It is possible that slander12, which very seldom favours the memories of persons in exalted13 stations, may have blackened the character of Leicester with darker shades than really belonged to it. But the almost general voice of the times attached the most foul14 suspicions to the death of the unfortunate Countess, more especially as it took place so very opportunely15 for the indulgence of her lover’s ambition. If we can trust Ashmole’s Antiquities16 of Berkshire, there was but too much ground for the traditions which charge Leicester with the murder of his wife. In the following extract of the passage, the reader will find the authority I had for the story of the romance:—
“At the west end of the church are the ruins of a manor17, anciently belonging (as a cell, or place of removal, as some report) to the monks18 of Abington. At the Dissolution, the said manor, or lordship, was conveyed to one — Owen (I believe), the possessor of Godstow then.
“In the hall, over the chimney, I find Abington arms cut in stone — namely, a patonee between four martletts; and also another escutcheon — namely, a lion rampant19, and several mitres cut in stone about the house. There is also in the said house a chamber20 called Dudley’s chamber, where the Earl of Leicester’s wife was murdered, of which this is the story following:—
“Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a very goodly personage, and singularly well featured, being a great favourite to Queen Elizabeth, it was thought, and commonly reported, that had he been a bachelor or widower21, the Queen would have made him her husband; to this end, to free himself of all obstacles, he commands, or perhaps, with fair flattering entreaties22, desires his wife to repose23 herself here at his servant Anthony Forster’s house, who then lived in the aforesaid manor-house; and also prescribes to Sir Richard Varney (a prompter to this design), at his coming hither, that he should first attempt to poison her, and if that did not take effect, then by any other way whatsoever24 to dispatch her. This, it seems, was proved by the report of Dr. Walter Bayly, sometime fellow of New College, then living in Oxford25, and professor of physic in that university; whom, because he would not consent to take away her life by poison, the Earl endeavoured to displace him the court. This man, it seems, reported for most certain that there was a practice in Cumnor among the conspirators26, to have poisoned this poor innocent lady, a little before she was killed, which was attempted after this manner:— They seeing the good lady sad and heavy (as one that well knew, by her other handling, that her death was not far off), began to persuade her that her present disease was abundance of melancholy27 and other humours, etc., and therefore would needs counsel her to take some potion, which she absolutely refusing to do, as still suspecting the worst; whereupon they sent a messenger on a day (unawares to her) for Dr. Bayly, and entreated28 him to persuade her to take some little potion by his direction, and they would fetch the same at Oxford; meaning to have added something of their own for her comfort, as the doctor upon just cause and consideration did suspect, seeing their great importunity29, and the small need the lady had of physic, and therefore he peremptorily30 denied their request; misdoubting (as he afterwards reported) lest, if they had poisoned her under the name of his potion, he might after have been hanged for a colour of their sin, and the doctor remained still well assured that this way taking no effect, she would not long escape their violence, which afterwards happened thus. For Sir Richard Varney abovesaid (the chief projector31 in this design), who, by the Earl’s order, remained that day of her death alone with her, with one man only and Forster, who had that day forcibly sent away all her servants from her to Abington market, about three miles distant from this place; they (I say, whether first stifling33 her, or else strangling her) afterwards flung her down a pair of stairs and broke her neck, using much violence upon her; but, however, though it was vulgarly reported that she by chance fell downstairs (but still without hurting her hood34 that was upon her head), yet the inhabitants will tell you there that she was conveyed from her usual chamber where she lay, to another where the bed’s head of the chamber stood close to a privy35 postern door, where they in the night came and stifled36 her in her bed, bruised37 her head very much broke her neck, and at length flung her down stairs, thereby38 believing the world would have thought it a mischance, and so have blinded their villainy. But behold39 the mercy and justice of God in revenging and discovering this lady’s murder; for one of the persons that was a coadjutor in this murder was afterwards taken for a felony in the marches of Wales, and offering to publish the manner of the aforesaid murder, was privately40 made away in the prison by the Earl’s appointment; and Sir Richard Varney the other, dying about the same time in London, cried miserably41, and blasphemed God, and said to a person of note (who hath related the same to others since), not long before his death, that all the devils in hell did tear him in pieces. Forster, likewise, after this fact, being a man formerly42 addicted43 to hospitality, company, mirth, and music, was afterwards observed to forsake44 all this, and with much melancholy and pensiveness46 (some say with madness) pined and drooped47 away. The wife also of Bald Butter, kinsman48 to the Earl, gave out the whole fact a little before her death. Neither are these following passages to be forgotten, that as soon as ever she was murdered, they made great haste to bury her before the coroner had given in his inquest (which the Earl himself condemned49 as not done advisedly), which her father, or Sir John Robertsett (as I suppose), hearing of, came with all speed hither, caused her corpse50 to be taken up, the coroner to sit upon her, and further inquiry51 to be made concerning this business to the full; but it was generally thought that the Earl stopped his mouth, and made up the business betwixt them; and the good Earl, to make plain to the world the great love he bare to her while alive, and what a grief the loss of so virtuous52 a lady was to his tender heart, caused (though the thing, by these and other means, was beaten into the heads of the principal men of the University of Oxford) her body to be reburied in St, Mary’s Church in Oxford, with great pomp and solemnity. It is remarkable53, when Dr. Babington, the Earl’s chaplain, did preach the funeral sermon, he tript once or twice in his speech, by recommending to their memories that virtuous lady so pitifully murdered, instead of saying pitifully slain54. This Earl, after all his murders and poisonings, was himself poisoned by that which was prepared for others (some say by his wife at Cornbury Lodge55 before mentioned), though Baker56 in his Chronicle would have it at Killingworth; anno 1588.”1
The same accusation57 has been adopted and circulated by the author of Leicester’s Commonwealth58, a satire59 written directly against the Earl of Leicester, which loaded him with the most horrid60 crimes, and, among the rest, with the murder of his first wife. It was alluded61 to in the Yorkshire Tragedy, a play erroneously ascribed to Shakespeare, where a baker, who determines to destroy all his family, throws his wife downstairs, with this allusion62 to the supposed murder of Leicester’s lady,—
“The only way to charm a woman’s tongue
Is, break her neck — a politician did it.”
The reader will find I have borrowed several incidents as well as names from Ashmole, and the more early authorities; but my first acquaintance with the history was through the more pleasing medium of verse. There is a period in youth when the mere63 power of numbers has a more strong effect on ear and imagination than in more advanced life. At this season of immature64 taste, the author was greatly delighted with the poems of Mickle and Langhorne, poets who, though by no means deficient65 in the higher branches of their art, were eminent66 for their powers of verbal melody above most who have practised this department of poetry. One of those pieces of Mickle, which the author was particularly pleased with, is a ballad67, or rather a species of elegy68, on the subject of Cumnor Hall, which, with others by the same author, was to be found in Evans’s Ancient Ballads69 (vol. iv., page 130), to which work Mickle made liberal contributions. The first stanza70 especially had a peculiar71 species of enchantment72 for the youthful ear of the author, the force of which is not even now entirely73 spent; some others are sufficiently74 prosaic75.
Cumnor Hall.
The dews of summer night did fall;
The moon, sweet regent of the sky,
Silver’d the walls of Cumnor Hall,
And many an oak that grew thereby,
Now nought76 was heard beneath the skies,
The sounds of busy life were still,
Save an unhappy lady’s sighs,
That issued from that lonely pile.
“Leicester,” she cried, “is this thy love
That thou so oft hast sworn to me,
To leave me in this lonely grove77,
Immured78 in shameful79 privity?
“No more thou com’st with lover’s speed,
Thy once beloved bride to see;
But be she alive, or be she dead,
I fear, stern Earl, ‘s the same to thee.
“Not so the usage I received
When happy in my father’s hall;
No faithless husband then me grieved,
No chilling fears did me appal80.
“I rose up with the cheerful morn,
No lark81 more blithe82, no flower more gay;
And like the bird that haunts the thorn,
So merrily sung the livelong day.
“If that my beauty is but small,
Among court ladies all despised,
Why didst thou rend83 it from that hall,
Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized?
“And when you first to me made suit,
How fair I was you oft would say!
And proud of conquest, pluck’d the fruit,
Then left the blossom to decay.
“Yes! now neglected and despised,
The rose is pale, the lily’s dead;
But he that once their charms so prized,
Is sure the cause those charms are fled.
“For know, when sick’ning grief doth prey84,
And tender love’s repaid with scorn,
The sweetest beauty will decay,—
What floweret can endure the storm?
“At court, I’m told, is beauty’s throne,
Where every lady’s passing rare,
That Eastern flowers, that shame the sun,
Are not so glowing, not so fair.
“Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds
Where roses and where lilies vie,
To seek a primrose85, whose pale shades
Must sicken when those gauds are by?
“‘Mong rural beauties I was one,
Among the fields wild flowers are fair;
Some country swain might me have won,
And thought my beauty passing rare.
“But, Leicester (or I much am wrong),
Or ’tis not beauty lures86 thy vows6;
Rather ambition’s gilded87 crown
Makes thee forget thy humble88 spouse89.
“Then, Leicester, why, again I plead
(The injured surely may repine)—
Why didst thou wed10 a country maid,
When some fair princess might be thine?
“Why didst thou praise my hum’ble charms,
And, oh! then leave them to decay?
Why didst thou win me to thy arms,
Then leave to mourn the livelong day?
“The village maidens90 of the plain
Salute91 me lowly as they go;
Envious92 they mark my silken train,
Nor think a Countess can have woe93.
“The simple nymphs! they little know
How far more happy’s their estate;
To smile for joy, than sigh for woe —
To be content, than to be great.
“How far less blest am I than them?
Daily to pine and waste with care!
Like the poor plant that, from its stem
Divided, feels the chilling air.
“Nor, cruel Earl! can I enjoy
The humble charms of solitude94;
Your minions95 proud my peace destroy,
By sullen96 frowns or pratings rude.
“Last night, as sad I chanced to stray,
The village death-bell smote97 my ear;
They wink’d aside, and seemed to say,
‘Countess, prepare, thy end is near!’
“And now, while happy peasants sleep,
Here I sit lonely and forlorn;
No one to soothe98 me as I weep,
Save Philomel on yonder thorn.
“My spirits flag — my hopes decay —
Still that dread99 death-bell smites100 my ear;
And many a boding101 seems to say,
‘Countess, prepare, thy end is near!’”
Thus sore and sad that lady grieved,
In Cumnor Hall, so lone32 and drear;
And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved,
And let fall many a bitter tear.
And ere the dawn of day appear’d,
In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear,
Full many a piercing scream was heard,
And many a cry of mortal fear.
The death-bell thrice was heard to ring,
An aerial voice was heard to call,
And thrice the raven102 flapp’d its wing
Around the towers of Cumnor Hall.
The mastiff howl’d at village door,
The oaks were shatter’d on the green;
Woe was the hour — for never more
That hapless Countess e’er was seen!
And in that Manor now no more
Is cheerful feast and sprightly103 ball;
For ever since that dreary104 hour
Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall.
The village maids, with fearful glance,
Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall;
Nor ever lead the merry dance,
Among the groves105 of Cumnor Hall.
Full many a traveller oft hath sigh’d,
And pensive45 wept the Countess’ fall,
As wand’ring onward106 they’ve espied107
The haunted towers of Cumnor Hall.
Abbotsford,
1st March 1831.
1st March 1831.
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1
delineation
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| n.记述；描写 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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3
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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avows
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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13
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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14
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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15
opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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16
antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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17
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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18
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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19
rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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20
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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21
widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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22
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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23
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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24
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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25
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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26
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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27
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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28
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
importunity
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| n.硬要，强求 | |
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30
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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31
projector
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| n.投影机，放映机，幻灯机 | |
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32
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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33
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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34
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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35
privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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36
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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37
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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38
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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39
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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40
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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41
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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42
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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43
addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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44
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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45
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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46
pensiveness
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| n.pensive（沉思的）的变形 | |
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47
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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49
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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50
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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51
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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52
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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53
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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54
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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55
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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56
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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57
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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58
commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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59
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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60
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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61
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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63
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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64
immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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66
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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67
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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elegy
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| n.哀歌，挽歌 | |
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69
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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70
stanza
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| n.（诗）节，段 | |
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71
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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72
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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73
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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74
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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75
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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76
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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77
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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78
immured
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| v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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80
appal
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| vt.使胆寒，使惊骇 | |
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81
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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82
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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83
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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84
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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85
primrose
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| n.樱草，最佳部分， | |
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86
lures
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| 吸引力，魅力（lure的复数形式） | |
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87
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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88
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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89
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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90
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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91
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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92
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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93
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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94
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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95
minions
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| n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者 | |
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96
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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97
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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98
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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99
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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100
smites
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的第三人称单数 ) | |
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101
boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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102
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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103
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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104
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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105
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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106
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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107
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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