QUEEN IN THE LOLLARDS’ TOWER.
Preceded by Rodomont Bittern and others of the guard, and attended by the Cardinal1, their Majesties2 crossed the court to the Lollards’ Tower. As the Queen was slowly ascending3 the steps leading to the entrance, a sudden faintness seized her, and she paused.
“Better turn back, gracious Madam, if you feel ill,” observed the Cardinal, noticing her extreme paleness.
“No, it will pass in a moment,” she replied.
Resolved not to give way, she went on; but the effort was too much for her, and she had no sooner gained the Post Room than she sank on a chair completely exhausted4.
“What place is this?” she asked, in a feeble voice, and glancing around.
“It is called the Post Room, Madam, from that wooden pillar in the centre,” replied Pole.
“It looks like a torture-chamber,” observed Philip.
“It has been put to a similar purpose, I fear,” said the Cardinal. “Yon pillar has not served merely to support the roof.”
“Where is Constance Tyrrell?” demanded Mary.
“In the prison-chamber overhead,” replied Pole. “The staircase is steep and difficult. ’Twould be hazardous5 to your Majesty6 to mount it.”
“Let her be brought down,” said the Queen.
219Upon this, Rodomont Bittern, who, with Simon Mallet7, keeper of the tower, stood waiting for orders, immediately disappeared through an arched doorway8 at the further end of the sombre apartment. Shortly afterwards they returned, bringing with them Constance Tyrrell. This done, they retired9.
Constance looked thin and pale, but her colour heightened as she beheld10 Philip seated near the Queen. The blush, however, quickly faded away, and was succeeded by a death-like pallor, but she did not lose her self-possession. Advancing towards her, the Cardinal said, in a low tone,—
“Kneel to her Majesty. Peradventure, you may move her compassion11.”
Constance did as she was bidden, and threw herself at the Queen’s feet, crying,—
“If I have offended your Majesty, I implore12 your forgiveness.”
“What have I to forgive you, minion13?—what have you done?” said Mary, fixing a searching look upon her. “I know nothing of your proceedings14 since you fled from Hampton Court. Where have you hidden yourself? Why were you brought here? Speak!”
“It is a long story to tell, Madam,” cried Constance, troubled by the stern gaze of the King.
“On peril15 of your life, I command you to conceal16 nothing from me!” cried Mary, with a burst of uncontrollable fury. “Confess your guilt17, or I will wrest18 the avowal19 of it from you by torture. Speak out, and you have nothing to fear—but hesitate, equivocate20, palter with me, and you are lost.”
“As I hope for salvation21, Madam,” rejoined Constance, “I have nothing to confess.”
“It is false!” cried the Queen, with increasing fury. “I read your guilt in your looks. You cannot regard me in the face, and declare you have not injured me.”
“I can look Heaven itself in the face, and declare I am innocent of all offence towards your Majesty,” rejoined Constance.
“The King, no doubt, will confirm your assertions,” observed Mary, bitterly.
“If I did not, I should belie22 the truth,” replied Philip.
220“By whose contrivance did you fly from Hampton Court?” demanded Mary.
“Not by the King’s, Madam. I fled with Osbert Clinton.”
“Tut! Osbert Clinton was merely a tool,” exclaimed Mary, incredulously. “Did his Majesty know of your hiding-place?”
“Assuredly not, Madam,” replied Constance. “He it was I dreaded23 most.”
“Ha! we are coming to it now,” cried Mary. “Why did you dread24 him?”
“Nay, Madam, persist not in these inquiries25, I entreat26 you,” interposed the Cardinal. “You will gain nothing by them, and will only torture yourself.”
“Though each word should wound me to the quick, I will have it,” said Mary. “Why did you fear the King?”
“Oh! bid me not answer that question, Madam—I cannot do it.”
“I will answer it for you,” said Mary. “Contradict me if you can. You thought that the King loved you, and would pursue you.”
“If she believed so, her flight was justifiable27, and merits not reproach from your Majesty,” observed the Cardinal. “Pardon me if I say you are unjust towards this maiden28. I am satisfied you have no real ground of complaint against her.”
“At least, she has been the cause of much trouble to me,” cried Mary.
“The innocent cause,” said Pole.
“Ay, truly so,” said Constance. “I have never wronged your Majesty in act or thought. Beset29 by dangers, I fled from them, and, if I did wrong, it was from error in judgment30, and not from ill intent. Had I stayed——But I will not dwell upon what might have happened. Your Majesty’s reproaches cut me to the soul. I do not deserve them. Rather, indeed, am I an object of pity than reproach. Six months ago I was happy. My life was unclouded—but a change came suddenly, and since then all has been darkness and misery31.”
“You could not expect happiness, since you have fallen from your faith,” said the Queen, severely32. “You have 221justly provoked the wrath33 of Heaven, and cannot wonder that you have felt the effects of its displeasure. From what you have said, and from what his Eminence34 has urged in your behalf, I do not believe you have been culpable35 towards me. But you have cost me many a pang,” she added, placing her hand upon her breast.
“Yield to the pitying emotions which I can see sway your breast, gracious Madam,” interceded36 Pole, “and forgive her.”
“For the affliction she has caused I do forgive her,” replied the Queen, with an effort; “but if her conduct towards myself is free from blame, as you represent it, in other respects it is reprehensible37. She was nurtured38 in the true faith, and was once a model of piety—nay, even contemplated39 devoting herself to a religious life. But she has listened to the baneful40 exhortations41 of one of these teachers of heresy42, and has become a proselyte to the new doctrines43. What shall be done with her?”
“Leave her to me, Madam,” rejoined the Cardinal. “I do not despair of accomplishing her cure. My hand shall lead you back,” he added to Constance. “My voice shall direct you. It cannot be that one of a devout44 nature like yourself, imbued45 from childhood in the principles of our Holy Church, familiar with its rites46 and worship, can efface47 its doctrines from your breast, and abandon them for another creed48. Your conscience must be troubled. The sure way to regain49 serenity50 is to abjure51 your errors.”
“Time was when every word uttered by your Eminence would have found a response in my breast,” rejoined Constance. “But the rites I formerly52 practised seem to me idolatrous, and the doctrines then taught me unwarranted by the Gospel. I cannot go back to the faith of Rome.”
“You shall be forced back, Mistress, if you continue perverse,” cried the Queen, sharply.
“Hold, Madam!” exclaimed Pole. “In this instance let me have my way. I would win back this maiden by gentleness, and not by coercion53. I would appeal to her reason and judgment, and not to her fears. Her cure may be the work of time, because the disorder54 under which she labours is obstinate55, but I do not think it will baffle my skill.”
“If I could be persuaded by anyone to return to the faith I have abjured56, it would be by your Eminence,” said Constance, yielding to the kindly57 influence of his manner.
“You see, Madam, I have already made some little impression,” observed Pole to the Queen. “Mildness is more efficacious than violence. As she was enticed58 from the fold, so must she be lured59 back to it.”
“Well, have your way with her,” replied Mary. “Where is the other prisoner, Derrick Carver?”
“In a dungeon60 beneath this room,” replied Pole. “He was placed there in order that no communication should take place between him and Constance Tyrrell. They have not seen each other since they were brought to the Lollards’ Tower.”
“Such were my orders,” observed Philip.
“It is well,” rejoined the Queen. “They shall see each other now. Let him be brought before me.”
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1
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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2
majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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3
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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4
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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5
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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6
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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7
mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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8
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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9
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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10
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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11
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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12
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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13
minion
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| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
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14
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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15
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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16
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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17
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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18
wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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19
avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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20
equivocate
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| v.模棱两可地，支吾其词 | |
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21
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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22
belie
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| v.掩饰，证明为假 | |
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23
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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24
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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25
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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26
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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27
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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28
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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29
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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30
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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31
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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32
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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33
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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34
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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35
culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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36
interceded
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| v.斡旋，调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 )；说情 | |
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37
reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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38
nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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39
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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40
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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41
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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42
heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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43
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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44
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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45
imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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46
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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47
efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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48
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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49
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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50
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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51
abjure
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| v.发誓放弃 | |
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52
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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53
coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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54
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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55
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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56
abjured
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| v.发誓放弃( abjure的过去式和过去分词 )；郑重放弃（意见）；宣布撤回（声明等）；避免 | |
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57
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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58
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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60
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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