KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Kenilworththe deepest dejection.“I cannot but grieve for this gentleman,” she said to Leicester.“I have inquired concerning him, and his presence confirmswhat I heard, that he is a scholar and a soldier, wellaccomplished both in arts and arms. We women, my lord,are fanciful in our choice —I had said now, to judge by theeye, there was no comparison to be held betwixt your followerand this gentleman. But Varney is a well-spoken fellow,and, to say truth, that goes far with us of the weakersex.—look you, Master Tressilian, a bolt lost is not a bowbroken. Your true affection, as I will hold it to be, hath been,it seems, but ill requited; but you have scholarship, and youknow there have been false Cressidas to be found, from theTrojan war downwards. Forget, good sir, this Lady Light o’Love —teach your affection to see with a wiser eye. This wesay to you, more from the writings of learned men than ourown knowledge, being, as we are, far removed by station andwill from the enlargement of experience in such idle toys ofhumorous passion. For this dame’s father, we can make hisgrief the less by advancing his son-in-law to such station asmay enable him to give an honourable support to his bride.Thou shalt not be forgotten thyself, Tressilian—follow ourcourt, and thou shalt see that a true Troilus hath some claimon our grace. Think of what that arch-knave Shakespearesays—a plague on him, his toys come into my head when Ishould think of other matters. Stay, how goes it?‘Cressid was yours, tied with the bonds of heaven ;These bonds of heaven are slipt, dissolved, and loosed,And with another knot five fingers tied,The fragments of her faith are bound to Diomed.’You smile, my Lord of Southampton—perchance I makeyour player’s verse halt through my bad memory. But let itsuffice let there be no more of this mad matter.”And as Tressilian kept the posture of one who would willinglybe heard, though, at the same time, expressive of thedeepest reverence, the Queen added with some impatience,“What would the man have? The wench cannot wed both ofyou? She has made her election—not a wise one perchance—but she is Varney’s wedded wife.”“My suit should sleep there, most gracious Sovereign,” said198