mary stuart-第5节
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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