What,talkest thou of them,said Leicester,that believest not in them or in aught else?You mistake,my lord,under your gracious pardon,said Varney;I believe in many things that predict the future.I believe,if showers fall in April,that we shall have flowers in May;that if the sun shines,grain will ripen;and I believe in much natural philosophy to the same effect,which,if the stars swear to me,Iwill say the stars speak the truth.And in like manner,I will not disbelieve that which I see wished for and expected on earth,solely because the astrologers have read it in the heavens.Thou art right,said Leicester,again tossing himself on his couch Earth does wish for it.I have had advices from the reformed churches of Germany--from the Low Countries--from Switzerland--urging this as a point on which Europe's safety depends.France will not oppose it.The ruling party in Scotland look to it as their best security.Spain fears it,but cannot prevent it.And yet thou knowest it is impossible.I know not that,my lord,said Varney;the Countess is indisposed.Villain!said Leicester,starting up on his couch,and seizing the sword which lay on the table beside him,go thy thoughts that way?--thou wouldst not do murder?For whom,or what,do you hold me,my lord?said Varney,assuming the superiority of an innocent man subjected to unjust suspicion.I said nothing to deserve such a horrid imputation as your violence infers.I said but that the Countess was ill.
And Countess though she be--lovely and beloved as she is--surely your lordship must hold her to be mortal?She may die,and your lordship's hand become once more your own.Away!away!said Leicester;let me have no more of this.Good night,my lord,said Varney,seeming to understand this as a command to depart;but Leicester's voice interrupted his purpose.
Thou 'scapest me not thus,Sir Fool,said he;I think thy knighthood has addled thy brains.Confess thou hast talked of impossibilities as of things which may come to pass.My lord,long live your fair Countess,said Varney;but neither your love nor my good wishes can make her immortal.But God grant she live long to be happy herself,and to render you so!I see not but you may be King of England notwithstanding.Nay,now,Varney,thou art stark mad,said Leicester.
I would I were myself within the same nearness to a good estate of freehold,said Varney.Have we not known in other countries how a left-handed marriage might subsist betwixt persons of differing degree?--ay,and be no hindrance to prevent the husband from conjoining himself afterwards with a more suitable partner?I have heard of such things in Germany,said Leicester.
Ay,and the most learned doctors in foreign universities justify the practice from the Old Testament,said Varney.And after all,where is the harm?The beautiful partner whom you have chosen for true love has your secret hours of relaxation and affection.Her fame is safe her conscience may slumber securely.
You have wealth to provide royally for your issue,should Heaven bless you with offspring.Meanwhile you may give to Elizabeth ten times the leisure,and ten thousand times the affection,that ever Don Philip of Spain spared to her sister Mary;yet you know how she doted on him though so cold and neglectful.It requires but a close mouth and an open brow,and you keep your Eleanor and your fair Rosamond far enough separate.Leave me to build you a bower to which no jealous Queen shall find a clew.Leicester was silent for a moment,then sighed,and said,It is impossible.Good night,Sir Richard Varney--yet stay.Can you guess what meant Tressilian by showing himself in such careless guise before the Queen to-day?--to strike her tender heart,Ishould guess,with all the sympathies due to a lover abandoned by his mistress and abandoning himself.Varney,smothering a sneering laugh,answered,He believed Master Tressilian had no such matter in his head.How!said Leicester;what meanest thou?There is ever knavery in that laugh of thine,Varney.I only meant,my lord,said Varney,that Tressilian has taken the sure way to avoid heart-breaking.He hath had a companion--a female companion--a mistress--a sort of player's wife or sister,as I believe--with him in Mervyn's Bower,where I quartered him for certain reasons of my own.A mistress!--meanest thou a paramour?
Ay,my lord;what female else waits for hours in a gentleman's chamber?By my faith,time and space fitting,this were a good tale to tell,said Leicester.I ever distrusted those bookish,hypocritical,seeming-virtuous scholars.Well--Master Tressilian makes somewhat familiar with my house;if I look it over,he is indebted to it for certain recollections.I would not harm him more than I can help.Keep eye on him,however,Varney.I lodged him for that reason,said Varney,in Mervyn's Tower,where he is under the eye of my very vigilant,if he were not also my very drunken,servant,Michael Lambourne,whom I have told your Grace of.Grace!said Leicester;what meanest thou by that epithet?It came unawares,my lord;and yet it sounds so very natural that I cannot recall it.It is thine own preferment that hath turned thy brain,said Leicester,laughing;new honours are as heady as new wine.May your lordship soon have cause to say so from experience,said Varney;and wishing his patron good night,he withdrew.[See Note 8.Furniture of Kenilworth.
