第21章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:5968更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
Ibelievenot,’’shereplied。Thispoorcreaturehadabrother,andHeaven,asiftocompensatetothefamilyDaviesdeficiencies,hadgivenhimwhatthehamletthoughtuncommontalents。AnunclecontrivedtoeducatehimfortheScottishkirk,buthecouldnotgetprefermentbecausehecamefromour_ground。_Hereturnedfromcollegehopelessandbrokenhearted,andfellintoadecline。Myfathersupportedhimtillhisdeath,whichhappenedbeforehewasnineteen。Heplayedbeautifullyontheflute,andwassupposedtohaveagreatturnforpoetry。 Hewasaffectionateandcompassionatetohisbrother,whofollowedhimlikehisshadow,andwethinkthatfromhimDaviegatheredmanyfragments,ofsongsandmusicunlikethoseofthiscountry。Butifweaskhimwherehegotsuchafragmentasheisnowsinging,heeitheranswerswithwildandlongfitsoflaughter,orelsebreaksintotearsoflamentation;butwasneverheardtogiveanyexplanation,ortomentionhisbrother’snamesincehisdeath。’’ Surely,’’saidEdward,whowasreadilyinterestedbyataleborderingontheromantic,surelymoremightbelearnedbymoreparticularinquiry。’’ Perhapsso,’’answeredRose,butmyfatherwillnotpermitanyonetopractiseonhisfeelingsonthissubject。’’ BythistimetheBaron,withthehelpofMr。Saunderson,hadinduedapairofjack-bootsoflargedimensions,andnowinvitedourherotofollowhimashestalkedclatteringdowntheamplestaircase,tappingeachhugebalustradeashepassedwiththebuttofhismassivehorse-whip,andhumming,withtheairofachasseurofLouisQuatorze,Pourlachasseordonneilfautprparertout,Holaho!Vite!vitedebout。 TheBaronofBradwardine,mountedonanactiveandwell-managedhorse,andseatedonademi-piquesaddle,withdeephousingstoagreewithhislivery,wasnobadrepresentativeoftheoldschool。Hislight-colouredembroideredcoat,andsuperblybarredwaistcoat,hisbrigadierwig,surmountedbyasmallgold-lacedcocked-hat,completedhispersonalcostume;buthewasattendedbytwowell-mountedservantsonhorseback,armedwithholster-pistols。 Inthisguiseheambledforthoverhillandvalley,theadmirationofeveryfarm-yardwhichtheypassedintheirprogress,till,lowdowninagrassyvale,’’theyfoundDavieGellatleyleadingtwoverytalldeergreyhounds,andpresidingoverhalf-a-dozencurs,andaboutasmanybare-leggedandbare-headedboys,who,toprocurethechosendistinctionofattendingonthechase,hadnotfailedtoticklehisearswiththedulcetappellationof_MaisterGellatley,_thoughprobablyallandeachhadhootedhimonformeroccasionsinthecharacterof_daftDavie。_Butthisisnouncommonstrainofflatterytopersonsinoffice,noraltogetherconfinedtothebare-leggedvillagersofTully-Veolan:itwasinfashionSixtyYearssince,isnow,andwillbesixhundredyearshence,ifthisadmirablecompoundoffollyandknavery,calledtheworld,shallbetheninexistence。 These_gillie-wet-foots,_<>astheywerecalled,weredestinedtoAbare-footedHighlandladiscalledagillie-wet-foot。Gillie,ingeneral,meansservantorattendant。 beatthebushes,whichtheyperformedwithsomuchsuccess,thatafterhalf-an-hour’ssearcharoewasstarted,coursed,andkilled;theBaronfollowingonhiswhitehorse,likeEarlPercyofyore,andmagnanimouslyflayingandembowellingtheslainanimal(which,heobserved,wascalledbytheFrenchchasseurs_fairelacure_)withhisownbaronial_couteaudechasse。_Afterthisceremonyheconductedhisguesthomewardbyapleasantandcircuitousroute,commandinganextensiveprospectofdifferentvillagesandhouses,toeachofwhichMr。Bradwardineattachedsomeanecdoteofhistoryorgenealogy,toldinlanguagewhimsicalfromprejudiceandpedantry,butoftenrespectableforthegoodsenseandhonourablefeelingswhichhisnarrativedisplayed,andalmostalwayscurious,ifnotvaluable,fortheinformationtheycontained。 Thetruthis,therideseemedagreeabletobothgentlemen,becausetheyfoundamusementineachother’sconversation,althoughtheircharactersandhabitsofthinkingwereinmanyrespectstotallyopposite。Edward,wehaveinformedthereader,waswarminhisfeelings,wildandromanticinhisideasandinhistasteofreading,withastrongdispositiontowardspoetry。 Mr。Bradwardinewasthereverseofallthis,andpiquedhimselfuponstalkingthroughlifewiththesameupright,starched,stoicalgravitywhichdistinguishedhiseveningpromenadeupontheterraceofTully-Veolan,whereforhourstogether,theverymodelofoldHardyknute,Statelysteppedheeastthewa’,Andstatelysteppedhewest。 Asforliterature,hereadtheclassicpoets,tobesure,andtheEpithalamiumofGeorgiusBuchanan,andArthurJohnston’sPsalms,ofaSunday;andtheDeliciPoetarumScotorum,andSirDavidLindsaysWorks,andBarboux’sBruce,andBlindHarry’sWallace,andtheGentleShepherd,andtheCherryandtheSlae。ButthoughhethusfarsacrificedhistimetotheMuses,hewould,ifthetruthmustbespoken,havebeenmuchbetterpleasedhadthepiousorsapientapothegms,aswellasthehistoricalnarratives,whichthesevariousworkscontained,beenpresentedtohimintheformofsimpleprose。Andhesometimescouldnotrefrainfromexpressingcontemptofthevainandunprofitableartofpoem-making,’’inwhich,hesaid,theonlyonewhohadexcelledinhistimewasAllanRamsay,theperiwig-maker。’’<> TheBaronoughttohaverememberedthatthejoyousAllanliterallydrewhisbloodfromthehouseofthenobleEarl,whomheterms Dalhousieofanolddescent,Mystoup,mypride,myornament。 ButalthoughEdwardandhediffered_totoclo,_astheBaronwouldhavesaid,uponthissubject,yettheymetuponhistoryasonaneutralground,inwhicheachclaimedaninterest。 TheBaron,indeed,onlycumberedhismemorywithmattersoffact-thecold,dry,hardoutlineswhichhistorydelineates。 Edward,onthecontrary,lovedtofillupandroundthesketchwiththecolouringofawarmandvividimagination,whichgiveslightandlifetotheactorsandspeakersinthedramaofpastages。Yetwithtastessoopposite,theycontributedgreatlytoeachother’samusement。Mr。Bradwardine’sminutenarrativesandpowerfulmemorysuppliedtoWaverleyfreshsubjectsofthekinduponwhichhisfancylovedtolabour,andopenedtohimanewmineofincidentandofcharacter。Andherepaidthepleasurethuscommunicatedbyanearnestattention,valuabletoallstory-tellers,moreespeciallytotheBaron,whofelthishabitsofself-respectflatteredbyit;andsometimesalsobyreciprocalcommunications,whichinterestedMr。Bradwardine,asconfirmingorillustratinghisownfavouriteanecdotes。 Besides,Mr。Bradwardinelovedtotalkofthescenesofhisyouth,whichhadbeenspentincampsandforeignlands,andhadmanyinterestingparticularstotellofthegeneralsunderwhomhehadserved,andtheactionshehadwitnessed。 BothpartiesreturnedtoTully-Veolaningreatgoodhumourwitheachother;Waverleydesirousofstudyingmoreattentivelywhatheconsideredasasingularandinterestingcharacter,giftedwithamemorycontainingacuriousregisterofancientandmodemanecdotes;andBradwardinedisposedtoregardEdwardas_puer_(orrather_juvenis_)_bonesspeietmagnindolis,_ ayouthdevoidofthatpetulantvolatilitywhichisimpatientof,orviliends,theconversationandadviceofhisseniors,fromwhichhepredictedgreatthingsofhisfuturesuccessanddeportmentinlife。TherewasnootherguestexceptMr。 Rubrick,whoseinformationanddiscourse,asaclergymanandascholar,harmonizedverywellwiththatoftheBaronandhisguest。 Shortlyafterdinner,theBaron,asiftoshowthathistemperancewasnotentirelytheoretical,proposedavisittoRose’sapartment,or,ashetermedit,her_TroisimeEtage。_ Waverleywasaccordinglyconductedthroughoneortwoofthoselongawkwardpassageswithwhichancientarchitectsstudiedtopuzzletheinhabitantsofthehouseswhichtheyplanned,attheendofwhichMr。Bradwardinebegantoascend,bytwostepsatonce,averysteep,narrow,andwindingstair,leavingMr。RubrickandWaverleytofollowatmoreleisure,whileheshouldannouncetheirapproachtohisdaughter。 Afterhavingclimbedthisperpendicularcorkscrewuntiltheirbrainswerealmostgiddy,theyarrivedinalittlemattedlobby,whichservedmanante-roomtoRose’s_sanctumsanctorum,_andthroughwhichtheyenteredherparlour。Itwasasmallbutpleasantapartment,openingtothesouth,andhungwithtapestry; adornedbesideswithtwopictures,oneofhermother,inthedressofashepherdess,withabell-hoop;theotheroftheBaron,inhistenthyear,inabluecoat,embroideredwaistcoat,lacedhat,andbag-wig,withabowinhishand。Edwardcouldnothelpsmilingatthecostume,andattheoddresemblancebetweentheround,smooth,red-checked,staringvisageintheportrait,andthegaunt,bearded,hollow-eyed,swarthyfeatures,whichtravelling,fatiguesofwar,andadvancedage,hadbestowedontheoriginal。TheBaronjoinedinthelaugh。 Truly,’’hesaid,thatpicturewasawoman’sfantasyofmygoodmother’s(adaughteroftheLairdofTulliellum,CaptainWaverley;IindicatedthehousetoyouwhenwewereonthetopoftheShinnyheuch;itwasburntbytheDutchauxiliariesbroughtinbytheGovernmentin1715);Ineversateformypourtraicturebutoncesincethatwaspainted,anditwasatthespecialandreiteratedrequestoftheMarechalDukeofBerwick。’’ ThegoodoldgentlemandidnotmentionwhatMr。RubrickafterwardstoldEdward,thattheDukehaddonehimthishonouronaccountofhisbeingthefirsttomountthebreachofafortinSavoyduringthememorablecampaignof1709,andhishavingtheredefendedhimselfwithhishalf-pikefornearlytenminutesbeforeanysupportreachedhim。TodotheBaronjustice,althoughsufficientlypronetodwellupon,andeventoexaggerate,hisfamilydignityandconsequence,hewastoomuchamanofrealcourageevertoalludetosuchpersonalactsofmeritashehadhimselfmanifested。 MissRosenowappearedfromtheinteriorroomofherapartment,towelcomeherfatherandhisfriends。Thelittlelaboursinwhichshehadbeenemployedobviouslyshowedanaturaltaste,whichrequiredonlycultivation。HerfatherhadtaughtherFrenchandItalian,andafewoftheordinaryauthorsinthoselanguagesornamentedhershelves。Hehadendeavouredalsotobeherpreceptorinmusic;butashebeganwiththemoreabstrusedoctrinesofthescience,andwasnotperhapsmasterofthemhimself,shehadmadenoproficiencyfartherthantobeabletoaccompanyhervoicewiththeharpsichord; buteventhiswasnotverycommoninScotlandatthatperiod。 Tomakeamends,shesungwithgreattasteandfeeling,andwitharespecttothesenseofwhatsheutteredthatmightbeproposedinexampletoladiesofmuchsuperiormusicaltalent。 Hernaturalgoodsensetaughther,thatif,asweareassuredbyhighauthority,musicbemarriedtoimmortalverse,’’theyareveryoftendivorcedbytheperformerinamostshamefulmanner。Itwasperhapsowingtothissensibilitytopoetry,andpowerofcombiningitsexpressionwiththoseofthemusicalnotes,thathersinginggavemorepleasuretoalltheunlearnedinmusic,andeventomanyofthelearned,thancouldhavebeencommunicatedbyamuchfinervoiceandmorebrilliantexecution,unguidedbythesamedelicacyoffeeling。 Abartizan,orprojectinggallery,beforethewindowsofherparlour,servedtoillustrateanotherofRose’spursuits;foritwascrowdedwithflowersofdifferentkinds,whichshehadtakenunderherspecialprotection。AprojectingturretgaveaccesstothisGothicbalcony,whichcommandedamostbeautifulprospect。Theformalgarden,withitshighboundingwalls,laybelow,contracted,asitseemed,toamereparterre; whiletheviewextendedbeyondthemdownawoodedglen,wherethesmallriverwassometimesvisible,sometimeshiddenincopse。Theeyemightbedelayedbyadesiretorestontherocks,whichhereandthererosefromthedellwithmassiveorspiryfronts,oritmightdwellonthenoble,thoughruinedtower,whichwasherebeheldinallitsdignity,frowningfromapromontoryovertheriver。Totheleftwereseentwoorthreecottages,apartofthevillage;thebrowofthehillconcealedtheothers。Theglen,ordell,wasterminatedbyasheetofwater,calledLoch-Veolan,intowhichthebrookdischargeditself,andwhichnowglistenedinthewesternsun。Thedistantcountryseemedopenandvariedinsurface,thoughnotwooded; andtherewasnothingtointerrupttheviewuntilthescenewasboundedbyaridgeofdistantandbluehills,whichformedthesouthernboundaryofthestrathorvalley。TothispleasantstationMissBradwardinehadorderedcoffee。 Theviewoftheoldtower,orfortalice,introducedsomefamilyanecdotesandtalesofScottishchivalry,whichtheBarontoldwithgreatenthusiasm。Theprojectingpeakofanimpendingcragwhichrosenearit,hadacquiredthenameofSt。Swithin’sChair。Itwasthesceneofapeculiarsuperstition,ofwhichMr。Rubrickmentionedsomecuriousparticulars,whichremindedWaverleyofarhymequotedbyEdgarinKingLear;andRosewascalledupontosingalittlelegend,inwhichtheyhadbeeninterwovenbysomevillagepoet,Who,notelessastheracefromwhichhesprung,Savedothers’names,butlefthisownunsung。 Thesweetnessofhervoice,andthesimplebeautyofhermusic,gavealltheadvantagewhichtheminstrelcouldhavedesiredandwhichhispoetrysomuchwanted。Ialmostdoubtifitcanbereadwithpatience,destituteoftheseadvantages;