The monastery; The abbot.

:THE ABBOT. 481
It is the curse of kings to be attended
By slaves, who take their humours for a warrant
To break into the bloody house of life,
And on the winking of authority
To understand a law.
KING JOHN.
TnE Lady of Lochleven sat alone in her chamber, endeavouring with
sincere but imperfect zeal, to fix her eyes and her attention on the blacklettered Bible which lay before her, bound in velvet and embroidery, and
adorned with massive silver clasps and knosps. But she found her utmost
efforts unable to withdraw her mind from the resentful recollection of what
had last night passed betwixt her and the Queen, in which the latter had
with such bitter taunt reminded her of her early and long-repented transgression.
" TWhv," she said, "should I resent so deeply that another reproaches
me with that which I have never ceased to make matter of blushing to myself? and yet, why should this woman, who reaps at least, has reapedthe fruits of my folly, and has jostled my son aside from the throne, why
should she, in the face of all my domestics, and of her own, dare to upbraid
me with my shame? Is she not in my power? Does she not fear me?
Ha! wily tempter, I will wrestle with thee strongly, and with better suggestions than my own evil heart can supply i"
She again took up the sacred volume, and was endeavouring to fix her
attention on its contents, when she was disturbed by a tap at the door of
the room. It opened at her command, and the steward Dryfesdale entered,
and stood before her with a gloomy and perturbed expression on his brow.
"'What has chanced, Dryfesdale, that thou lookest thus?" said his mistress
-" Have there been evil tidings of my son, or of my grandchildren?"
"No, Lady," replied Dryfesdale, "but you were deeply insulted last night,
and I fear me- thou art as deeply avenged this morning-Where is the chaplain?"
"What mean you by hints so dark, and a question so sudden? The
chaplain, as you well know, is absent at Perth upon an assembly of the
brethren."
" I care not," answered the steward; " he is but a priest of Baal."
"Dryfesdale," said the Lady, sternly, "what meanest thou? I have ever
heard, that in the Low Countries thou didst herd with the Anabaptist
preachers, those boars which tear up the vintage.- But the ministry which
suits me and my house must content my retainers."
"I would I had good ghostly counsel, though," replied the steward, not
attending to his mistress's rebuke, and seeming to speak to himself. "This
woman of Moab-"'
"Speak of her with reverence," said the Lady; "she is a king's daughter."
"Be it so," replied Dryfesdale; " she goes where there is little difference
betwixt her and a beggar's child-Mary of Scotland is dying."
"Dying, and in my castle!" said the Lady, starting up in alarm; "of
what disease, or by what accident?"
" Bear patience, Lady.'The ministry was mine."
"Thine, villain and traitor!-how didst thou dare- "
"I heard you insulted, Lady-I heard you demand vengeance-I promised
you should have it, and I now bring tidings of it."
"Dryfesdale, I trust thou ravest?" said the Lady.
"I rave not," replied the steward. "That which was written of me a
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