Poor child, you have learned
that already! Remember with what cruelty he has already revenged
himself on you for the pretended fault of your mother; how he
transferred to you his wrath against her. Remember that he refused
your hand to the Dauphin of France, not for the sake of your
happiness, but because he said you were not worthy of so exalted a
position. Anne Boleyn's bastard could never become Queen of France.
And after such a proof of his cruel wrath against you, will you dare
cast in his face this terrible insult?--compel him to recognize a
subject, a servant, as his son?"
"Oh, this servant is, however, the brother of a Queen of England!"
said she, shyly. "My father loved Jane Seymour too warmly not to
forgive her brother."
"Ah, ah, you do not know your father! He has no heart for the past;
or, if he has, it is only to take vengeance for an injury or a
fault, but not to reward love. King Henry would be capable of
sentencing Anne Boleyn's daughter to death, and of sending to the
block and rack Catharine Howard's brothers, because these two queens
once grieved him and wounded his heart; but he would not forgive me
the least offence on account of my being the brother of a queen who
loved him faithfully and tenderly till her death. But I speak not of
myself. I am a warrior, and have too often looked death in the face
to fear him now. I speak only of you, Elizabeth. You have no right
to perish thus. This noble head must not be laid upon the block.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266