Upwards1 of three years had flown since the occurrences last narrated—three terrible years, during which religious persecution2 never ceased. Bradford and Marsh3 had perished at the stake, so had Ridley and Latimer, with many others, and Cranmer had won a martyr’s crown. Gardiner had long gone to his account, being stricken with a mortal disease, while reading a letter describing the torments4 of Ridley and Latimer. He lingered for a month, and then dying, was buried with great pomp in Winchester Cathedral. But though Gardiner was gone, Bonner yet lived, and the barbarous proceedings5 against the Protestants were unrelaxed.
On Cranmer’s death, Pole was immediately created Archbishop of Canterbury, and began to put into execution the plan he had long designed for reforming the abuses of the Church. Notwithstanding the opposition7 of the clergy8, aided as they were by Paul IV., the then ruling Pontiff, whose displeasure Pole had incurred9, he succeeded in effecting many beneficial changes, and would doubtless have accomplished10 much more, had he been spared, but in the very midst of his exertions11 he was attacked by a quartan ague, engendered12 by the pestilent exhalations from Lambeth marshes13. By its extreme violence, the fever threatened from the first a fatal termination.
Though not unconscious of his danger, and, indeed 413scarcely entertaining a hope of recovery, the Cardinal14 continued his labours during the intervals15 when he was free from fever. His chief cause of concern at this moment was, that the Queen also was lying upon a sick couch, from which it was scarcely probable she could rise. Foreseeing the disastrous16 consequences to the Church of Rome which must inevitably17 ensue from her death, he felt so troubled in spirit that his mental anxiety added force to the attacks of the ague.
Throughout the Cardinal’s illness, Priuli watched over him with unremitting solicitude18, and such entire reliance had Pole in the judgment19 and devotion of his friend, that he confided20 everything to him. One day, when the Cardinal was free from fever, and he and Priuli were alone together in the library of Lambeth Palace, he requested his friend to unlock a small coffer which he pointed21 out, and at the same time gave him a key. Priuli obeyed, and on opening the coffer perceived within it a parchment, so endorsed22 as to leave him no doubt as to its nature.
“That is my will,” said Pole. “I desire you to read it.”
On perusing23 the document, Priuli found that the Cardinal had appointed him his sole heir and executor, whereupon, looking Pole earnestly in the face, he said, “I am glad you have consulted me on this matter, dear friend, and allowed me the opportunity of expressing my opinion upon it. It would have grieved me to disobey your injunctions, and yet I cannot conscientiously24 fulfil them. Readily will I undertake the office to which you have appointed me, and will carefully attend to your directions as to the distribution of your property, but with regard to the rich inheritance you would bestow25 upon me, I must peremptorily26 decline it. I cannot—will not accept any part of it. I thank you for the intent, but I am rich enough without this augmentation of my worldly goods.”
“Distribute my possessions among the poor, or build churches and hospitals with them,” rejoined the Cardinal. “Whatever you do, will, I am sure, be for the best. But if you decline my bequest27, at least accept some slight object, be it only a jewel or ring, to be kept as a memorial of our long friendship.”
“I desire neither jewel nor ring, nor any other memorial 414richer than the breviary you constantly use,” replied Priuli. “Of all gifts, I should value that the most.”
“It shall be yours, dear friend,” rejoined Pole. “I shall keep it as long as my eyes are able to fix upon it—as long as my hands will hold it—then take it. May it afford you the comfort it has ever afforded me, and draw you towards Heaven, as it has never failed to draw me.”
Pole was constant in his inquiries28 after the Queen, and on her part Mary was equally anxious for information as to the state of his health. Messengers were continually passing between Lambeth Palace and Whitehall, but from neither place were the tidings satisfactory. On the contrary, the reports of the condition of both illustrious sufferers grew worse, and it became a question as to which of the two would be the survivor29. Pole prayed that he might be the first to depart—but it was not so ordained30.
The grief felt by every member of the Cardinal’s vast establishment for the deprivation31 which they felt they must soon undergo, was sincere and profound, but no one deplored32 his exalted33 master’s precarious34 condition more deeply than Rodomont Bittern. The poor who thronged35 the gates of the palace, and received alms and food from Priuli, put up earnest prayers for their benefactor’s recovery.
But the fever abated36 not, and though its attacks were somewhat mitigated37 in severity, still the Cardinal’s debilitated38 frame was less able to withstand them. He daily grew weaker and weaker.
Notwithstanding his prostration39, however, he was carried twice in each day to the chapel40 to hear mass. One evening after vespers, the large easy-chair in which he reclined was wheeled into the library, and Priuli, who now seldom left him, took his accustomed place by his side. Four days having elapsed since the Cardinal’s last attack, it was certain that the night would not pass without a return of the fever. Notwithstanding this, Pole was conversing41 cheerfully with his friend, when Rodomont Bittern entered to say that Mistress Constance Tyrrell was without, and desired to see his Eminence42.
“Admit her straight,” replied Pole. “She is ever welcome.”
And the next moment Constance came in. The 415expression of her countenance43, which was as pale as death, struck Priuli, but did not appear to attract Pole’s attention. Moving noiselessly towards the Cardinal, Constance knelt before him, while he spread his thin white hands over her head, and in feeble tones gave her his benediction44.
“How fares the Queen?” inquired Pole, as Constance arose. “She was somewhat easier this morning, as I understand.”
“Her Majesty45 is easier now,” replied Constance. “She is free from all pain.”
“Is she gone?” inquired Pole, while a premonitory shiver shook his wasted frame.
“She is gone,” rejoined Constance. “The heart that has so long suffered has ceased to beat.”
“May the angels of Heaven receive her soul and present it before the Lord!” exclaimed Pole. “And may whatever sin she has committed in life through human frailty46 be forgiven her! Did her spirit pass away easily?”
“Most easily,” replied Constance. “Her sole concern was for the welfare of her Church.”
“The chief pillar of the Church is broken,” cried Pole, in a voice of anguish47; “and my hand, which might have helped to support the falling structure, is also powerless. Domine, salva nos, perimus! Salvator Mundi, salva Ecclesiam tuam.”
For some moments he remained in fervent48 prayer, after which he seemed calmer, and inquired if the Queen had said aught concerning the King her husband.
“She spoke49 not of him at the last,” replied Constance, “but it would seem that the loss of Calais produced a deep impression on her, for she said, ‘My physicians seek to know the cause of my malady50. Let them open my breast, and they will find “Calais” graven on my heart.’”
“It was not the loss of Calais that broke her heart,” said Pole. “Heaven forgive him who has brought her prematurely51 to the tomb. England has lost a great sovereign, and our Church its chief defence. Elizabeth is now Queen, and with her the Protestant Church will be restored. Fortunately, I shall not live to see that day. Farewell, dear daughter. My blessing52 be ever upon you!”
Finding that the fever was coming on, he caused himself 416to be transported to his chamber53, and was laid upon the couch which he was never again to leave with life.
Towards morning his condition became alarming, and he received extreme unction, the last rites54 being performed by the Bishop6 of Asaph. This done, after some words to Priuli, he clasped to his breast the crucifix, which he had ever with him, and seemed to sink into a gentle slumber55. And so he breathed his last.
Crucifix and breviary were kept as sacred relics56 by Priuli.
In the chapel of Saint Thomas à Becket, which he himself built in Canterbury Cathedral, rests the saintly Reginald Pole. This simple inscription57 is placed over his tomb:—
Depositum Cardinalis Poli.
The End
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1
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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12
engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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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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15
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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20
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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endorsed
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| vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品 | |
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perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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bequest
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| n.遗赠；遗产，遗物 | |
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28
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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29
survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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30
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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mitigated
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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debilitated
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| adj.疲惫不堪的，操劳过度的v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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40
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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46
frailty
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| n.脆弱；意志薄弱 | |
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47
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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48
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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51
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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52
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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53
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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54
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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55
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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56
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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