Francesca Carrara/Chapter 64
CHAPTER V.
"You spoke of innovations, and I also believe it is ill to try experiments in states, unless the need be urgent,"
The Buccaneer.
Evelyn and young Goring rode side by side where the road permitted, and, when too narrow, one or other galloped gaily forward. Both were in high spirits, and confident of success.
"Such a scene," said Evelyn, "As I have left behind me in London! Richard impatient to enact
'Retired leisure,
Which in trim gardens takes its pleasure.'
—asking everybody's advice, and, out of anxiety to benefit by all, profiting by none,—ready to proclaim Charles Stuart in the morning, but resolved on keeping his Protectorship to the last at night,—now going to disband the army, and now to dissolve the Parliament, and yet unable to make up his mind to either."
"His mind, did you say?" interrupted Goring; "His mind! verily it is a piece of most courtier-like flattery to imply that he ever had one,—it is very evident that you are fresh from Whitehall."
"Flattery," resumed the other, "would be a great waste of time there. No one has sufficiently the upper hand to make it worth while to flatter; and really it is a sort of thing too useful to be thrown away. In the House, Hazelrig and Vane counter balance each other. Hazelrig has all the influence of noise and obstinacy, but he is a fool; Vane has that of enthusiasm and talent, but he is mad. His reign for a thousand years over the faithful—a consummation in which he devoutly believes—will effectually prevent his attaining any other reign. Lambert's power is great with the soldiers; but others have power too. Some run wild, after the same fashion as Colonel Harrisson and wait for the inspirations of the spirit; others, again, are at the beck of their old commander, Lord Fairfax; while the northern army is under General Monk, who, among ourselves, is believed to be loyally disposed. By heavens! it raises my admiration of Cromwell to its height, when I think how he swayed these discordant materials—ay, and by his own strong hand and clear head alone."
"True," replied Goring; "though it is one of those disagreeable truths I purpose forgetting the first opportunity. But from the time I saw him, when a prisoner after the battle of Worcester, his dark brow bent upon us in disdain, rather than exaltation; his calm, clear, grey eye triumphant, but unexcited, which seemed to look through every object which it scanned; his very gesture a command; and, though in the first flush of victory, not a muscle seemed stirred, not a look told that this 'crowning mercy' was more than a rational belief, which had been fulfilled according to his expectation. I felt our genius rebuked before his: I seemed suddenly to know that he was the destiny of England."
"It was the wonderful influence that is ever the heritage of a great mind; but it is an heritage which descends not. Cromwell's power died with himself,—the elements of ambition, fanaticism, desire of change, and jarring interest, have all gone back to their original chaos. Confusion is the order of the day."
"So much the better for us," exclaimed Goring; "you know the old saying:
'March winds and April showers,
Bring forth May flowers.'
We will take it as our motto."
"Hist!" whispered Evelyn; "I surely heard some one move in those bushes."
They drew up hastily side by side, and first looked to their arms, then with a close scrutiny towards the adjacent copse. It was but an instant's pause; for the branches were dashed aside, and the moonbeams shone on the glittering hauberks of the Parliamentary troops.
"Surrender!" cried the dull harsh tones of the corporal, their leader.
"We must fight for it!" exclaimed Evelyn; and clapping spurs to his horse, and drawing his sword, he made a desperate effort to pass the soldiers. It was in vain: the report of fire-arms startled the horse, who reared and fell backwards, bearing his unfortunate rider to the earth, who was at once surrounded and made prisoner; but with no bodily injury, beyond the shock of the fall. Goring, like himself, had sprang forwards, first snatching a pistol from his holsters, and discharging it at him who seemed to be the chief of the party,—the man reeled and fell; but his fall was instantly avenged. The young Royalist had broken the circle, and gained the road beyond—the soldiers fired—he leapt up in the saddle, and then dropped forward on the neck of the frightened creature that bore him: one violent plunge flung him from the saddle—a corpse!
The first thing that Evelyn saw when he recovered from the stunning shock of his fall, was his young and gallant companion stretched on the ground. The long brown hair, of whose luxuriance personal and party vanity had been so proud, was already matted by the crimson tide that welled from the fair forehead, into which the bullet had entered; and the features, pale in the clear moonlight, wore the cold and rigid contraction which marks death, and death alone. Evelyn's heart sickened within him. But a moment before, and they had been riding gaily and fearlessly together, full of hope and of life; and now, there he lay, struck to the earth without pity or warning, his career ended, his brave ambition laid low!
"The King has lost a loyal servant, and I a true friend," muttered Evelyn, as he leant over the body; but the words choked in utterance, and as he knelt beside, he hid his face in his hands. Little time was, however, allotted for the indulgence of grief: he was roused by one of the soldiers touching his arm, and desiring him to mount.
With what different feelings did he now put foot in stirrup to the last time when he sprung to horse? His sword was taken from him, his arms bound, and two men went, one on each side, holding the bridle, with which they guided him on his most unwilling path.
"Good God!" exclaimed he, "you will not leave the corpse thus exposed in the forest?"
"If we had a gibbet convenient," replied the corporal in a sullen tone, "we would hang the malignant thereon; as it is, the delicate youth must e'en lie on the ground till morning. We have one body to carry already—a good and pious lad, whose life had been cheaply bought by a dozen such as your's."
All further remonstrance was lost, for the party who took charge of the prisoner commenced a quick gallop through the forest. At length they arrived at the open road, skirted by a wide heath, bounded by the rising heights of the undulating country. Evelyn cast his eyes round in the very weariness of his spirits, striving, by every outward impression, to fix his attention. He succeeded beyond his hope—ay, and beyond his wish; for even as he looked, he saw a brilliant light ascend high in the air, burst into a multitude of sparkles, and then die away in the far blue sky. He knew that Colonel Mainwaring had effected a landing. To think that he should have been so successful, and himself a prisoner! He cursed his ill-luck. "That very light, which I hear the fools behind me taking for a falling star, and drawing portents from already, might well serve for an omen of my present enterprise. It has been carefully concealed, and studiously prepared,—it sets out on its radiant ascent full of bright hopes; suddenly it bursts, the glittering sparkles die away, and all is calm and dark as before. The emblem of this enterprise—why, it is the very emblem of my fate! Pshaw! there are many follies in this world, but none so foolish as regret. At all events, I am not dead yet; though rather nearer his skeleton majesty's presence than I at all desire. Well, I wonder whether they will hang, head, or shoot me? Now really the illustrious house of Evelyn ought to be complimented with the axe; but these beggarly Roundheads have no idea of a gentleman's feelings." And to the infinite displeasure of his conductors, the young cavalier began humming a popular Royalist song.