Kenilworth - Page 333/408

"VARIUM ET MUTABILE," answered Raleigh, in a similar tone.

"Nay, I know nought of your Latin," said Blount; "but I thank God

Tressilian took not the sea during that hurricane. He could scarce have

missed shipwreck, knowing as he does so little how to trim his sails to

a court gale."

"Thou wouldst have instructed him!" said Raleigh.

"Why, I have profited by my time as well as thou, Sir Walter," replied

honest Blount. "I am knight as well as thou, and of the earlier

creation."

"Now, God further thy wit," said Raleigh. "But for Tressilian, I would I

knew what were the matter with him. He told me this morning he would not

leave his chamber for the space of twelve hours or thereby, being bound

by a promise. This lady's madness, when he shall learn it, will not, I

fear, cure his infirmity. The moon is at the fullest, and men's brains

are working like yeast. But hark! they sound to mount. Let us to horse,

Blount; we young knights must deserve our spurs."