第17章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:7186更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
Afterhavingsatisfiedhiscuriositybygazingaroundhimforafewminutes,Waverleyappliedhimselftothemassiveknockerofthehalldoor,thearchitraveofwhichborethedate1594。 Butnoanswerwasreturned,thoughthepealresoundedthroughanumberofapartments,andwasechoedfromthecourt-yardwallswithoutthehouse,startlingthepigeonsfromthevenerablerotundawhichtheyoccupied,andalarminganeweventhedistantvillagecurs,whichhadretiredtosleepupontheirrespectivedunghills。Tiredofthedinwhichhecreated,andtheunprofitableresponseswhichitexcited,WaverleybegantothinkthathehadreachedthecastleofOrgoglio,asenteredbythevictoriousPrinceArthur,When’ganheloudlythroughthehousetocall,Butnomancaredtoanswertohiscry; Therereignedasolemnsilenceoverall,Norvoicewasheard,norwightwasseen,inbowerorhall。 Filledalmostwithexpectationofbeholdingsomeold,oldman,withbeardaswhiteassnow,’’whomhemightquestionconcerningthisdesertedmansion,ourheroturnedtoalittleoakenwicket-door,wellclenchedwithironnails,whichopenedinthecourtyardwallatitsanglewiththehouse。Itwasonlylatched,notwithstandingitsfortifiedappearance,andwhenopenedadmittedhimintothegarden,whichpresentedapleasantscene。<>Thesouthernsideofthehouse,clothedwithfruit-trees,AtRavelstonmaybeseensuchagarden,whichthetasteoftheproprietor,theauthor’sfriendandkinsman,SirAlexanderKeith,KnightMareschal,hasjudiciouslypreserved。That,aswellasthehouse,is,however,ofsmallerdimensionsthantheBaronofBradwardine’smansionandgardenarepresumedtohavebeen。 andhavingmanyevergreenstraineduponitswalls,extendeditsirregularyetvenerablefrontalongaterrace,partlypaved,partlygravelled,partlyborderedwithflowersandchoiceshrubs。Thiselevationdescendedbythreeseveralflightsofsteps,placedinitscentreandattheextremities,intowhatmightbecalledthegardenproper,andwasfencedalongthetopbyastoneparapetwithaheavybalustrade,ornamentedfromspacetospacewithhugegrotesquefiguresofanimalsseatedupontheirhaunches,amongwhichthefavouritebearwasrepeatedlyintroduced。Placedinthemiddleoftheterrace,betweenasashed-dooropeningfromthehouseandthecentralflightofsteps,ahugeanimalofthesamespeciessupportedonhisheadandfore-pawsasun-dialoflargecircumferenceinscribedwithmorediagramsthanEdward’smathematicsenabledhimtodecipher。 Thegarden,whichseemedtobekeptwithgreataccuracy,aboundedinfruit-trees,andexhibitedaprofusionofflowersandevergreens,cutintogrotesqueforms。Itwaslaidoutinterraces,whichdescendedrankbyrankfromthewesternwalltoalargebrook,whichhadatranquilandsmoothappearance,whereitservedasaboundarytothegarden;but,neartheextremity,leaptintumultoverastrongdam,orwear-head,thecauseofitstemporarytranquillity,andthereformingacascade,wasoverlookedbyanoctangularsummer-house,withagildedbearonthetopbywayofvane。Afterthisfeat,thebrook,assumingitsnaturalrapidandfiercecharacter,escapedfromtheeyedownadeepandwoodeddell,fromthecopseofwhicharoseamassive,butruinoustower,theformerhabitationoftheBaronsofBradwardine。Themarginofthebrook,oppositetothegarden,displayedanarrowmeadow,orhaugh,asitwascalled,whichformedasmallwashing-green;thebank,whichretiredbehindit,wascoveredbyancienttrees。 Thescene,thoughpleasing,wasnotquiteequaltothegardensofAlcina;yetwantednotthe_duedonzellettegarrule_’’ ofthatenchantedparadise,foruponthegreenaforesaidtwobare-leggeddamsels,eachstandinginaspacioustub,performedwiththeirfeettheofficeofapatentwashing-machine。Thesedidnot,however,likethemaidensofArmida,remaintogreetwiththeirharmonytheapproachingguest,but,alarmedattheappearanceofahandsomestrangerontheoppositeside,droppedtheirgarments(Ishouldsaygarment,tobequitecorrect)overtheirlimbs,whichtheiroccupationexposedsomewhattoofreely,and,withashrillexclamationofEh,sirs!’’utteredwithanaccentbetweenmodestyandcoquetry,sprungofflikedeerindifferentdirections。 Waverleybegantodespairofgainingentranceintothissolitaryandseeminglyenchantedmansion,whenamanadvanceduponeofthegardenalleys,wherehestillretainedhisstation。 Trustingthismightbeagardener,orsomedomesticbelongingtothehouse,Edwarddescendedthestepsinordertomeethim; butasthefigureapproached,andlongbeforehecoulddescryitsfeatures,hewasstruckwiththeoddityofitsappearanceandgestures-Sometimesthismisterwightheldhishandsclaspedoverhishead,likeanIndianJogueintheattitudeofpenance; sometimesheswungthemperpendicularly,likeapendulum,oneachside;andanonheslappedthemswiftlyandrepeatedlyacrosshisbreast,likethesubstituteusedbyahackney-coachmanforhisusualfloggingexercise,whenhiscattleareidleuponthestandinaclearfrostyday。Hisgaitwasassingularashisgestures,forattimeshehoppedwithgreatperseveranceontherightfoot,thenexchangedthatsupportertoadvanceinthesamemannerontheleft,andthenputtinghisfeetclosetogether,hehoppeduponbothatonce。Hisattire,also,wasantiquatedandextravagant。Itconsistedinasortofgreyjerkin,withscarletcuffsandslashedsleeves,showingascarletlining;theotherpartsofthedresscorrespondedincolour,notforgettingapairofscarletstockings,andascarletbonnet,proudlysurmountedwithaturkey’sfeather。Edward,whomhedidnotseemtoobserve,nowperceivedconfirmationinhisfeaturesofwhatthemienandgestureshadalreadyannounced。 Itwasapparentlyneitheridiocynorinsanitywhichgavethatwild,unsettled,irregularexpressiontoafacewhichnaturallywasratherhandsome,butsomethingthatresembledacompoundofboth,wherethesimplicityofthefoolwasmixedwiththeextravaganceofacrazedimagination。Hesungwithgreatearnestness,andnotwithoutsometaste,afragmentofanoldScottishditty:- Falselove,andhastthouplayedmethusInsummeramongtheflowers? IwillrepaytheebackagainInwinteramongtheshowers。 Unlessagain,again,mylove,Unlessyouturnagain; Asyouwithothermaidensrove,I’llsmileonothermen。<> Thisisagenuineancientfragment,withsomealterationinthelasttwolines。 Hereliftinguphiseyes,whichhadhithertobeenfixedinobservinghowhisfeetkepttimetothetune,hebeheldWaverley,andinstantlydoffedhiscap,withmanygrotesquesignalsofsurprise,respect,andsalutation。Edward,thoughwithlittlehopeofreceivingananswer,toanyconstantquestion,requestedtoknowwhetherMr。Bradwardinewereathome,orwherehecouldfindanyofthedomestics。Thequestionedpartyreplied,-and,likethewitchofThalaba,stillhisspeechwassong,’’- TheKnight’stothemountainHisbugletowind; TheLady’stogreenwood。 Hergarlandtobind。 ThebowerofBurdEllenHasmossonthefloor,ThatthestepofLordWilliamBesilentandsure。 Thisconveyednoinformation,andEdward,repeatinghisqueries,receivedarapidanswer,inwhich,fromthehasteandpeculiarityofthedialect,thewordbutler’’wasaloneintelligible。 Waverleythenrequestedtoseethebutler;uponwhichthefellow,withaknowinglookandnodofintelligence,madeasignaltoEdwardtofollow,andbegantodanceandcaperdownthealleyupwhichhehadmadehisapproaches-Astrangeguidethis,thoughtEdward,andnotmuchunlikeoneofShakspeare’sroynishclowns。Iamnotoverprudenttotrusttohispilotage;butwisermenhavebeenledbyfools-Bythistimehereachedthebottomofthealley,where,turningshortonalittleparterreofflowers,shroudedfromtheeastandnorthbyacloseyewhedge,hefoundanoldmanatworkwithouthiscoat,whoseappearancehoveredbetweenthatofanupperservantandgardener;hisrednoseandruffledshirtbelongingtotheformerprofession;hishaleandsun-burntvisage,withhisgreenapron,appearingtoindicateOldAdam’slikeness,settodressthisgarden。 Themajordomo-forsuchhewas,andindisputablythesecondofficerofstateinthebarony(nay,aschiefministeroftheinterior,superioreventoBailieMacwheeble,inhisowndepartmentofthekitchenandcellar)-themajordomolaiddownhisspade,slippedonhiscoatinhaste,andwithawrathfullookatEdward’sguide,probablyexcitedbyhishavingintroducedastrangerwhilehewasengagedinthislaborious,and,ashemightsupposeit,degradingoffice,requestedtoknowthegentleman’scommands。Beinginformedthathewishedtopayhisrespectstohismaster,thathisnamewasWaverley,andsoforth,theoldman’scountenanceassumedagreatdealofrespectfulimportance。Hecouldtakeituponhisconsciencetosay,hishonourwouldhaveexceedingpleasureinseeinghim。 WouldnotMr。Waverleychoosesomerefreshmentafterhisjourney?Hishonourwaswiththefolkwhoweregettingdoonthedarkhag;thetwagardenerlads(anemphasisontheword_twa_)hadbeenorderedtoattendhim;andhehadbeenjustamusinghimselfinthemeantimewithdressingMissRose’sflower-bed,thathemightbeneartoreceivehishonour’sorders,ifneedwere:hewasveryfondofagarden,buthadlittletimeforsuchdivertisements。’’ Hecannagetitwroughtinabunetwadaysintheweekatnoratewhatever,’’saidEdward’sfantasticconductor。 Agrimlookfromthebutlerchastisedhisinterference,andhecommandedhimbythenameofDavieGellatley,inatonewhichadmittednodiscussion,tolookforhishonouratthedarkhag,andtellhimtherewasagentlemanfromthesouthhadarrivedattheHa’。 Canthispoorfellowdeliveraletter?’’askedEdward。 Withallfidelity,Sir,toanyonewhomherespects。Iwouldhardlytrusthimwithalongmessagebywordofmouth-thoughheismoreknavethanfool。’’ WaverleydeliveredhiscredentialstoMr。Gellatley,whoseemedtoconfirmthebutler’slastobservation,bytwistinghisfeaturesathim,whenhewaslookinganotherway,intotheresemblanceofthegrotesquefaceonthebowlofaGermantobacco-pipe;afterwhich,withanoddcongtoWaverley,hedancedofftodischargehiserrand。 Heisaninnocent,sir,’’saidthebutler;thereisonesuchinalmosteverytowninthecountry,butoursisbroughtfarben。<>Heusedtoworkaday’sturnweeleneugh;buthe(Aglossaryofprovincialtermswillbefoundattheendofthevolume。) help’dMissRosewhenshewasflemitwiththeLairdofKillancureit’snewEnglishbull,andsincethattimeweca’himDavieDo-little;indeedwemightca’himDavieDo-naething,forsincehegotthatgayclothing,topleasehishonourandmyyoungmistress(greatfolkswillhavetheirfancies),hehasdonenaethingbutdanceupanddownaboutthe_toun,_withoutdoingasingleturn,unlesstrimmingthelairdsfishing-wandorbuskinghisflies,ormaybecatchingadishoftroutsatanorra-time。 ButherecomesMissRose,who,Itakeburdenuponmeforher,willbeespeciallygladtoseeoneofthehouseofWaverleyatherfather’smansionatTully-Veolan。’’ ButRoseBradwardinedeservesbetterofherunworthyhistorian,thantobeintroducedattheendofachapter。Inthemeanwhileitmaybenoticed,thatWaverleylearnedtwothingsfromthiscolloquy;thatinScotlandasinglehousewascalleda_town,_andanaturalfoolan_innocent。_<> IamignoranthowlongtheancientandestablishedcustomofkeepingfoolshasbeendisusedinEngland。SwiftwritesanepitaphontheEarlofSuffolk’sfool,- WhosenamewasDickiePearce。’’ InScotlandthecustomsubsistedtilllateinthelastcentury。AtGlammisCastleispreservedthedressofoneofthejesters,veryhandsome,andornamentedwithmanybells。ItisnotabovethirtyyearssincesuchacharacterstoodbythesideboardofanoblemanofthefirstrankinScotland,andoccasionallymixedintheconversation,tillhecarriedthejokerathertoofar,inmakingproposalstooneoftheyoungladiesofthefamily,andpublishingthebannsbetwixtherandhimselfinthepublicchurch。 MissBradwardinewasbutseventeen;yet,atthelastracesofthecountytownof,uponherhealthbeingproposedamongaroundofbeauties,theLairdofBumperquaigh,permanenttoastmasterandcroupieroftheBautherwhilleryClub,notonlysaid_More_tothepledgeinapintbumperofBourdeaux,but,erepouringforththelibation,denominatedthedivinitytowhomitwasdedicated,theRoseofTully-Veolan;’’uponwhichfestiveoccasion,threecheersweregivenbyallthesittingmembersofthatrespectablesociety,whosethroatsthewinehadleftcapableofsuchexertion。Nay,Iamwellassured,thatthesleepingpartnersofthecompanysnortedapplause,andthatalthoughstrongbumpersandweakbrainshadconsignedtwoorthreetothefloor,yeteventhese,fallenastheywerefromtheirhighestate,andweltering-Iwillcarrytheparodynofarther-uttereddiversinarticulatesounds,intimatingtheirassenttothemotion。 Suchunanimousapplausecouldnotbeextortedbutbyacknowledgedmerit;andRoseBradwardinenotonlydeservedit,butalsotheapprobationofmuchmorerationalpersonsthantheBautherwhilleryClubcouldhavemustered,evenbeforediscussionofthefirst_magnum。_ShewasindeedaveryprettygirloftheScotchcastofbeauty,thatis,withaprofusionofhairofpaleygold,andaskinlikethesnowofherownmountainsinwhiteness。Yetshehadnotapallidorpensivecastofcountenance;herfeatures,aswellashertemper,hadalivelyexpression;hercomplexion,thoughnotflorid,wassopureastoseemtransparent,andtheslightestemotionsentherwholebloodatoncetoherfaceandneck。Herform,thoughunderthecommonsize,wasremarkablyelegant,andhermotionslight,easy,andunembarrassed。ShecamefromanotherpartofthegardentoreceiveCaptainWaverley,withamannerthathoveredbetweenbashfulnessandcourtesy。 Thefirstgreetingspast,Edwardlearnedfromherthatthe_darkhag,_whichhadsomewhatpuzzledhiminthebutler’saccountofhismaster’savocations,hadnothingtodoeitherwithablackcatorabroomstick,butwassimplyaportionofoakcopsewhichwastobefelledthatday。Sheoffered,withdiffidentcivility,toshowthestrangerthewaytothespot,which,itseems,wasnotfardistant;buttheywerepreventedbytheappearanceoftheBaronofBradwardineinperson,who,summonedbyDavidGellatley,nowappeared,onhospitablethoughtsintent,’’clearingthegroundataprodigiousratewithswiftandlongstrides,whichremindedWaverleyoftheseven-leaguebootsofthenurseryfable。Hewasatall,thin,athleticfigure;oldindeed,andgrey-haired,butwitheverymusclerenderedastoughaswhip-cordbyconstantexercise。Hewasdressedcarelessly,andmorelikeaFrenchmanthananEnglishmanoftheperiod,while,fromhishardfeaturesandperpendicularrigidityofstature,heboresomeresemblancetoaSwissofficeroftheguards,whohadresidedsometimeatParis,andcaughtthe_costume,_butnottheeaseormannerofitsinhabitants。 Thetruthwas,thathislanguageandhabitswereasheterogeneousashisexternalappearance。 Owingtohisnaturaldispositiontostudy,orperhapstoaverygeneralScottishfashionofgivingyoungmenofrankalegaleducation,hehadbeenbredwithaviewtothebar。Butthepoliticsofhisfamilyprecludingthehopeofhisrisinginthatprofession,Mr。Bradwardinetravelledwithhighreputationforseveralyears,andmadesomecampaignsinforeignservice。 Afterhis_dml_withthelawofhightreasonin1715,hehadlivedinretirement,conversingalmostentirelywiththoseofhisownprinciplesinthevicinage。Thepedantryofthelawyer,superinduceduponthemilitaryprideofthesoldier,mightremindamodernofthedaysofthezealousvolunteerservice,whenthebar-gownofourpleaderswasoftenflungoverablazinguniform。TothismustbeaddedtheprejudicesofancientbirthandJacobitepolitics,greatlystrengthenedbyhabitsofsolitaryandsecludedauthority,which,thoughexercisedonlywithintheboundsofhishalf-cultivatedestate,wasthereindisputableandundisputed。For,asheusedtoobserve,thelandsofBradwardine,Tully-Veolan,andothers,hadbeenerectedintoafreebaronybyacharterfromDavidtheFirst,_cumliberalipotest。habendicuriasetjusticias,cumfossaetfurca_