Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

"Nay! they would abase that soul which is about to be the comrade of celeftial fpirits, fo they could work out a seeming benefit to their Cause."

""Tis fo, fir-'tis. The Caufe! the Caufe! Touch that, you are an enemy-Jew, Turk, Atheist, Papist! Smile on't, you are i' the odour of fanctity! your garments be holy! Honour, and truth, and justice, what are they to the Caufe?"

Of all his enemies, you, Master Ashton, you Doctor Barlow, you Doctor Mountford, be the very worst! As is the spirit to the body, fo be ye to Cobham, Cecyl, Ralegh! As you have been most trusted, so have ye been the most base. Under the facred bonds of your calling, did you work out the ends of an earthly policy, and your own selfish ends too. Thereupon are ye the most pernicious and contemptible! You are, moreover, the moft dangerous of all; as the fecret afp is more to be feared than the manifest crocodile. For, as you tried hard to prejudice his character with posterity; fo, by degrading his piety to a mere enthusiasmwith your canting whines and shibboleths—you went near to thrust him from that hereafter he had trusted in.

CHAPTER XXII.

"Letters came last night

To a dear friend,

That tell black tidings.

Poft you to London, and you'll find it so:

I Speak no more than every one doth know."
K. RICHARD II. act III. fc. IV.

HERE was little Robin in the Pleafaunce, a
curvetting on his pony. Now would he run a

tilt at a quintain Sir Thomas had erected: now,

triumphing, jeer at the lifelefs block. Anon, with a slash and a fkirr, would he wend over the crifp gravel, to where his watchful mother stayed, guarding him from harm. And little Tom, he rode a cock-horse, whose mane and tail were ftrung with knacks that made a merry noise as he careered. Thorough the knots and flower-beds, the pretty fair-haired boy was prancing; now close about the old folks' path, his ruddy cheeks and clear blue eyes laughingly asking,

A more peaceful Scene.

313

"Is't not well done? Doth not my hobby go?" And presently crashing into crocuffes and fnowdrops, with a switch the Knight had pilled for him, as if they had been mortal enemies of Plantagenet; but Nelly, pouting that she might not play thus rudely, hung by her mother's kirtle.

The grandfather was telling cheerfully of olden times; yet his eye and his heart were in the present and the future of those dear ones, all-thank God, about him! He fpake of his own father, who departed fome fifty years agone, and of his mother, whom he scarce remembered-of old Sir Ralf, and of the fair lady who died when Befs was born. Then of his school-days he had some stories, and of his ripe manhood. How he had lived temperately, and thus had grown old without weakness. How in his youth he had ferved God, who had never ceafed to bless him. And, touching on those afflictions he had met, he said, with humble thanks, that the heart was made better; bearing its troubles patiently.

Now William and Helen drew nigh, that they might learn fome of the traditions of the house. Oh! how fuch

things he lost for ever, when age cometh on not kind and frosty, but damp and rheumy!

There had been much peace in Sir Thomas's day: for which, though a keen foldier, he was wont to praise God. "For," quoth he, "peace is the best conqueft; for then both parts nobly are fubdued, and neither party lofer." Again, "War," faid he, " is like an ill-fheathed knife; ever most ready to cut his master." Yet had the Knight gained his fpurs in a well-fought field in Holland. Then had he ferved in Ireland.

Was it a fad mifchance brought his memory to this point, or was it that foreboding Angel which whispers as of things now happening afar or coming on us presently? It carried his mind to that fad tale, how poor Earl Walter had been perfecuted and forfaken by enemies and pretended friends; and what unfair ufage he had gotten at the hands of fome who had fince gone to render an account of that tranfaction. And Dame Elizabeth faid, "Thomas, heart-God, it may be, gave them repentance or ever they came to their end!" "Grant it, deareft!" quoth he; 66 'grant it!" And then he recalled how the Devereux had been shortlived; and how his friend had bid fome warn his fon against thirty-fix, which was the ultimate span of their house. And the Knight was fad awhile. Then he

Of Robert Devereux.

315

fell a talking of Earl Robert, his wilful childhood, his dauntless youth, his fretful age. Yet of what a kindly nature was he-so noble-hearted, generous, free! How he remembered him of his father's temper in fomething, while in others he had the very oppofite humours; being carried away betimes by an ungovernable paffion, though he held himself for patient; having strong angers upon him, fittingly; using an overbearing spirit, domineering over his equals" which," said Sir Thomas reflectingly, "none will forgive nor forget. God keep him from quarrels with those state factions! He had been better ruled by my Lord Treasurer Burghley than by thefe. Would he”

And now, as they drew nigh the house, it growing dusk and the evening fettling in raw and chilly; one cometh galloping wild like over the new lawn. 'Twas an injury William

must look to. 'Tis a forrel beast.

Shortly he knoweth the

man. "Tis "Zekiel at the croft pale his horfe drops. The rapid doubled pantings of the poor brute end with a violent contraction and a start. A few lines reveal all that` had been paffing: explain the fo long filence!

Sir Thomas ftaggers. They place him on his old feat in the porch. Dame Elizabeth rests his head upon

« PreviousContinue »