"
"And I will hear it!" cried the king, who had now already overcome
the sentimental emotion of his heart.
"Yes, I will have full conviction of Surrey's guilt; and woe to the
queen, should I find her also guilty! This night, then, earl! But
till then, silence and secrecy! We will have father and son seized
and imprisoned at the same hour; for otherwise the imprisonment of
the one might easily serve as a warning to the other, and he might
escape my just wrath. Ah, they are so sly--these Howards--and their
hearts are so full of cunning and malice! But now they shall escape
me no more; now they are ours! How it does me good to think that!
And how briskly and lightly my heart leaps! It is as though a stream
of new life were rushing through my veins, and a new power were
infused into my blood. Oh, it was these Howards that made me sick. I
shall be well again when I know that they are in the Tower. Yes,
yes, my heart leaps with joy, and this is to be a happy and blessed
day. Call the queen hither to me, that I may once more enjoy her
rosy face before I make it turn pale with terror. Yes, let the queen
come, and let her adorn herself; I want to see her once more in the
full splendor of her youth and her royalty, before her star goes out
in darkness. I will once more delight myself with her before I make
her weep. Ah, know you, Douglas, that there is no enjoyment keener,
more devilish, and more heavenly, than to see such a person who
smiles and suspects nothing, while she is already condemned; who
still adorns her head with roses, while the executioner is already
sharpening the axe that is to lay that head low; who still has hopes
of the future, and of joy and happiness, while her hour of life has
already run out; while I have already bidden her stop and descend
into the grave! So, call the queen to me; and tell her that we are
in a merry mood, and want to jest and laugh with her! Call all the
ladies and lords of our court; and have the royal saloons opened;
and let them be radiant with the brilliancy of the lights; and let
us have music--loud, crashing music--for we want at least to make
this a merry day for us since it seems as though we should have a
sad and unhappy night.
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