Jane Seton; or, The King's Advocate: A Scottish Historical RomanceGrant, James
History
Jane Seton; or, The King's Advocate: A Scottish Historical Romance
Grant, James
Scotland -- History -- James V, 1513-1542 -- Fiction
"I think only of him, and of nothing else; I live but for him
now--'tis three days--only three days!" She added, incoherently,
"What is said in the town, at the court, at the palace? Will he be
punished for defending me so boldly, so valiantly? My dear
Roland--three days--oh, who is like thee? None--and none will ever
be like thee!"
"I will recast his horoscope, for I know, lady, the star of his
nativity. This night it will be in Azebone, the head of the
sixteenth mansion, and by its digression I will judge me of his fate.
It will require a long and careful calculation, lady," said the
deacon of the apothegars, shaking his long beard, solemnly, "and yet,
gramercy me! I have known as mickle foreseen by coscinomancy, which
meaneth divination by a sieve; but _that_, as thou knowest, is
altogether beneath one like me, who knoweth the difference of
sublimities and the distance of the stars."
"Oh, Roland--Roland!" murmured Jane (who understood not a word of all
this), as she pressed her trembling hands upon her heart, "I love
thee now with the love of the unfortunate; and that, indeed, is a
strong love, for by few are the unfortunate loved in return."
"Thy pulse is quick and low," said the physician, placing his bony
fingers on her white and slender wrist, which was fretted and chafed
by the detestable manacle that encircled it; "thou sighest deeply,
thou flushest and becomest chilly by turns. Is thy tongue dry, and
is thy brain giddy? Yes, I know they are. By the mass, I know thou
art intensely feverish. Now the pulse flutters, and the skin becomes
moist--fever--fever--nervous fever! Didst thou take the metheglin my
servitor brought thee?"
"Yes," said Jane, mechanically.
"Ah! and were much the better thereof?"
"I really do not know."
"Ah, you must have been; 'tis a compound of wort, herbs, honey, and
spices, forming a wondrous and soothing restorative."
"What need of a restorative, sir? In three days all will be over."
"We know not what the womb of Time may bring forth, lady: for,
verily, it is fruitful of events."
"Oh, that Father St. Bernard was here!" thought Jane; "how terrible
this cold physician is!"
"Continue the metheglin," said her adviser, putting on his conical
cap, and resuming his staff, "and from this phial take daily one
karena, whilk meaneth, the twentieth part of a drop----"
"Sir, thou art most kind; but remember that in three days I shall be
beyond the reach of thy skill; so farewell, and omit not to pray for
me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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