Volume I Part 34 (1/2)
Kate covered her face. She had just glanced at the picture, and her proud bosom heaved almost to bursting.
”Look, disdainful woman! and though thy bosom be formed for love, yet wouldest thou spurn it from thee. I _know_ thou lovest him. Nay, chide not; thy brow cannot blast me with its thunders. Go to. I could, by mine art, so humble thee, set thy love so exquisitely on its desire, that thou shouldest lay thy proud womanhood aside--sue and crouch, even if 'twere for blows, like a tame spaniel! I have thee in my power, and were not the natural bent of thy dispositions kind and n.o.blehearted, yet sore beset, and, as it were, overwhelmed by thy curst humours, I had now cast my spells about thee--ay, stricken thee to the dust! Shake off these bonds that enthral thy better spirit, and let not that beautiful fabric play the hypocrite any longer. Why should so fair a temple be the dwelling of a demon?”
A deep sob here told that kindlier feelings were at work; that nature was beginning to a.s.sert her prerogative, and that the common sympathies, the tender attributes, of woman were not extinguished.
The struggle was short, but severe. With difficulty she repressed the outburst of her grief as she spoke.
”A woman still! 'Tis the garb nature put on. I have wrapped a sterner garment about me.” A long and bitter sob here betrayed the violent warfare within. It was but for a moment. Affecting contempt for her own weakness, she exclaimed--
”Throw it off? Expose me defenceless to his proud contumely? Even now the cold glance of indifference hath pierced it through!”
Here she arose proudly.
”And what thinkest thou, if I were to stand unarmed, uncovered, before his unfeeling gaze?”
”He loves thee,” hastily rejoined the seer.
”Me!--as soon that bauble learn to love as”----
”Say but one word, and I will bow him at thy feet.”
”'Tis well thou mockest me thus. To worm out my secret, perchance.--For this didst thou crave my presence? Let me be gone!”
”Thou shalt say 'Yes,' Kate, ere thou depart!”
The curtain which divided the apartment suddenly flew aside. The astonished lover beheld his mistress:--not the unreal phantom he had imagined, but a being substantial in quality, and of a nature like his own, though gentler than his fondest antic.i.p.ations.
The seer departed: but in the end the lovers were not displeased at being betrayed into a mutual expression of their regard.
The operation of the heavenly influences was, in these days, a doctrine that obtained almost universal credit; and it would have been looked upon as a daring piece of presumption to baffle the prophetic signification of the stars.
On that same night, being the eve of St Bartholomew, they were married:--thus adding one more to the numerous instances on record, where a belief in the prediction has been the means of its accomplishment.
The remainder of Kate's history, and how she crossed the sea, accompanied by her husband, into the wilds of Bohemia, living there for a s.p.a.ce; and how she afterwards returned into her own land, will be set forth at some more fitting opportunity.
THE EARL OF TYRONE.
”Still the fairest are his fuell, When his days are to be cruell; Lovers' hearts are all his food, And his baths their warmest blood; Nought but wounds his hands doth season, And he hates none like to reason.”
_A Hue and Cry after Cupid_.--Ben Jonson.
The dark and romantic history of the Earl of Tyrone would of itself occupy a larger s.p.a.ce than these volumes afford. The following episode, connected with his concealment in the neighbourhood of Rochdale, the author does not presume to bring forward as a fact. Yet there are good reasons for supposing that it formed an important era in his life, and was followed very soon after by the Queen's pardon. The importance of this measure may be conceived, when by some Elizabeth's depression, and the profound melancholy she exhibited in her latter hours, were attributed to this source. It is said that she repented of having p.r.o.nounced his forgiveness; that having always resolved to bring him to condign punishment, she could receive no satisfaction from his submission; while the advantages of her high estate, and all the glories of a prosperous reign, were unable to alleviate her disappointment.
The following is a brief sketch of his life, extracted from generally-received authorities.
Hugh O'Neale was nephew to Shan O'Neale, or the Great O'Neale, as he was more commonly called, well known for his eminent courage, a virtue much esteemed by the half-civilised hordes whom he commanded. He was created Earl of Tyrone by the Queen; but disliking this servitude, and wishful to liberate his country from the English yoke, he entered into a correspondence with Spain; procured from thence a supply of arms and ammunition; and having united many of the Irish chiefs in a dependence upon himself, he began to be regarded as a formidable enemy.
[Ill.u.s.tration: TYRONE'S BED, NEAR ROCHDALE.
_Drawn by G. Pickering. Engraved by Edw^d Finden._]
The English found much difficulty in pursuing the rebels into the bogs, woods, and other fastnesses to which they retreated. Sir John Norris, who commanded the English army, was rendered thereby more willing to hearken to the proposals made by Tyrone, and the war was spun out by these artifices for some years. Sir John dying, as was reported, of vexation and discontent, was succeeded by Sir Henry Bagnall. ”He advanced to the relief at Blackwater, then besieged by the enemy, but was surrounded in disadvantageous ground. His soldiers, discouraged by part of their powder accidentally taking fire, were put to flight; and though the pursuit was stopped by Montacute, who commanded the English horse, fifteen hundred men, together with the general himself, were left dead upon the spot. This victory so unusual to the Irish, roused their courage, supplied them with arms and munitions of war, and raised the renown of Tyrone, who was hailed as deliverer of his country and patron of Irish liberty.”[22]