to retract now," he replied; "besides, there was no help
for it. I sacrificed myself to preserve you."
"But will the sacrifice preserve me?" she cried. "I fear not. I have just
been told that the king is preparing some terrible measure against me--
that he meditates removing me, to make way for Jane Seymour."
"You have heard the truth, madam," replied Norris.;he will try to bring
you to the block."
"And with him, to try is to achieve," said Anne. "Oh, Norris! it is a fearful
thing to contemplate such a death!"
"But why contemplate it, madam?" said Norris; "why, if you are satisfied
that the king has such designs against you - why, if you feel that he will
succeed, tarry for the fatal blow? Fly with me--fly with one who loves
you, and will devote his whole life to you--who regards you, not as the
queen, but as Anne Boleyn. Relinquish this false and hollow grandeur,
and fly with me to happiness and peace."
"And relinquish my throne to Jane Seymour?" rejoined Anne "Never! I
feel that all you assert is true--that my present position is hazardous--
that Jane Seymour is in the ascendant, while I am on the decline, if not
wholly sunk--that you love me entirely, and would devote your life to
me--still, with all these motives for dread, I cannot prevail upon myself
voluntarily to give up my title, and to abandon my post to a rival.
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