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！
my father has had everything in the castle furbished up to the last
corselet； sharpened to the last sword； unfurled to the last banner；
but my father； ready as he is to die for your Majesty； would not have
dreamed for an instant of offering you anything but his roof to rest
under； or his cloak to cover you。 It is Douglas again who has
foreseen everything； prepared everythingeverything even to
Rosabelle； your Majesty's favourite steed； which is impatiently
awaiting in the stable the moment when； mounted on her； your Majesty
will make your triumphal re…entry into Edinburgh。〃
〃And how has he been able to get her back again？〃 Mary asked。
〃I thought that in the division of my spoils Rosabelle had fallen to
the fair Alice； my brother's favourite sultana？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Mary Seyton； 〃it was so； and as her value was known；
she was kept under lock and key by an army of grooms； but Douglas is
the man of miracles； and； as I have told you； Rosabelle awaits your
Majesty。〃
〃Noble Douglas！〃 murmured the queen； with eyes full of tears； then；
as if speaking to herself； 〃And this is precisely one of those
devotions that we can never repay。 The others will be happy with
honours； places； money； but to Douglas what matter all these things？〃
〃Come； madam； come；〃 said Mary Seyton； 〃God takes on Himself the
debts of kings； He will reward Douglas。 As to your Majesty； reflect
that they are waiting dinner for you。 I hope；〃 added she； smiling；
〃that you will not affront my father as you did Lord Douglas
yesterday in refusing to partake of his feast on his fortunate home…
coming。〃
〃And luck has come to me for it； I hope；〃 replied Mary。 〃But you are
right； darling： no more sad thoughts； we will consider when we have
indeed become queen again what we can do for Douglas。〃
The queen dressed and went down。 As Mary Seyton had told her； the
chief noblemen of her party； already gathered round her； were waiting
for her in the great hall of the castle。 Her arrival was greeted
with acclamations of the liveliest enthusiasm； and she sat down to
table； with Lord Seyton on her right hand； Douglas on her left； and
behind her Little William； who the same day was beginning his duties
as page。
Next morning the queen was awakened by the sound of trumpets and
bugles： it had been decided the day before that she should set out
that day for Hamilton； where reinforcements were looked for。 The
queen donned an elegant riding…habit； and soon； mounted on Rosabelle；
appeared amid her defenders。 The shouts of joy redoubled： her
beauty； her grace； and her courage were admired by everyone。 Mary
Stuart became her own self once more； and she felt spring up in her
again the power of fascination she had always exercised on those who
came near her。 Everyone was in good humour； and the happiest of all
was perhaps Little William； who for the first time in his life had
such a fine dress and such a fine horse。
Two or three thousand men were awaiting the queen at Hamilton； which
she reached the same evening； and during the night following her
arrival the troops increased to six thousand。 The 2nd of May she was
a prisoner； without another friend but a child in her prison； without
other means of communication with her adherents than the flickering
and uncertain light of a lamp； and three days afterwardsthat is to
say； between the Sunday and the Wednesdayshe found herself not only
free； but also at the head of a powerful confederacy； which counted
at its head nine earls； eight peers； nine bishops； and a number of
barons and nobles renowned among the bravest of Scotland。
The advice of the most judicious among those about the queen was to
shut herself up in the strong castle of Dumbarton； which； being
impregnable； would give all her adherents time to assemble together；
distant and scattered as they were： accordingly； the guidance of the
troops who were to conduct the queen to that town was entrusted to
the Earl of Argyll； and the 11th of May she took the road with an
army of nearly ten thousand men。
Murray was at Glasgow when he heard of the queen's escape： the place
was strong； he decided to hold it； and summoned to him his bravest
and most devoted partisans。 Kirkcaldy of Grange； Morton； Lindsay of
Byres； Lord Lochleven； and William Douglas hastened to him； and six
thousand of the best troops in the kingdom gathered round them； while
Lord Ruthven in the counties of Berwick and Angus raised levies with
which to join them。
The 13th May； Morton occupied from daybreak the village of Langside；
through which the queen must pass to get to Dumbarton。 The news of
the occupation reached the queen as the two armies were yet seven
miles apart。 Mary's first instinct was to escape an engagement： she
remembered her last battle at Carberry Hill； at the end of which she
had been separated from Bothwell and brought to Edinburgh； so she
expressed aloud this opinion； which was supported by George Douglas；
who； in black armour； without other arms； had continued at the
queen's side。
〃Avoid an engagement！〃 cried Lord Seyton； not daring to answer his
sovereign； and replying to George as if this opinion had originated
with him。 〃We could do it； perhaps； if we were one to ten； but we
shall certainly not do so when we are three to two。 You speak a
strange tongue； my young master；〃 continued he； with some contempt；
〃and you forget； it seems to me； that you are a Douglas and that you
speak to a Seyton。〃
〃My lord；〃 returned George calmly； 〃when we only hazard the lives of
Douglases and Seytons； you will find me； I hope； as ready to fight as
you； be it one to ten； be it three to two； but we are now answerable
for an existence dearer to Scotland than that of all the Seytons and
all the Douglases。 My advice is then to avoid battle。〃
〃Battle！ battle！〃 cried all the chieftains。
〃You hear； madam？〃 said Lord Seyton to Mary Stuart： 〃I believe that
to wish to act against such unanimity would be dangerous。 In
Scotland； madam； there is an ancient proverb which has it that 'there
is most prudence in courage。'〃
〃But have you not heard that the regent has taken up an advantageous
position？〃 the queen said。
〃The greyhound hunts the hare on the hillside as well as in the
plain；〃 replied Seyton： 〃we will drive him out； wherever he is。〃
〃Let it be as you desire； then； my lords。 It shall not be said that
Mary Stuart returned to the scabbard the sword her defenders had
drawn for her。〃
Then； turning round to Douglas
〃George；〃 she said to him； 〃choose a guard of twenty men for me； and
take command of them： you will not quit me。〃
George bent low in obedience； chose twenty from among the bravest
men； placed the queen in their midst； and put himself at their head；
then the troops； which had halted； received the order to continue
their road。 In two hours' time the advance guard was in sight of the
enemy； it halted； and the