When Henry Howard at length ceased, profound silence reigned in the vast and brilliant hall.
All faces betrayed deep emotion; and this universal silence was the poet’s fairest triumph; for it showed that envy and jealousy were dumb, and that scorn itself could find no words.
A momentary pause ensued; it resembled that sultry, ominous stillness which is wont to precede the bursting of a tempest; when Nature stops a moment in breathless stillness, to gather strength for the uproar of the storm.
It was a significant, an awful pause; but only a few understood its meaning.
Lady Jane leaned against the wall, completely shattered and breathless. She felt that the sword was hanging over their heads, and that it would destroy her if it struck her beloved.
Earl Douglas and the Bishop of Winchester had involuntarily drawn near each other, and stood there hand in hand, united for this unholy struggle; while John Heywood had crept behind the king’s throne, and in his sarcastic manner whispered in his ear some epigrams, that made the king smile in spite of himself.
But now the queen arose from her seat, and beckoned Henry Howard nearer to her.
“My lord,” said she, almost with solemnity, “as a queen and as a woman I thank you for the noble and sublime lyrics which you have composed in honor of a woman! And for that the grace of my king has exalted me to be the first woman in England, it becomes me, in the name of all women, to return to you my thanks. To the poet is due a reward other than that of the warrior. To the victor on the battlefield is awarded a laurel crown. But you have gained a victory not less glorious, for you have conquered hearts! We acknowledge ourselves vanquished, and in the name of all these noble women, I proclaim you their knight! In token of which, accept this rosette, my lord. It entitles you to wear the queen’s colors; it lays you under obligation to be the knight of all women!”
She loosened the rosette from her shoulder, and handed it to the earl.
He had sunk on one knee before her, and already extended his hand to receive this precious and coveted pledge.