。

〃Then;〃 pursued the Duchess; 〃in the name of these fair ladies
present; I request your Majesty to confer the rank of knighthood
on Walter Raleigh; whose birth; deeds of arms; and promptitude to
serve our sex with sword or pen; deserve such distinction from us
all。〃

〃Gramercy; fair ladies;〃 said Elizabeth; smiling; 〃your boon is
granted; and the gentle squire Lack…Cloak shall become the good
knight Lack…Cloak; at your desire。  Let the two aspirants for the
honour of chivalry step forward。〃

Blount was not as yet returned from seeing Tressilian; as he
conceived; safely disposed of; but Raleigh came forth; and
kneeling down; received at the hand of the Virgin Queen that
title of honour; which was never conferred on a more
distinguished or more illustrious object。

Shortly afterwards Nicholas Blount entered; and hastily apprised
by Sussex; who met him at the door of the hall; of the Queen's
gracious purpose regarding him; he was desired to advance towards
the throne。  It is a sight sometimes seen; and it is both
ludicrous and pitiable; when an honest man of plain common sense
is surprised; by the coquetry of a pretty woman; or any other
cause; into those frivolous fopperies which only sit well upon
the youthful; the gay; and those to whom long practice has
rendered them a second nature。  Poor Blount was in this
situation。  His head was already giddy from a consciousness of
unusual finery; and the supposed necessity of suiting his manners
to the gaiety of his dress; and now this sudden view of promotion
altogether completed the conquest of the newly inhaled spirit of
foppery over his natural disposition; and converted a plain;
honest; awkward man into a coxcomb of a new and most ridiculous
kind。

The knight…expectant advanced up the hall; the whole length of
which he had unfortunately to traverse; turning out his toes with
so much zeal that he presented his leg at every step with its
broadside foremost; so that it greatly resembled an old…fashioned
table…knife with a curved point; when seen sideways。  The rest of
his gait was in proportion to this unhappy amble; and the implied
mixture of bashful rear and self…satisfaction was so unutterably
ridiculous that Leicester's friends did not suppress a titter; in
which many of Sussex's partisans were unable to resist joining;
though ready to eat their nails with mortification。  Sussex
himself lost all patience; and could not forbear whispering into
the ear of his friend; 〃Curse thee!  canst thou not walk like a
man and a soldier?〃  an interjection which only made honest
Blount start and stop; until a glance at his yellow roses and
crimson stockings restored his self…confidence; when on he went
at the same pace as before。

The Queen conferred on poor Blount the honour of knighthood with
a marked sense of reluctance。  That wise Princess was fully aware
of the propriety of using great circumspection and economy in
bestowing those titles of honour; which the Stewarts; who
succeeded to her throne; distributed with an imprudent liberality
which greatly diminished their value。  Blount had no sooner
arisen and retired than she turned to the Duchess of Rutland。
〃Our woman wit;〃 she said; 〃dear Rutland; is sharper than that of
those proud things in doublet and hose。  Seest thou; out of these
three knights; thine is the only true metal to stamp chivalry's
imprint upon?〃

〃Sir Richard Varney; surelythe friend of my Lord of Leicester
surely he has merit;〃 replied the Duchess。

〃Varney has a sly countenance and a smooth tongue;〃 replied the
Queen; 〃I fear me he will prove a knave。  But the promise was of
ancient standing。  My Lord of Sussex must have lost his own wits;
I think; to recommend to us first a madman like Tressilian; and
then a clownish fool like this other fellow。  I protest; Rutland;
that while he sat on his knees before me; mopping and mowing as
if he had scalding porridge in his mouth; I had much ado to
forbear cutting him over the pate; instead of striking his
shoulder。〃

〃Your Majesty gave him a smart ACCOLADE;〃 said the Duchess; 〃we
who stood behind heard the blade clatter on his collar…bone; and
the poor man fidgeted too as if he felt it。〃

〃I could not help it; wench;〃 said the Queen; laughing。  〃But we
will have this same Sir Nicholas sent to Ireland or Scotland; or
somewhere; to rid our court of so antic a chevalier; he may be a
good soldier in the field; though a preposterous ass in a
banqueting…hall。〃

The discourse became then more general; and soon after there was
a summons to the banquet。

In order to obey this signal; the company were under the
necessity of crossing the inner court of the Castle; that they
might reach the new buildings containing the large banqueting…
room; in which preparations for supper were made upon a scale of
profuse magnificence; corresponding to the occasion。

The livery cupboards were loaded with plate of the richest
description; and the most variedsome articles tasteful; some
perhaps grotesque; in the invention and decoration; but all
gorgeously magnificent; both from the richness of the work and
value of the materials。  Thus the chief table was adorned by a
salt; ship…fashion; made of mother…of…pearl; garnished with
silver and divers warlike ensigns and other ornaments; anchors;
sails; and sixteen pieces of ordnance。  It bore a figure of
Fortune; placed on a globe; with a flag in her hand。  Another
salt was fashioned of silver; in form of a swan in full sail。
That chivalry might not be omitted amid this splendour; a silver
Saint George was presented; mounted and equipped in the usual
fashion in which he bestrides the dragon。  The figures were
moulded to be in some sort useful。  The horse's tail was managed
to hold a case of knives; while the breast of the dragon
presented a similar accommodation for oyster knives;

In the course of the passage from the hall of reception to the
banqueting…room; and especially in the courtyard; the new…made
knights were assailed by the heralds; pursuivants; minstrels;
etc。; with the usual cry of LARGESSE; LARGESSE; CHEVALIERS TRES
HARDIS!  an ancient invocation; intended to awaken the bounty of
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