On being brought into the room by Rodomont and Mallet1, Derrick Carver made a profound reverence2 to the Queen, but none to Philip and the Cardinal3. Then addressing himself to Constance, he said, “Welcome, daughter! is the time come for our deliverance from bondage4?”
“Not yet,” she replied.
“How long, O Lord! wilt5 thou suffer thy saints to be persecuted6?” exclaimed the enthusiast7. “It would be glad tidings to me to learn that the end of my weary pilgrimage was near at hand.”
“Are you prepared to meet the death you seem to covet8?” asked Pole.
“I trust so,” replied Carver. “I have prayed long and deeply.”
“And repented10 of your sins—of your murtherous designs against the life of his Majesty11?” pursued Pole.
“I do not regard that design as sinful,” said Carver. “Repentance, therefore, is uncalled for.”
“And you believe yourself to be religious, mistaken man,” rejoined Pole. “I tell you, if you die in this impenitent12 state, you will perish everlastingly13. You are so blinded by pride and vain-glory that you cannot discern evil from good, and persuade yourself that you are actuated 224by high and noble motives14, when in reality your motives are sinful and damnable. You are nothing more than an execrable assassin; so hardened in guilt15 that your heart is inaccessible16 to virtuous17 and honourable18 feelings. True religion you have none. You profess19 to believe in the tenets of the Gospel, yet practise them not. Our blessed Saviour20 would never number you among his followers21, but would cast you off as an unprofitable and faithless servant. You reject truths you do not understand, treat sacred rites22 as superstitious23, and revile24 those who differ from you in opinion. Go to! you ask for death, and yet you are unfit to die.”
“It is not for you to pass sentence upon me,” said Carver. “Heaven, to whom my secret motives are known, will judge me.”
“And condemn25 you, if you repent9 not,” said Pole, “for your soul is charged with heavy offences. As I am informed by those who have heard you, you have prayed for her Majesty’s destruction.”
“I have prayed Heaven to touch her heart, so as to cause her to abandon idolatry, or to abridge26 her days,” rejoined Carver. “Better she be removed than false gods be set up in our temples.”
“And know you not that by giving utterance27 to such a prayer you incur28 the doom29 of a traitor30?” said Pole. “Your offences are so rank and monstrous31, that unless you exhibit some penitence32, I cannot intercede33 in your behalf with her Majesty.”
“I ask for no grace from her, and expect none,” replied Carver. “Had I twenty lives, I would lay them down for my religion and for my country. We have been delivered to a foreign yoke34. But it will not bind35 us long.”
“Peace!” cried Rodomont. “Knowest thou not that thou art in the presence of the King?”
“I know it well, and therefore I speak out,” rejoined Carver. “I tell this proud Prince of Spain that England will never submit to his hateful and tyrannous rule. The country will rise up against him, and cast him off. He persuades himself that a son will be born to him, and that through that son he will govern. But he is 225puffed up with vain hopes. Heaven will refuse him issue.”
“Ha! this passes all endurance,” cried Philip.
“Have I touched thee, tyrant36?” pursued Carver, exultingly37. “Heaven, I repeat, will refuse thee issue. The support on which thou countest will be taken from thee. Didst thou dare make the attempt, the accursed Inquisition would at this moment be established amongst us. Thou hast it in reserve for a future day, but ere that day arrives thy perfidy38 will be discovered. False to thy oaths, faithless to thy Queen, treacherous39 to all, thou shalt meet thy just reward.”
“Faithless to me!” exclaimed Mary. “What wouldst thou dare insinuate40, thou foul-mouthed villain41?”
“That which I will dare maintain,” rejoined Carver—“that the consort42 you have chosen and have placed on the throne beside you is false to his marriage vows43.”
“Away with him!” cried Philip, furiously.
“Stay!” exclaimed Mary. “I would question him further.”
“Forbear, I beseech44 you, Madam,” interposed Pole. “You only give him power to level his poisonous shafts45 against you.”
“His tongue ought to be torn from his throat for giving utterance to the lies his black heart has conceived!” cried Philip.
“My tongue has uttered no lies,” said Carver. “I have shown the Queen how she has been deceived.”
“Thou hast simply proved thine own wickedness and malevolence,” said Pole. “Her Majesty despises thy slander46.”
“But it cannot pass unpunished.” said Philip. “Let the false villain instantly retract47 the calumnies48 he has uttered, or he shall be tied to yon post and scourged49 till he shall confess himself a liar51 and a slanderer52. Let him be forced to recite the prayer for her Majesty’s safe deliverance, on pain of further torture. And, until he manifest contrition53 for his offences, let his chastisement54 be daily repeated.”
“I will do none of these things,” rejoined Carver, resolutely55. 226“Scourge50 me to death, and I will not retract a single word I have uttered. I will not pray that the Queen, whom thou hast deceived and wronged, may bear thee a son, and so confirm thine authority. But I will pray to the last that my country may be delivered from oppression, that the Papal power may be overthrown56, and the Protestant religion be re-established.”
“Thy resolution shall be tested,” said Philip.
“Your Majesty is justly incensed57 against this miserable58 man,” said Pole to the King. “Yet would I step between him and your anger, and entreat59 you to spare him the chastisement you have ordered to be inflicted60 upon him. I do not seek to extenuate61 his offences, they are many and heinous62, and he must bear their punishment. But spare him additional suffering. Spare him the scourge and the rack.”
“I will spare him nothing unless he retract,” replied Philip, sternly.
“I would accept no grace procured63 by thee,” said Carver to Pole. “As the representative of Antichrist, I regard thee with loathing64 and detestation, and will take nothing from thee.”
“Were not thy mind distraught, thou couldst have no antipathy65 to one who would befriend thee,” replied the Cardinal. “My religion teaches me to bless those that curse us, to pray for them that use us despitefully. Be assured I shall not forget thee in my prayers.”
Carver regarded him steadily66, but made no answer.
“I shall pray that thy heart may be softened,” pursued Pole, “that thou mayst understand thy sinfulness, and truly repent of it ere it be too late. Once more I beseech your Majesty to spare him the torture.”
“Be it as you will. I can refuse your Eminence67 nothing,” replied Philip.
“This is all the revenge I would take,” said Pole, turning to Carver. “You have declared that you hate me—that you regard me as the representative of Antichrist. You profess yourself to be a believer in the Gospel. My practice is, at least, more conformable to its precepts68 than yours.”
Carver made no reply, but his lip slightly quivered.
227“Miserable man,” continued Pole, looking at him compassionately69, “I pity you, and would save you if I could. I see the struggle going on in your breast. Wrestle70 with the demon71 who would gain the mastery over your soul, and cast him from you. Pride stifles72 the better emotions of your heart. Do not restrain them.”
“If I listen to him much longer, my resolution will fail me,” murmured Carver. “I cannot resist his influence.”
“Ere long you will be in a better frame of mind,” continued Pole, “and more accessible to the arguments I would employ.”
“Think it not,” interrupted Carver, at once recovering his sternness. “You will never convert me to Popery and idolatry.”
“I may at least make you sensible of your errors, and lead you to repentance,” said Pole. “The rest lies with Heaven.”
“He shall remain in your Eminence’s charge during a short space,” said Mary, “in the hope that you may be able to bring him to a full sense of his enormities, and prepare him for his end. His life is forfeited73.”
“So the death to which I am doomed74 be the same as that wherewith the staunchest adherents75 of our faith are menaced, I am content,” said Carver.
“Thou shall have thy wish,” rejoined Mary. “Thy death shall be by fire.”
“Then I shall gain my crown of martyrdom,” cried Carver, exultingly.
“Fire will not purge76 out your sins,” said the Cardinal. “Those will cling to the soul, which is indestructible. Therefore repent.”
“And speedily,” added Mary, “for thy time is short.”
Hereupon her Majesty arose, and, quitting the Post Room, proceeded to the chapel77, to which, as we have previously78 intimated, there was access from the lower part of the Lollards’ Tower.
Here mass was performed, and, by the Queen’s express orders, both Constance Tyrrell and Derrick Carver were brought into the chapel during the service. At its close 228they were taken to the cells, while the royal pair proceeded with the Cardinal to the banquetting chamber79, where a collation80 was prepared.
The Queen, however, declined to partake of the repast, saying she felt faint and ill, and two ladies who had accompanied her to the palace being hastily summoned, she retired81 with them.
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1
mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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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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bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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7
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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12
impenitent
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| adj.不悔悟的，顽固的 | |
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13
everlastingly
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| 永久地，持久地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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18
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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21
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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22
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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24
revile
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| v.辱骂，谩骂 | |
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25
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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26
abridge
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| v.删减，删节，节略，缩短 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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28
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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29
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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30
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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31
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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32
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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33
intercede
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| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
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34
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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35
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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36
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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37
exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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38
perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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39
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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40
insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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41
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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42
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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43
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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44
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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45
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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46
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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47
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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48
calumnies
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| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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49
scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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50
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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51
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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52
slanderer
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| 造谣中伤者 | |
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53
contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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54
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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55
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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56
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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57
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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59
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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60
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
extenuate
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| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
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62
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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63
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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64
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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65
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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66
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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67
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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68
precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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compassionately
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| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
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70
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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71
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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72
stifles
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的第三人称单数 )； 镇压，遏制 | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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76
purge
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| n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁 | |
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77
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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78
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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collation
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| n.便餐；整理 | |
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81
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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