第40章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:5717更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
WaverleyforgotFloraMac-Ivor’sprejudicesinhermagnanimity,andalmostpardonedherindifferencetowardshisaffection,whenherecollectedthegrandanddecisiveobjectwhichseemedtofillherwholesoul。She,whosesenseofdutysowhollyengrossedherinthecauseofabenefactor,-whatwouldbeherfeelingsinfavourofthehappyindividualwhoshouldbesofortunateastoawakenthem?Thencamethedoubtfulquestion,whetherhemightnotbethathappyman,-aquestionwhichfancyendeavouredtoanswerintheaffirmative,byconjuringupallshehadsaidinhispraise,withtheadditionofacommentmuchmoreflatteringthanthetextwarranted。Allthatwascommon-place-allthatbelongedtotheevery-dayworld-wasmeltedawayandobliteratedinthosedreamsofimagination,whichonlyrememberedwithadvantagethepointsofgraceanddignitythatdistinguishedFlorafromthegeneralityofhersex,nottheparticularswhichsheheldincommonwiththem。Edwardwas,inshort,inthefairwayofcreatingagoddessoutofahigh-spirited,accomplished,andbeautifulyoungwoman;andthetimewaswastedincastle-building,until,atthedescentofasteephill,hesawbeneathhimthemarket-townof。 TheHighlandpolitenessofCallumBeg-therearefewnations,bytheway,whocanboastofsomuchnaturalpolitenessastheHighlanders<>-theHighlandcivilityofhisattendantTheHighlander,informertimes,hadalwaysahighideaofhisowngentility,andwasanxioustoimpressthesameuponthosewithwhomheconversed。Hislanguageaboundedinthephrasesofcourtesyandcompliment; andthehabitofcarryingarms,andmixingwiththosewhodidso,madeitparticularlydesirabletheyshouldusecautiouspolitenessintheirintercoursewitheachother。 hadnotpermittedhimtodisturbthereveriesofourhero。Butobservinghimrousehimselfatthesightofthevillage,Callumpressedclosertohisside,andhopedWhentheycamtothepublic,hishonourwadnotsaynothingaboutVichIanVohr,fortapeoplewerebitterWhigs,deilbursttem。’’ Waverleyassuredtheprudentpagethathewouldbecautiousandashenowdistinguished,notindeedtheringingofbells,butthetinklingofsomethinglikeahammeragainstthesideofanoldmossy,green,invertedporridge-pot,thathunginanopenbooth,ofthesizeandshapeofaparrot’scage,erectedtogracetheeastendofabuildingresemblinganoldbarn,heaskedCallumBegifitwereSunday。 Couldnasayjustpreceesely-SundayseldomcamaboonthepawofBally-Brough。’’ Onenteringthetown,however,andadvancingtowardsthemostapparentpublichousewhichpresenteditself,thenumbersofoldwomen,intartanscreensandredcloaks,whostreamedfromthebarn-resemblingbuilding,debatingastheywentthecomparativemeritsoftheblessedyouthJabeshRentowel,andthatchosenvesselMaisterGoukthrapple,inducedCallumtoassurehistemporarymaster,thatitwaseithertamuckleSundayherself,ortalittlegovernmentSundaythattheyca’dtafast。’’ OnalightingatthesignoftheSeven-branchedGoldenCandlestick,which,forthefurtherdelectationoftheguests,wasgracedwithashortHebrewmotto,theywerereceivedbyminehost,atallthinpuritanicalfigure,whoseemedtodebatewithhimselfwhetherheoughttogivesheltertothosewhotravelledonsuchaday。Reflecting,however,inallprobability,thathepossessedthepowerofmulctingthemforthisirregularity,apenaltywhichtheymightescapebypassingintoGregorDuncanson’s,atthesignoftheHighlanderandtheHawickGill,Mr。EbenezerCruickshankscondescendedtoadmitthemintohisdwelling。 TothissanctifiedpersonWaverleyaddressedhisrequestthathewouldprocurehimaguide,withasaddle-horse,tocarryhisportmanteautoEdinburgh。 Andwharmayyebecomingfrom?’’demandedminehostoftheCandlestick。 IhavetoldyouwhereIwishtogo;Idonotconceiveanyfurtherinformationnecessaryeitherfortheguideorhissaddle-horse。’’ Hem!Ahem!’’returnedheoftheCandlestick,somewhatdisconcertedatthisrebuff。It’sthegeneralfast,sir,andI cannotenterintoonycarnaltransactionsonsicaday,whenthepeopleshouldbehumbled,andthebackslidersshouldreturn,asworthyMr。Goukthrapplesaid;andmoreoverwhen,asthepreciousMr。JabeshRentoweldidweelobserve,thelandwasmourningforcovenantsburnt,broken,andburied。’’ Mygoodfriend,’’saidWaverley,ifyoucannotletmehaveahorseandguide,myservantshallseekthemelsewhere。’’ Aweel!Yourservant?-andwhatforgangshenotforwardwi’youhimsell?’’ Waverleyhadbutverylittleofacaptainofhorse’sspiritwithinhim-ImeanofthatsortofspiritwhichIhavebeenobligedtowhenIhappened,inamail-coach,ordiligence,tomeetsomemilitarymanwhohaskindlytakenuponhimthediscipliningofthewaiters,andthetaxingofreckonings。 Someofthisusefultalentourherohad,however,acquiredduringhismilitaryservice,andonthisgrossprovocationitbeganseriouslytoarise。Lookye,sir;Icamehereformyownaccommodation,andnottoanswerimpertinentquestions。 Eithersayyoucan,orcannot,getmewhatIwant;Ishallpursuemycourseineithercase。’’ Mr。EbenezerCruickshankslefttheroomwithsomeindistinctmuttering;butwhethernegativeoracquiescent,Edwardcouldnotwelldistinguish。Thehostess,acivil,quiet,laboriousdrudge,cametotakehisordersfordinner,butdeclinedtomakeansweronthesubjectofthehorseandguide;fortheSaliquelaw,itseems,extendedtothestablesoftheGoldenCandlestick。 FromawindowwhichoverlookedthedarkandnarrowcourtinwhichCallumBegrubbeddownthehorsesaftertheirjourney,Waverleyheardthefollowingdialoguebetwixtthesubtilefoot-pageofVichIanVohrandhislandlord:- Yellbefraethenorth,youngman?’’beganthelatter。 Andyemaysaythat,’’answeredCallum。 Andyellhaeriddenalangwaytheday,itmayweelbe?’’ Saelang,thatIcouldweeltakadram。’’ Gudewife,bringthegillstoup。’’ Heresomecomplimentspassed,fittingtheoccasion,whenmyhostoftheGoldenCandlestick,having,ashethought,openedhisguest’sheartbythishospitablepropitiation,resumedhisscrutiny。 Ye’llnohaemicklebetterwhiskythanthataboonthePass?’’ IamnaefraeaboonthePass。’’ Ye’reaHighlandmanbyyourtongue?’’ Na;IambutjustAberdeen-a-way。’’ AnddidyourmastercomefraeAberdeenwi’you?’’ Ay-that’swhenIleftitmysell,’’answeredthecoolandimpenetrableCallumBeg。 Andwhatkindofagentlemanishe?’’ Ibelieveheisaneo’KingGeorge’sstateofficers;atleast,he’sayeforgangingontothesouth,andhehasahantlesiller,andnevergrudgesonythingtillapoorbody,orinthewayofalawing。’’ HewantsaguideandahorsefraehencetoEdinburgh?’’ Ay,andyemaunfindithimforthwith。’’ Ahem!Itwillbechargeable。’’ Hecaresnaforthatabodle。’’ Aweel,Duncan-didyesayyournamewasDuncan,orDonald?’’ Na,man-Jamie-JamieSteenson-Iteltyebefore。’’ ThislastundauntedparryaltogetherfoiledMr。Cruickshanks,who,thoughnotquitesatisfiedeitherwiththereserveofthemaster,ortheextremereadinessoftheman,wascontentedtolayataxonthereckoningandhorse-hire,thatmightcompoundforhisungratifiedcuriosity。Thecircumstanceofitsbeingthefast-daywasnotforgotteninthecharge,which,onthewhole,didnot,however,amounttomuchmorethandoublewhatinfairnessitshouldhavebeen。 CallumBegsoonafterannouncedinpersontheratificationofthistreaty,adding,Taaulddeevilwasgaugingtoridewi’taDuinh-wasselhersell。’’ Thatwillnotbeverypleasant,Callum,noraltogethersafe,forourhostseemsapersonofgreatcuriosity;butatravellermustsubmittotheseinconveniences。Meanwhile,mygoodlad,hereisatrifleforyoutodrinkVichIanVohr’shealth。’’ Thehawk’seyeofCallumflasheddelightuponagoldenguinea,withwhichtheselastwordswereaccompanied。Hehastened,notwithoutacurseontheintricaciesofaSaxonbreechespocket,or_spleuchan,_ashecalledit,todepositthetreasureinhisfob;andthen,asifheconceivedthebenevolencecalledforsomerequitalonhispart,hegatheredcloseuptoEdward,withanexpressionofcountenancepeculiarlyknowing,andspokeinanundertone,IfhishonourthoughttaaulddeevilWhigcarlewasabitdangerous,shecouldeasilyprovideforhim,andteilanetawiser。’’ How,andinwhatmanner?’’ Herainsell,’’repliedCallum,couldwaitforhimaweebitfraethetoun,andkittlehisquarterswi’her_skene-occle。_’’ Skene-occle!what’sthat?’’ Callumunbuttonedhiscoat,raisedhisleftarm,andwithanemphaticnod,pointedtothehiltofasmalldirk,snuglydepositedunderit,intheliningofhisjacket。Waverleythoughthehadunderstoodhismeaning;hegazedinhisface,anddiscoveredinCallum’sveryhandsome,thoughembrownedfeatures,justthedegreeofroguishmalicewithwhichaladofthecameageinEnglandwouldhavebroughtforwardaplanforrobbinganorchard。 GoodGod,Callum,wouldyoutaketheman’slife?’’ Indeed,’’answeredtheyoungdesperado,andIthinkhehashadjustalangenoughleaseo’t,whenhe’sforbetrayinghonestfolk,thatcometospendsillerathispublic。’’ Edwardsawnothingwastobegainedbyargument,andthereforecontentedhimselfwithenjoiningCallumtolayasideallpracticesagainstthepersonofMr。EbenezerCruickshanks; inwhichinjunctionthepageseemedtoacquiescewithanairofgreatindifference。 TaDuinh-wasselmightpleasehimsell;taauldrudasloonhadneverdoneCallumnaeill。Buthere’sabitlinefraetaTighearna,tathebademegieyourhonourereIcameback。’’ TheletterfromtheChiefcontainedmoralslinesonthefateofCaptainWogan,whoseenterprisingcharacterissowelldrawnbyClarendon。HehadoriginallyengagedintheserviceoftheParliament,buthadabjuredthatpartyupontheexecutionofCharlesI。;anduponhearingthattheroyalstandardwassetupbytheEarlofGlencairnandGeneralMiddletonintheHighlandsofScotland,tookleaveofCharlesII。,whowasthenatParis,passedintoEngland,assembledabodyofcavaliersintheneighbourhoodofLondon,andtraversedthekingdom,whichhadbeensolongunderdominationoftheusurper,bymarchesconductedwithsuchskill,dexterity,andspirit,thathesafelyunitedhishandfulofhorsemenwiththebodyofHighlanderstheninarms。Afterseveralmonthsofdesultorywarfare,inwhichWogan’sskillandcouragegainedhimthehighestreputation,hehadthemisfortunetobewoundedinadangerousmanner,andnosurgicalassistancebeingwithinreach,heterminatedhisshortbutgloriouscareer。 TherewereobviousreasonswhythepoliticChieftainwasdesiroustoplacetheexampleofthisyoungheroundertheeyeofWaverley,withwhoseromanticdispositionitcoincidedsopeculiarly。ButhisletterturnedchieflyuponsometriflingcommissionswhichWaverleyhadpromisedtoexecuteforhiminEngland,anditwasonlytowardtheconclusionthatEdwardfoundthesewords:-IoweFloraagrudgeforrefusingushercompanyyesterday;andasIamgivingyouthetroubleofreadingtheselines,inordertokeepinyourmemoryyourpromisetoprocuremethefishing-tackleandcross-bowfromLondon,IwillencloseherversesontheGraveofWogan。ThisIknowwillteaseher;for,totellyouthetruth,Ithinkhermoreinlovewiththememoryofthatdeadhero,thansheislikelytobewithanylivingone,unlessheshalltreadasimilarpath。ButEnglishsquiresofourdaykeeptheiroak-treestosheltertheirdeer-parks,orrepairthelossesofaneveningatWhite’s,andneitherinvokethemtowreaththeirbrows,norsheltertheirgraves。Letmehopeforonebrilliantexceptioninadearfriend,towhomIwouldmostgladlygiveadearertitle。’’ Theverseswereinscribed,ToAnOak-Tree。 _IntheChurchyardof,intheHighlandsofScotland,saidtomarktheGraveofCaptainWogan,killedin1649。_ EmblemofEngland’sancientfaith,Fullproudlymaythybrancheswave,Whereloyaltylieslowindeath,Andvalourfillsatimelessgrave。 Andthou,bravetenantofthetomb! Repinenotifourclimedeny,Abovethinehonouredsodtobloom,Thefloweretsofamildersky。 TheseowetheirbirthtogenialMay; Beneathafiercersuntheypine,Beforethewinterstormdecay- Andcantheirworthbetypeofthine? No!for’midstormsofFateopposing,Stillhigherswell’dthydauntlessheart,And,whileDespairthescenewasclosing,Commencedthybriefbutbrilliantpart。 ’Twasthenthousought’st,onAlbyn’shill,(WhenEngland’ssonsthestriferesigned),Aruggedrace,resistingstill,Andunsubdued,thoughunrefined。 Thydeath’shourheardnokindredwail,Noholyknellthyrequiemrung; ThymournersweretheplaidedGael; Thydirgetheclamorouspibrochsung。 Yetwho,inFortune’ssummer-shine,Towastelife’slongesttermaway,Wouldchangethatgloriousdawnofthine,Thoughdarkenedereitsnoontideday。 BethinetheTreewhosedauntlessboughs,Bravesummer’sdroughtandwinter’sgloom!