royalty restored-第31部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


nd　away　she　sped；　surrounded　by　a　company　of　horsemen。

Lord　Hawley　was　cast　into　the　uttermost　grief　and　passion　by　this　outrage；　but　his　condition　did　not　prevent　him　speedily　gathering　a　number　of　friends　and　retainers；　in　company　with　whom　he　gave　chase　to　those　who　had　abducted　his　granddaughter；　and　so　fast　did　they　ride　that　Mistress　Mallett　was　overtaken　at　Uxbridge；　and　carried　back　in　safety　to　town。　　For　this　outrageous　attempt；　my　Lord　Rochester　was　by　the　king's　command　committed　to　the　Tower；　there　to　await　his　majesty's　good　pleasure。　　It　seemed　now　as　if　the　earl's　chance　of　gaining　the　heiress　had　passed　away　for　ever；　inasmuch　as　Charles　regarded　the　attempted　abduction　with　vast　displeasure；　and　my　Lord　Hawley　with　terrible　indignation。

But　the　ways　of　women　being　inexplicable；　it　happened　in　a　brief　while　Mistress　Mallett　was　inclined　to　regret　my　Lord　Rochester's　imprisonment；　and　therefore　moved　to　have　him　released；　and；　moreover；　she　was　subsequently　pleased　to　regard　his　suit　and　accept　him　as　her　wedded　lord。　　It　speaks　favourably　for　his　character　that　with　all　his　faults　she　loved　him　well：　　nor　did　Rochester；　though　occasionally　unfaithful；　ever　treat　her　with　unkindness。　　At　times　the　old　spirit　of　restlessness　and　passion　for　adventure　would　master　him；　when　he　would　withdraw　himself　from　her　society　for　weeks　and　months。　　But　she；　though　sadly　afflicted　by　such　conduct；　did　not　resent　it。　　〃If　I　could　have　been　troubled　at　anything；　when　I　had　the　happiness　of　receiving　a　letter　from　you；〃　she　writes　to　him　on　one　occasion　when　he　had　absented　himself　from　her　for　long；　〃I　should　be　so　because　you　did　not　name　a　time　when　I　might　hope　to　see　you；　the　uncertainty　of　which　very　much　afflicts　me。〃　　And　again　the　poor　patient　wife　tells　him；　〃Lay　your　commands　upon　me；　what　I　am　to　do；　and　though　it　be　to　forget　my　children；　and　the　long　hope　I　have　lived　in　of　seeing　you；　yet　I　will　endeavour　to　obey　you；　or　in　memory　only　torment　myself；　without　giving　you　the　trouble　of　putting　you　in　mind　that　there　lives　such　a　creature　as　your　faithful　humble　servant。〃　　At　length　dissipation　undermined　his　naturally　strong　constitution；　and　for　months　this　once　most　gay　and　gallant　man；　this　〃noble　and　beautiful　earl；〃　lay　dying　of　that　cruel　disease　consumption。　　The　while　such　thoughts　as　come　to　those　who　reason　of　life's　vanities　beset　him；　and　as　he　descended　into　the　valley　of　shadows；　the　folly　of　this　world's　ways　was　made　clear　to　him。　　And　repenting　of　his　sins；　he　died　in　peace　with　God　and　man　at　the　age　of　three…and…thirty。

George　Villiers　second　Duke　of　Buckingham；　was　not　less　notable　than　my　Lord　Rochester。　　By　turns　he　played　such　diverse　parts　in　life's　strange　comedy　as　that　of　a　spendthrift　and　a　miser；　a　profligate　and　a　philosopher；　a　statesman　who　sought　the　ruin　of　his　country；　and　a　courtier　who　pandered　to　the　pleasures　of　his　king。　　But　inasmuch　as　this　history　is　concerned　with　the　social　rather　than　the　political　life　of　those　mentioned　in　its　pages；　place　must　be　given　to　such　adventures　as　were　connected　with　the　court　and　courtiers。　　Buckingham's　were　chiefly　concerned　with　his　intrigues；　which；　alas！　　were　many　and　strange；　for　though　his　wife　was　loving　and　virtuous；　she　was　likewise　lean　and　brown；　and　wholly　incapable　of　controlling　his　erring　fancies。　Perhaps　it　was　knowledge　of　her　lack　of　comeliness　which　helped　her　to　bear　the　burden　of　his　follies；　for　according　to　Madame　Dunois；　though　the　duchess　knew　he　was　continually　engaged　in　amours；　she；　by　virtue　of　a　patience　uncommon　to　her　sex；　forbore　mentioning　the　subject　to　him；　and　〃had　complaisance　enough　to　entertain　his　mistresses；　and　even　lodge　them　in　her　house；　all　which　she　suffered　because　she　loved　him。〃

The　most　remarkable　of　his　intrigues　was　that　which　connected　his　name　with　the　Countess　of　Shrewsbury。　　Her　ladyship；　was　daughter　of　the　second　Earl　of　Cardigan；　and　wife　of　the　eleventh　Earl　of　Shrewsbury。　　She　was　married　a　year　previous　to　the　restoration；　and　upon　the　establishment　of　the　court　at　Whitehall　had　become　one　of　its　most　distinguished　beauties。　　Nor　was　she　less　famed　for　the　loveliness　of　her　person　than　for　the　generosity　of　her　disposition；　inasmuch　as　none　who　professed　themselves　desirous　of　her　affection　were　ever　allowed　to　languish　in　despair。　　She　therefore　had　many　admirers；　some　of　whom　were　destined　to　suffer　for　the　distinction　her　friendship　conferred。

Now　one　of　the　first　to　gain　her　attachment　was　the　young　Earl　of　Arran；　the　grace　of　whose　bearing　and　ardour　of　whose　character　were　alike　notable　to　the　court。　　The　verses　he　sung　her　to　an　accompaniment　of　his　guitar；　and　the　glances　he　gave　her　indicative　of　his　passion；　might　have　melted　a　heart　less　cold　than　hers。　　Accordingly　they　gained　him　a　friendship　which；　by　reason　of　her　vast　benevolence；　many　were　subsequently　destined　to　share。　　Now　it　chanced　that　the　little　Jermyn；　who　had　already　succeeded　in　winning　the　affections　of　such　notable　women　as　the　poor　Princess　of　Orange　and　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　and　had　besides　conducted　a　series　of　minor　intrigues　with　various　ladies　connected　with　the　court；　was　somewhat　piqued　that　Lady　Shrewsbury　had　accepted　my　Lord　Arran's　attentions　without　encouraging　his。　　For　Henry　Jermyn；　by　virtue　of　the　fascinations　he　exercised　and　the　consequent　reputation　he　enjoyed；　expected　to　be　wooed　by　such　women　as　desired　his　love。

But　when；　later　on；　Lord　Arran's　devotion　to　the　lady　was　succeeded　by　that　of　Thomas　Howard；　brother　to　the　Earl　of　Carlisle；　and　captain　of　the　guards；　Jermyn　was　thoroughly　incensed；　and　resolved　to　make　an　exception　in　favour　of　the　countess　by　beginning　those　civilities　which　act　as　preludes　to　intrigue。　　My　lady；　who　was　not　judicious　enough　to　be　off　with　the　old　love　before　she　was　on　with　the　new；　accepted　Jermyn's　advances　with　an　eagerness　that　gave　promise　of　further　favours。　This　was　highly　displeasing　to　Howard；　a　brave　and　generous　man；　who　under　an　exterior　of　passive　calmness　concealed　a　spirit　of　fearless　courage。　　Though　not　desirous　of　picking　a　quarrel　with　his　rival；　he　was　unwilling　to　suffer　his　impertinent　interference。　　Jermyn；　on　the　other　hand；　not　being　aware　of　Howard's　real　character；　sought　an　early　opportunity　of　insulting　him。　　Such　being　their　dispositions；　a　quarrel　speedily　ensued；　which　happened　in　this　manner。

One　fair　summer　day　Captain　Howard　gave　an　entertainment　at　Spring　Gardens；　in　honour　of　the　countess。　　These　gardens　were　situated　close　by　Charing　Cross；　and　opened　into　the　spacious　walks　of　St。　James's　Park。　　Bounded　on　one　side　by　a　grove；　and　containing　leafy　arbours　and　numerous　thickets；　the　gardens　were　〃contrived　to　all　the　advantages　of　gallantry。〃　　The　scene　of　many　an　intrigue；　they　were　constantly　frequented　by　denizens　of　the　court　and　dwellers　in　the　city；　to　whom　they　afforded　recreation　and　pleasure。　　In　the　centre　of　these　fair　gardens　stood　a　cabaret；　or　house　of　entertainment；　where　repasts　were　served　at　exceeding　high　prices；　and　much　good　wine　was　drunk。　Here　it　was　Captain　Howard　received　my　Lady　Shrewsbury　and　a　goodly　company；　spread　a　delicate　banquet　for　them；　and　for　their　better　diversion　provided　some　excellent　music　played　upon　the　bagpipes；　by　a　soldier　noted　for　his　execution　on　that　instrument。

Jermyn　hearing　of　the　great　preparations　Captain　Howard　made；　resolved　to　be　present　on　the　occasion；　and　accordingly；　before　the　hour　appointed　for　dinner；　betook　himself　to　the　garden；　and　as　if　he　had　arrived　there　by　accident；　strolled　leisurely　down　the　broad　pleasant　paths；　bordered　by　pinks　and　fragrant　roses　clustering　in　the　hedgerows。　　And　presently　drawing　nigh　the　cabaret；　he　tarried　there　until　the　countess；　rich　in　physical　graces；　with　sunny　smiles　upon　her　lips；　and　amorous　light　in　her　eyes；　stepped　forth　upon　the　balcony　and　greeted　him。　　Whereon　his　heart　took　fire：　　and　entering　the　house；　he　joined　her　where　she　stood；　and　held　pleasant　converse　with　her。　　Inflated　by　his　success；　he　resolved　on　making　himself　disagreeable　to　the　host；　and　therefore　ventured　to　criticize　the　entertainment；　and　ridicule　the　music；　which　he　voted　barbarous　to　civilized　ears。　And　to　such　an　extent　did　he　outrage　Thomas　Howard；　that　the　gallant　captain；　being　more　of　a　soldier　than　a　courtier；　and　therefore　preferring　passages　at　arms　to　those　of　wit；　could　scarce　refrain　from　drawing　his　sword　and　demanding　the　satisfaction　due　to　him。

However；　he　subdued　his　wrath　till　the　day　was　spent；　and　early　next　morning　sent　a　challenge　to　his　rival。　　Accordingly　they　met　with　fierce　intent；　and　the　duel　which　followed　ended　almost　fatally　for　Jermyn；　who　was　carried　from　the　scene　of　encounter　bleeding　from　three　wounds　caused　by　his　antagonist's　sword。

The　unfortunate　issue　of　this　fight　deprived　Lady　Shrewsbury　of　two　lovers；　for　Howard；　having　rendered　Jermyn　unable　to　perform　the　part　of　a　gallant；　was　obliged　to　fly　from　the　country　and　remain　abroad　some　time。

In　their　stead　the　countess　sought　consolation　in　the　companionship　of　Thomas　Killigrew；　a　handsome　man　and　a　notable　courtier。　　She　therefore　had　no　regrets　for　the　past：　　and　he　was　entirely　happy　in　the　present；　so　that　he　boasted　of　his　felicities　to　all　acquaintance；　in　general；　and　to　his　friend　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　in　particular。　　It　was　Killigrew's　constant　habit　to　sup　with　his　grace；　on　which　occasions　his　conversation　invariably　turned　on　her　ladyship；　when；　his　imagination　being　heated　by　wine；　he　freely　endowed　her　with　the　perfections　of　a　goddess。　　To　such　descriptions　the　duke　could　not　listen　unmoved；　and　therefore　resolved　to　judge　for　himself　if　indeed　the　countess　was　such　a　model　of　loveliness　as　Killigrew　represented。　Accordingly；　at　the　first　opportunity　which　presented　itself；　the　duke　made　love　to　her；　and　she；　nothing　averse　to　his　attentions；　encouraged　his　affections。　　Killigrew　was　much　aggrieved　at　this　unexpected　turn　of　affairs；　and　bitterly　reproached　the　countess；　but　she；　being　mistress　of　the　situation；　boldly　denied　all　knowledge　of　him。

This　was　more　than　he　expected　or　could　endure；　and　he　consequently　abused　her　roundly　in　all　companies；　characterizing　the　charms　of　which　he　onc