Kings & rulers > Kenilworth > Volume 1

262
KENILWORTH.
honourable support to his bride. Thou shah not
be forgotten thyself Tressilian—follow our court,
and thou shall see that a true Troilus hath some
claim on our grace. Think of what that arch¬
knave Shakspeare says—a plague on him, his toys
come into my head when I should think of other
matter—Stay, how goes it ?
Cressid was your’s, tied with the bonds of heaven;
These bonds ot 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 make your player’s verse halt through my bad
memory—but let it suffice—let there be no more
of this mad matter.”
Ana as Tressilian kept the posture of one who
would willingly be heard, though, at the same
time, expiessive of the deepest reverence, the
Queen added with some impatience,—■“ What
would the man have ? The wench cannot wed
both of you ?—She has made her election—not a
wise one perchance—but she is Varney’s wedded
wife.”
“ My suit should sleep there, most gracious So¬
vereign,” said Tressilian, “ and with my suit my
revenge. But I hold this Varney’s word no good
warrant for the truth.”
“ Had that doubt been elsewhere urged,” an¬
swered Varney, “ my sword”
“ Thy sword 1” interrupted Tressilian, scorn¬
fully ; “ with her Grace’s leave, my sword shall
shew”
“ Peace, you knaves both,” said the Queen ;
“ know you where you are ?—This comes of your
feuds, my lords,” she added, looking towards
Leicester and Sussex ; “ your followers catch
your own humour, and must bandy and brawl in
my court, and in my very presence, like so many