第20章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:5792更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
Waverleywasunaccustomedtotheuseofwine,exceptingwithgreattemperance。Hesleptthereforesoundlytilllateinthesucceedingmorning,andthenawakenedtoapainfulrecollectionofthesceneoftheprecedingevening。Hehadreceivedapersonalaffront,-he,agentleman,asoldier,andaWaverley。 True,thepersonwhohadoffereditwasnot,atthetimeitwasgiven,possessedofthemoderateshareofsensewhichnaturehadallottedhim;truealso,inresentingthisinsult,hewouldbreakthelawsofHeaven,aswellasofhiscountry;true,indoingso,hemighttakethelifeofayoungmanwhoperhapsrespectablydischargedthesocialduties,andrenderhisfamilymiserable;orhemightlosehisown;-nopleasantalternativeeventothebravest,whenitisdebatedcoollyandinprivate。 Allthispressedonhismind;yettheoriginalstatementrecurredwiththesameirresistibleforce。Hehadreceivedapersonalinsult;hewasofthehouseofWaverley;andheboreacommission。Therewasnoalternative;andhedescendedtothebreakfastparlourwiththeintentionoftakingleaveofthefamily,andwritingtooneofhisbrotherofficerstomeethimattheinnmid-waybetweenTully-Veolanandthetownwheretheywerequartered,inorderthathemightconveysuchamessagetotheLairdofBalmawhappleasthecircumstancesseemedtodemand。HefoundMissBradwardinepresidingovertheteaandcoffee,thetableloadedwithwarmbread,bothofflour,oatmeal,andbarley-meal,intheshapeofloaves,cakes,biscuits,andothervarieties,togetherwitheggs,rein-deerham,muttonandbeefditto,smokedsalmon,marmalade,andallotherdelicacieswhichinducedevenJohnsonhimselftoextoltheluxuryofaScotchbreakfastabovethatofallothercountries。 Amessofoatmealporridge,flankedbyasilverjug,whichheldanequalmixtureofcreamandbutter-milk,wasplacedfortheBaron’sshareofthisrepast;butRoseobservedhehadwalkedoutearlyinthemorning,aftergivingordersthathisguestshouldnotbedisturbed。 Waverleysatdownalmostinsilence,andwithanairofabsenceandabstraction,whichcouldnotgiveMissBradwardineafavourableopinionofhistalentsforconversation。Heansweredatrandomoneortwoobservationswhichsheventuredtomakeuponordinarytopics;sothatfeelingherselfalmostrepulsedinhereffortsatentertaininghim,andsecretlywonderingthatascarletcoatshouldcovernobetterbreeding,shelefthimtohismentalamusementofcursingDr。Doubleit’sfavouriteconstellationofUrsaMajor,asthecauseofallthemischiefwhichhadalreadyhappened,andwaslikelytoensue。Atoncehestarted,andhiscolourheightened,as,lookingtowardthewindow,hebeheldtheBaronandyoungBalmawhapplepassarminarm,apparentlyindeepconversation;andhehastilyasked,DidMr。Falconersleepherelastnight?’’Rose,notmuchpleasedwiththeabruptnessofthefirstquestionwhichtheyoungstrangerhadaddressedtoher,answereddrylyinthenegative,andtheconversationagainsunkintosilence。 AtthismomentMr。Saundersonappeared,withamessagefromhismasterrequestingtospeakwithCaptainWaverleyinanotherapartment。Withaheartwhichbeatalittlequicker,notindeedfromfear,butfromuncertaintyandanxiety,Edwardobeyedthesummons。Hefoundthetwogentlemenstandingtogether,anairofcomplacentdignityonthebrowoftheBaron,whilesomethinglikesullenness,orshame,orboth,blankedtheboldvisageofBalmawhapple。Theformerslippedhisarmthroughthatofthelatter,andthusseemingtowalkwithhim,whileinrealityheledhim,advancedtomeetWaverley,and,stoppinginthemidstoftheapartment,madeingreatstatethefollowingoration:CaptainWaverley,-myyoungandesteemedfriend,Mr。FalconerofBalmawhapple,hascravedofmyageandexperience,asofonenotwhollyunskilledinthedependenciesandpunctiliosoftheduelloormonomachia,tobehisinterlocutorinexpressingtoyoutheregretwithwhichhecallstoremembrancecertainpassagesofoursymposionlastnight,whichcouldnotbutbehighlydispleasingtoyou,asservingforthetimeunderthispresentexistinggovernment。 Hecravesyou,sir,todrowninoblivionthememoryofsuchsolecismsagainstthelawsofpoliteness,asbeingwhathisbetterreasondisavows,andtoreceivethehandwhichheoffersyouinamity;andImustneedsassureyou,thatnothinglessthanasenseofbeing_danssontort,_asagallantFrenchchevalier,Mons。LeBretailleur,oncesaidtomeonsuchanoccasion,andanopinionalsoofyourpeculiarmerit,couldhaveextortedsuchconcessions;forheandallhisfamilyare,andhavebeentimeoutofmind,_Mavortiapectora,_asBuchanansaith,aboldandwarlikesept,orpeople。’’ Edwardimmediately,andwithnaturalpoliteness,acceptedthehandwhichBalmawhapple,orrathertheBaroninhischaracterofmediator,extendedtowardshim。Itwasimpossible,’’ hesaid,forhimtorememberwhatagentlemanexpressedhiswishhehadnotuttered;andhewillinglyimputedwhathadpassedtotheexuberantfestivityoftheday。’’ Thatisveryhandsomelysaid,’’answeredtheBaron;forundoubtedlyifamanbe_ebrius,_orintoxicated-anincidentwhich,onsolemnandfestiveoccasions,mayandwilltakeplaceinthelifeofamanofhonour;andifthesamegentleman,beingfreshandsober,recantsthecontumelieswhichhehathspokeninhisliquor,itmustbeheld_vinumlocutum_est;thewordsceasetobehisown。YetwouldInotfindthisexculpationrelevantinthecaseofonewhowas_ebriosus,_oranhabitualdrunkard;because,ifsuchapersonchoosetopassthegreaterpartofhistimeinthepredicamentofintoxication,hehathnotitletobeexeemedfromtheobligationsofthecodeofpoliteness,butshouldlearntodeporthimselfpeaceablyandcourteouslywhenundertheinfluenceofthevinousstimulus- Andnowletusproceedtobreakfast,andthinknomoreofthisdaftbusiness。’’ Imustconfess,whateverinferencemaybedrawnfromthecircumstance,thatEdward,aftersosatisfactoryanexplanation,didmuchgreaterhonourtothedelicaciesofMissBradwardine’sbreakfast-tablethanhiscommencementhadpromised。Balmawhapple,onthecontrary,seemedembarrassedanddejected; andWaverleynow,forthefirsttime,observedthathisarmwasinasling,whichseemedtoaccountfortheawkwardandembarrassedmannerwithwhichhehadpresentedhishand。 ToaquestionfromMissBradwardine,hemuttered,inanswer,somethingabouthishorsehavingfallen;and,seemingdesiroustoescapebothfromthesubjectandthecompany,hearoseassoonasbreakfastwasover,madehisbowtotheparty,and,decliningtheBaron’sinvitationtotarrytillafterdinner,mountedhishorseandreturnedtohisownhome。 WaverleynowannouncedhispurposeofleavingTully-Veolanearlyenoughafterdinnertogainthestageatwhichhemeanttosleep;buttheunaffectedanddeepmortificationwithwhichthegood-naturedandaffectionateoldgentlemanheardtheproposal,quitedeprivedhimofcouragetopersistinit。NosoonerhadhegainedWaverley’sconsenttolengthenhisvisitforafewdays,thanhelabouredtoremovethegroundsuponwhichheconceivedhehadmeditatedamoreearlyretreat。Iwouldnothaveyouopine,CaptainWaverley,thatIambypracticeorpreceptanadvocateofebriety,thoughitmaybethat,inourfestivityoflastnight,someofourfriends,ifnotperchancealtogether_ebrii,_ordrunken,were,tosaytheleast,_ebrioli,_bywhichtheancientsdesignedthosewhowerefuddled,or,asyourEnglishvernacularandmetaphoricalphrasegoes,half-seas-over。 NotthatIwouldsoinsinuaterespectingyou,CaptainWaverley,who,likeaprudentyouth,didratherabstainfrompotation;norcanitbetrulysaidofmyself,who,havingassistedatthetablesofmanygreatgeneralsandmarechalsattheirsolemncarousals,havethearttocarrymywinediscreetly,anddidnot,duringthewholeevening,asyemusthavedoubtlessobserved,exceedtheboundsofamodesthilarity。’’ Therewasnorefusingassenttoapropositionsodecidedlylaiddownbyhimwhoundoubtedlywasthebestjudge;although,hadEdwardformedhisopinionfromhisownrecollections,hewouldhavepronouncedthattheBaronwasnotonly_ebriolus,_ butvergingtobecome_ebrius;_or,inplainEnglish,wasincomparablythemostdrunkoftheparty,exceptperhapshisantagonisttheLairdofBalmawhapple。However,havingreceivedtheexpected,orrathertherequired,complimentonhissobriety,theBaronproceeded,-No,sir,thoughIammyselfofastrongtemperament,Iabhorebriety,anddetestthosewhoswallowwine_gulcausa,_fortheoblectationofthegullet; albeitImightdeprecatethelawofPittacusofMitylene,whopunisheddoublyacrimecommittedundertheinfluenceof_LiberPater;_norwouldIutterlyaccedetotheobjurgationoftheyoungerPlinius,inthefourteenthbookofhis`HistoriaNaturalis。’No,sir;Idistinguish,Idiscriminate,andapproveofwinesofaronlyasitmakethgladtheface,or,inthelanguageofFlaccus,_receptoamico。_’’ ThusterminatedtheapologywhichtheBaronofBradwardinethoughtitnecessarytomakeforthesuperabundanceofhishospitality;anditmaybeeasilybelievedthathewasneitherinterruptedbydissent,noranyexpressionofincredulity。 Hetheninvitedhisguesttoamorningride,andorderedthatDavieGellatleyshouldmeetthematthe_dernpath_withBanandBuscar。For,untiltheshootingseasoncommenced,Iwouldwillinglyshowyousomesport,andwemay,Godwilling,meetwitharoe。Theroe,CaptainWaverley,maybehuntedatalltimesalike;forneverbeinginwhatiscalled_prideofgrease,_heisalsoneveroutofseason,thoughitbeatruththathisvenisonisnotequaltothatofeithertheredorfallowdeer。<>ButhewillservetoshowhowmydogsrunThelearnedincookerydissentfromtheBaronofBradwardine,andholdtheroe-venisondryandindifferentfood,unlesswhendressedinsoupandScotchcollops。 andthereforetheyshallattenduswithDavieGellatley。’’ WaverleyexpressedhissurprisethathisfriendDaviewascapableofsuchtrust;buttheBarongavehimtounderstandthatthispoorsimpletonwasneitherfatuous_necnaturaliteridiota,_asisexpressedinthebrievesoffuriosity,butsimplyacrackbrainedknave,whocouldexecuteverywellanycommissionwhichjumpedwithhisownhumour,andmadehisfollyapleaforavoidingeveryother。Hehasmadeaninterestwithus,’’continuedtheBaron,bysavingRosefromagreatdangerwithhisownproperperil;andtheroguishloonmustthereforeeatofourbreadanddrinkofourcup,anddowhathecan,orwhathewill;which,ifthesuspicionsofSaundersonandtheBailiearewellfounded,mayperchanceinhiscasebecommensurateterms。’’ MissBradwardinethengaveWaverleytounderstand,thatthispoorsimpletonwasdoatinglyfondofmusic,deeplyaffectedbythatwhichwasmelancholy,andtransportedintoextravagantgaietybylightandlivelyairs。Hehadinthisrespectaprodigiousmemory,storedwithmiscellaneoussnatchesandfragmentsofalltunesandsongs,whichhesometimesapplied,withconsiderableaddress,asthevehiclesofremonstrance,explanation,orsatire。Daviewasmuchattachedtothefewwhoshowedhimkindness;andbothawareofanyslightorillusagewhichhehappenedtoreceive,andsufficientlyapt,wherehesawopportunity,torevengeit。Thecommonpeople,whooftenjudgehardlyofeachother,aswellasoftheirbetters,althoughtheyhadexpressedgreatcompassionforthepoor_innocent_whilesufferedtowanderinragsaboutthevillage,nosoonerbeheldhimdecentlyclothed,providedfor,andevenasortoffavourite,thantheycalledupalltheinstancesofsharpnessandingenuity,inactionandrepartee,whichhisannalsafforded,andcharitablybottomedthereuponahypothesis,thatDavieGellatleywasnofartherfoolthanwasnecessarytoavoidhardlabour。ThisopinionwasnotbetterfoundedthanthatoftheNegroes,who,fromtheacuteandmischievouspranksofthemonkeys,supposethattheyhavethegiftofspeech,andonlysuppresstheirpowersofelocutiontoescapebeingsettowork。Butthehypothesiswasentirelyimaginary。DavieGellatleywasingoodearnestthehalf-crazedsimpletonwhichheappeared,andwasincapableofanyconstantandsteadyexertion。Hehadjustsomuchsolidityaskeptonthewindysideofinsanity;somuchwildwitassavedhimfromtheimputationofidiocy;somedexterityinfieldsports(inwhichwehaveknownasgreatfoolsexcel),greatkindnessandhumanityinthetreatmentofanimalsentrustedtohim,warmaffections,aprodigiousmemory,andanearformusic。 Thestampingofhorseswasnowheardinthecourt,andDavie’svoicesingingtothetwolargedeergreyhounds,- Hieaway,hieaway,Overbankandoverbrae,Wherethecopsewoodisthegreenest,Wherethefountainsglistensheenest,Wherethelady-ferngrowsstrongest,Wherethemorningdewlieslongest,Wheretheblack-cocksweetestsipsit,Wherethefairylatesttripsit: Hietohauntsrightseldomseen,Lovely,lonesome,cool,andgreen,Overbankandoverbrae,Hieaway,hieaway。 Dotheverseshesings,’’askedWaverley,belongtooldScottishpoetry,MissBradwardine?’’