Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
InMarchoflastyearIwastakentoOxfordbymyladyGrevel,andwaspresentedbyhertotheQueen,andherMajestydeignedtoapproveofme,sothatIbecameamaid-of-honour,andwaslodgedbesideherinMertonCollege.Therealldaylongwasacomingandgoingofgreatmen.ThereIsaw"--shecountedonherfingers--"hisgraceofHamilton--himIdidnotlike--andmylordofNithsdale,andmylordofAboyne,andmylordOgilvy,andthatverygravepersonSirEdwardHyde,andmylordDigby,andthewiseMr.EndymionPorter.Andalldaylongthereweredistractedcounsels,andtheKing’sservantsplottinginside-chambers,andtreasonwhispered,andnowhereaclearvisionorabraveheart.Thentherecameamongusayoungman,whospokesimply.’IftheKing’scausegodowninEngland,’hesaid,’itmaybesavedinScotland.’Whentheyaskedhimwhatheproposed,hesaid--’ToraisetheNorthforhisMajesty.’Whentheyaskedhimbywhatmeans,hesaid--’Bymyownresolution.’Alldoubtedandmanylaughed,butthatyoungmanwasnotdiscouraged.’ThearmoftheLordisnotshortened,’hesaid,’andtheywhotrustinHimwillnotbedismayed....’Thatwasthesermonhepreached,andtherewassilenceamongthedoubters.ThensaidMr.Porter:’Thereisacertainfaiththatmovesmountains,andacertainspiritwhichmaywinagainstallodds.Myvoiceisfortheventure!’...AndthentheQueen,mymistress,kissedtheyoungman,andtheKingmadehimhislieutenant-general...
