太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > mary stuart >

第5节

mary stuart-第5节

小说: mary stuart 字数: 每页4000字

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!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




followed with evident pleasure; was ended; he turnedtowards the

queen's windows; and; having cried out for the last time; 〃Adieu;

loveliest and most cruel of princesses!〃 he stretched out his neck to

the executioner; without displaying any repentance or uttering any

complaint。  This death made all the more impression upon Mary; that

she did not dare to show her sympathy openly。



Meanwhile there was a rumour that the queen of Scotland was

consenting to a new marriage; and several suitors came forward;

sprung from the principal reigning families of Europe: first; the

Archduke Charles; third son of the Emperor of Germany; then the Duke

of Anjou; who afterwards became Henry III。  But to wed a foreign

prince was to give up her claims to the English crown。  So Mary

refused; and; making a merit of this to Elizabeth; she cast her eyes

on a relation of the latter's; Henry Stuart; Lord Darnley; son of the

Earl of Lennox。  Elizabeth; who had nothing plausible to urge against

this marriage; since the Queen of Scotland not only chose an

Englishman for husband; but was marrying into her own family; allowed

the Earl of Lennox and his son to go to the Scotch court; reserving

it to herself; if matters appeared to take a serious turn; to recall

them botha command which they would be constrained to obey; since

all their property was in England。



Darnley was eighteen years of age: he was handsome; well…made;

elegant; he talked in that attractive manner of the young nobles of

the French and English courts that Mary no longer heard since her

exile in Scotland; she let herself be deceived by these appearances;

and did not see that under this brilliant exterior Darnley hid utter

insignificance; dubious courage; and a fickle and churlish character。

It is true that he came to her under the auspices of a man whose

influence was as striking as the risen fortune which gave him the

opportunity to exert it。  We refer to David Rizzio。



David Rizzio; who played such a great part in the life of Mary

Stuart; whose strange favour for him has given her enemies; probably

without any cause; such cruel weapons against her; was the son of a

Turin musician burdened with a numerous family; who; recognising in

him a pronounced musical taste; had him instructed in the first

principles of the art。  At the age of fifteen he had left his

father's house and had gone on foot to Nice; where the Duke of Savoy

held his court; there he entered the service of the Duke of Moreto;

and this lord having been appointed; some years afterwards; to the

Scottish embassy; Rizzio followed him to Scotland。  As this young man

had a very fine voice; and accompanied on the viol and fiddle songs

of which both the airs and the words were of his own composition; the

ambassador spoke of him to Mary; who wished to see him。  Rizzio; full

of confidence in himself; and seeing in the queen's desire a road to

success; hastened to obey her command; sang before her; and pleased

her。  She begged him then of Moreto; making no more of it than if she

had asked of him a thoroughbred dog or a well…trained falcon。  Moreta

presented him to her; delighted at finding such an opportunity to pay

his court; but scarcely was Rizzio in her service than Mary

discovered that music was the least of his gifts; that he possessed;

besides that; education if not profound at least varied; a supple

mind; a lively imagination; gentle ways; and at the same time much

boldness and presumption。  He reminded her of those Italian artists

whom she had seen at the French court; and spoke to her the tongue of

Marot and Ronsard; whose most beautiful poems he knew by heart: this

was more than enough to please Mary Stuart。  In a short time he

became her favourite; and meanwhile the place of secretary for the

French despatches falling vacant; Rizzio was provided for with it。



Darnley; who wished to succeed at all costs; enlisted Rizzio in his

interests; unconscious that he had no need of this support; and as;

on her side; Mary; who had fallen in love with him at first sight;

fearing some new intrigue of Elizabeth's; hastened on this union so

far as the proprieties permitted; the affair moved forward with

wonderful rapidity; and in the midst of public rejoicing; with the

approbation of the nobility; except for a small minority; with Murray

at its head; the marriage was solemnised under the happiest auspices;

29th July 1565。  Two days before; Darnley and his father; the Earl of

Lennox; had received a command to return to London; and as they had

not obeyed it; a week after the celebration of the marriage they

learned that the Countess of Lennox; the only one of the family

remaining in Elizabeth's power; had been arrested and taken to the

Tower。  Thus Elizabeth; in spite of her dissimulation; yielding to

that first impulse of violence that she always had such trouble to

overcome; publicly displayed her resentment。



However; Elizabeth was not the woman to be satisfied with useless

vengeance: she soon released the countess; and turned her eyes

towards Murray; the most discontented of the nobles in opposition;

who by this marriage was losing all his personal influence。  It was

thus easy for Elizabeth to put arms in his hand。  In fact; when he

had failed in his first attempt to seize Darnley; he called to his

aid the Duke of Chatellerault; Glencairn; Argyll; and Rothes; and

collecting what partisans they could; they openly rebelled against

the queen。  This was the first ostensible act of that hatred which

was afterwards so fatal to Mary。



The queen; on her side; appealed to her nobles; who in response

hastened to rally to her; so that in a month's time she found herself

at the head of the finest army that ever a king of Scotland had

raised。  Darnley assumed the command of this magnificent assembly;

mounted on a superb horse; arrayed in gilded armour; and accompanied

by the queen; who; in a riding habit; with pistols at her saddle…bow;

wished to make the campaign with him; that she might not quit his

side for a moment。  Both were young; both were handsome; and they

left Edinburgh amidst the cheers of the people and the army。



Murray and his accomplices did not even try to stand against them;

and the campaign consisted of such rapid and complex marches and

counter…marches; that this rebellion is called the Run…about Raid…

that is to say; the run in every sense of the word。  Murray and the

rebels withdrew into England; where Elizabeth; while seeming to

condemn their unlucky attempt; afforded them all the assistance they

needed。



Mary returned to Edinburgh delighted at the success of her two first

campaigns; not suspecting that this new good fortune was the last she

would have; and that there her short…lived prosperity would cease。

Indeed; she soon saw that in Darnley she had given herself not a

devoted and very attentive husband; as she had believed; but an

imperious and brutal master; who; no longer having any motive for

concealment; showed himself to her just as he was; a man of

disgraceful vices; of which drunkenness and debauchery was the least。

Accordingly; serious differences were not long in springing up in

this royal household。



Darnley in wedding Mary had not become king; but merely the queen's

husband。  To confer on him authority nearly equalling a regent's; it

was necessary that Mary should grant him what was termed the crown

matrimoniala crown Francis II had worn during his short royalty;

and that Mary; after Darnley's conduct to herself; had not the

slightest intention of bestowing on him。  Thus; to whatever

entreaties he made; in whatever form they were wrapped; Mary merely

replied with an unvaried and obstinate refusal。  Darnley; amazed at

this force of will in a young queen who had loved him enough to raise

him to her; and not believing that she could find it in herself;

sought in her entourage for some secret and influential adviser who

might have inspired her with it。  His suspicions fell on Rizzio。



In reality; to whatever cause Rizzio owed his power (and to even the

most clear…sighted historians this point has always remained

obscure); be it that he ruled as lover; be it that he advised as

minister; his counsels as long as he lived were always given for the

greater glory of the queen。  Sprung from so low; he at least wished

to show himself worthy; of having risen so high; and owing everything

to Mary; he tried to repay her with devotion。  Thus Darnley was not

mistaken; and it was indeed Rizzio who; in despair at having helped

to bring about a union which he foresaw must become so unfortunate;

gave Mary the advice not to give up any of her power to one who

already possessed much more than he deserved; in possessing her

person。



Darnley; like all persons of both weak and violent character;

disbelieved in the persistence of will in others; unless this will

was sustained by an outside influence。  He thought that in r

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的