The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 57, July, 1862. Various
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Название: The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 57, July, 1862

Автор: Various

Издательство: Public Domain

Жанр: Журналы

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СКАЧАТЬ his materials as to create the impression that Surrey, the man honored for three centuries as one of the most chivalrous of Englishmen, and as imbued with the elevating spirit of poetry, was a foul fellow, who sought to engage his sister in one of the vilest intrigues ever concocted by courtier, in order that she might be made a useful instrument in the work of changing the political condition of England. Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitz-Roy, Duke of Richmond, whom he had at one time thought of declaring his successor, died, leaving a widow, who was Surrey's sister. This lady told Sir Gawin Carew that her brother had advised her so to bear herself toward the King that possibly "his Majesty might cast some love unto her, whereby in process she should bear as great a stroke about him as Madame d'Estampes did about the French king." Madame d'Estampes was the most notorious and influential of Francis I.'s many mistresses; and if Carew's evidence is to be depended upon, we see what was the part assigned by Surrey to his sister in the political game the old aristocracy and the Catholics were playing. She, the widow of the King's son, was to seduce the King, and to become his mistress! Carew's story was confirmed by another witness, and Lady Richmond had complained of Surrey's "language to her with abhorrence and disgust, and had added, 'that she defied her brother, and said that they should all perish, and she would cut her own throat, rather than she would consent to such villany.'" On Surrey's trial, Lady Richmond also confirmed the story, and "revealed his deep hate of the 'new men,' who, 'when the King was dead,' he had sworn 'should smart for it.'" Such is the tale, and such is the evidence upon which it rests. Its truth at first appears to be beyond dispute, but it is possible that all the witnesses lied, and that the whole process was a made-up thing to aid in reconciling the public to the summary destruction of so illustrious a man as Surrey; and it was well adapted to that end,—the English people having exceeded all others in their regard for domestic decencies and in reverence for the family relations of the sexes. Should it be said that it is more probable that Surrey was guilty of the moral offence charged upon him than that his sister could be guilty of inventing the story and then of perjuring herself to support it, we can but reply, that Lady Rocheford, wife of Anne Boleyn's brother, testified that Anne had been guilty of incest with that brother, and afterward, when about to die, admitted that she had perjured herself. Of the two offences, supposing Lady Richmond to have sworn away her brother's life, that of Lady Rocheford was by far the more criminal, and it is beyond all doubt. So long as there is room for doubting Surrey's guilt, we shall follow the teaching of the charitable maxim of our law, and give him the benefit of the doubt which is his due.

      The question of the guilt or innocence of Anne Boleyn is a tempting one, in connection with Henry VIII.'s history; but we have not now the space that is necessary to treat it justly. We may take it up another time, and follow Mr. Froude through his ingenious attempts to show that Anne must have been guilty of incest and adultery, or else—dreadful alternative!—we must come to the conclusion that Henry VIII. was not the just man made perfect on earth.

* * * * *

      WHY THEIR CREEDS DIFFERED

      Bedded in stone, a toad lived well,

        Cold and content as toad could be;

      As safe from harm as monk in cell,

        Almost as safe from good was he

      And "What is life?" he said, and dozed;

        Then, waking, "Life is rest," quoth he:

      "Each creature God in stone hath closed,

        That each may have tranquillity.

      "And God Himself lies coiled in stone,

        Nor wakes nor moves to any call;

      Each lives unto himself alone,

        And cold and night envelop all."

      He said, and slept. With curious ear

        Close to the stone, a serpent lay.

      "'T is false," he hissed with crafty sneer,

        "For well I know God wakes alway.

      "And what is life but wakefulness,

        To glide through snares, alert and wise,—

      With plans too deep for neighbors' guess,

        And haunts too close for neighbors' eyes?

      "For all the earth is thronged with foes,

        And dark with fraud, and set with toils:

      Each lies in wait, on each to close,

        And God is bribed with share of spoils."

      High in the boughs a small bird sang,

        And marvelled such a creed should be.

      "How strange and false!" his comment rang;

        "For well I know that life is glee.

      "For all the plain is flushed with bloom,

        And all the wood with music rings,

      And in the air is scarcely room

        To wave our myriad flashing wings.

      "And God, amid His angels high,

        Spreads over all in brooding joy;

      On great wings borne, entranced they lie,

        And all is bliss without alloy."

      "Ah, careless birdling, say'st thou so?"

        Thus mused a man, the trees among:

      "Thy creed is wrong; for well I know

        That life must not be spent in song.

      "For what is life, but toil of brain,

        And toil of hand, and strife of will,—

      To dig and forge, with loss and pain,

        The truth from lies, the good from ill,—

      "And ever out of self to rise

        Toward love and law and constancy?

      But with sweet love comes sacrifice,

        And with great law comes penalty.

      "And God, who asks a constant soul,

        His creatures tries both sore and long:

      Steep is the way, and far the goal,

        And time is small to waste in song."

      He sighed. From heaven an angel yearned:

        With equal love his glances fell

      Upon the man with soul upturned,

        Upon the toad within its cell.

      And, strange! upon that wondrous face

        Shone pure all natures, well allied:

      There subtlety was turned to grace,

        And slow content was glorified;

      And labor, love, and constancy

        Put off their dross and mortal guise,

      And with the look that is to be

        They looked from those immortal eyes.

      To the faint man the angel strong

        Beached down from heaven, and shared his pain:

      The one in tears, the one in song,

        The cross was borne betwixt them twain.

      He sang the careless bliss that lies

        In wood-bird's heart, without alloy;

      He sang the joy of sacrifice;

        And still he sang, "All life is joy."

      But how, while yet he clasped the pain,

        Thrilled through with bliss the angel smiled,

      I СКАЧАТЬ