Disappointed Ambition. marks, had the privilege of waiting on these illustrious and unsuspecting guests, who discoursed together in French, on the magnanimity of the Duchess of York. They then spoke of Edward; he was not spared; his vices, his every foible was exaggerated by these partial artists. The Duke of Clarence was not painted by them in very alluring colours. His scenes of midnight riot, his low amours, were all depicted; and his duchess, who, though in the flower of youth, was far from handsome, was spoken of with many an invidious sneer, and then. thrown into the back ground, as too insignificant and disregarded a being, to occupy much place in the picture. The pique of female vanity finished what ambition had began; and the duchess quitted the room, and barricaded Disappointed Ambition. the door upon them. Then, throwing off her disguise, she sent for a party of officers, to seize her prisoners, as rebels to the state. do Margaret, though severely disappointed, was not depressed; but, turning to the duchess, she said to her, "How true you verify that maxim, that those who make it their business to listen to others, never hear their own praises. Margaret may yet triumph; and the day may come, haughty bride of Clarence, when reduced to the situation you this day so voluntarily and so awkwardly filled, that you may have to thank a queen, for having taught you how to arrange a desert in a proper manner." Little did the wretched duchess, who now triumphed over her unhappy enemy, know the deep anguish that was prepar Disappointed Ambition. ing for herself, on her return to the capital. Her lord, to whom she had been but a very short time wedded, was convicted, through treachery and accusations, most of them false, of treason; her own fortunes confiscated, and herself left in indigence. So true are the words of the poet, 1 "Misfortune stands with her bow ever bent "Over the world; and he, who harms another, Edward had now began to feel himself firmly established; and the acquisition of such a prisoner as Margaret was not of that importance, which it might heretofore have been. He therefore coldly complimented the duchess on her vigilance, Disappointed Ambition. and ordered her a trifling gratuity; but remained inflexible to her supplications, for the release of her husband. Margaret was closely imprisoned, and Somerset ordered for immediate execution. A Change of Ministry. CHAP. XVIII. A CHANGE OF MINISTRY. I have watched the night, It grieves many; The gentleman is learn'd, a most rare speaker ; SHAKESPEARE. THE intriguing French monarch, now incited the king of Scotland to declare war against England. This weak prince lived on bad terms with his own nobility, and his force was unequal to his intended 1 |