第83章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:6364更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
Itwasmyaccidentallot,thoughnotbornaHighlander(whichmaybeanapologyformuchbadGaelic),toresideduringmychildhoodandyouthamongpersonsoftheabovedescription;-andnow,forthepurposeofpreservingsomeideaoftheancientmannersofwhichIhavewitnessedthealmosttotalextinction,Ihaveembodiedinimaginaryscenes,andascribedtofictitiouscharacters,apartoftheincidentswhichI thenreceivedfromthosewhowereactorsinthem。Indeed,themostromanticpartsofthisnarrativearepreciselythosewhichhaveafoundationinfact。TheexchangeofmutualprotectionbetweenaHighlandgentlemanandanofficerofrankintheking’sservice,togetherwiththespiritedmannerinwhichthelatterassertedhisrighttoreturnthefavourhehadreceived。 isliterallytrue。Theaccidentbyamusket-shot,andtheheroicreplyimputedtoFlora,relatetoaladyofranknotlongdeceased。 Andscarceagentlemanwhowasinhiding’’afterthebattleofCullodenbutcouldtellataleofstrangeconcealments,andofwildandhair’s-breadth’scapes,asextraordinaryasanywhichI haveascribedtomyheroes。Ofthis,theescapeofCharlesEdwardhimself,asthemostprominent,isthemoststrikingexample。TheaccountsofthebattleofPrestonandskirmishatCliftonaretakenfromthenarrativeofintelligenteye-witnesses,andcorrectedfromtheHistoryoftheRebellionbythelatevenerableauthorofDouglas。TheLowlandScottishgentlemen,andthesubordinatecharacters,arenotgivenasindividualportraits,butaredrawnfromthegeneralhabitsoftheperiod(ofwhichIhavewitnessedsomeremnantsinmyyoungerdays),andpartlygatheredfromtradition。 Ithasbeenmyobjecttodescribethesepersons,notbyacaricaturedandexaggerateduseofthenationaldialect,butbytheirhabits,manners,andfeelings;soasinsomedistantdegreetoemulatetheadmirableIrishportraitsdrawnbyMissEdgeworth,sodifferentfromtheTeagues’’anddearjoys’’ whosolong,withthemostperfectfamilyresemblancetoeachother,occupiedthedramaandthenovel。 Ifeelnoconfidence,however,inthemannerinwhichIhaveexecutedmypurpose。Indeed,solittlewasIsatisfiedwithmyproduction,thatIlaiditasideinanunfinishedstate,andonlyfounditagainbymereaccidentamongotherwastepapersinanoldcabinet,thedrawersofwhichIwasrummaginginordertoaccommodateafriendwithsomefishing-tackle,afterithadbeenmislaidforseveralyears。Twoworksuponsimilarsubjects,byfemaleauthors,whosegeniusishighlycreditabletotheircountry,haveappearedintheinterval;ImeanMrs。Hamilton’sGlenburnie,andthelateaccountofHighlandSuperstitions。 ButthefirstisconfinedtotheruralhabitsofScotland,ofwhichithasgivenapicturewithstrikingandimpressivefidelity;andthetraditionalrecordsoftherespectableandingeniousMrs。 GrantofLaggan,areofanaturedistinctfromthefictitiousnarrativewhichIhavehereattempted。 Iwouldwillinglypersuademyselfthattheprecedingworkwillnotbefoundaltogetheruninteresting。Toelderpersonsitwillrecallscenesandcharactersfamiliartotheiryouth;andtotherisinggenerationthetalemaypresentsomeideaofthemannersoftheirforefathers。 YetIheartilywishthatthetaskoftracingtheevanescentmannersofhisowncountryhademployedthepenoftheonlymaninScotlandwhocouldhavedoneitjustice-ofhimsoeminentlydistinguishedinelegantliterature-andwhosesketchesofColonelCausticandUmphravilleareperfectlyblendedwiththefinertraitsofnationalcharacter。IshouldinthatcasehavehadmorepleasureasareaderthanIshalleverfeelintheprideofasuccessfulauthor,shouldthesesheetsconferuponmethatenvieddistinction。AndasIhaveinvertedtheusualarrangement,placingtheseremarksattheendoftheworktowhichtheyrefer,Iwillventureonasecondviolationofform,byclosingthewholewithadedication:- Theattachmenttothisclassicwas,itissaid,actuallydisplayed,inthemannermentionedinthetext,byanunfortunateJacobiteinthatunhappyperiod。Heescapedfromthejailinwhichhewasconfinedforahastytrialandcertaincondemnation,andwasretakenashehoveredaroundtheplaceinwhichhehadbeenimprisoned,forwhichhecouldgivenobetterreasonthanthehopeofrecoveringhisfavourite_TitusLivius。_ Iamsorrytoadd,thatthesimplicityofsuchacharacterwasfoundtoformnoapologyforhisguiltasarebel,andthathewascondemnedandexecuted。 NoteB,p。<?p54>-NicholasAmhurst。 NicholasAmhurst,anotedpoliticalwriter,whoconductedformanyyearsapapercalledtheCraftsman,undertheassumednameofCalebd’Anvers。HewasdevotedtotheToryinterest,andseconded,withmuchability,theattacksofPulteneyonSirRobertWalpole。Hediedin1742,neglectedbyhisgreatpatrons,andinthemostmiserablecircumstances。 AmhurstsurvivedthedownfallofWalpole’spower,andhadreasontoexpectarewardforhislabours。IfweexcuseBolingbroke,whohadonlysavedtheshipwreckofhisfortunes,weshallbeatalosstojustifyPulteney,whocouldwitheasehavegiventhismanaconsiderableincome。TheutmostofhisgenerositytoAmhurst,thatIeverheardof,wasahogsheadofclaret!Hedied,itissupposed,ofabrokenheart;andwasburiedatthechargeofhishonestprinter,RichardFranklin。’’-_LordChesterfield’sCharactersReviewed,_p。42。 NoteC,p。<?p57>-ColonelGardiner。 Ihavenowgiveninthetext,thefullnameofthisgallantandexcellentman,andproceedtocopytheaccountofhisremarkableconversion,asrelatedbyDr。Doddridge。 Thismemorableevent,’’saysthepiouswriter,happenedtowardsthemiddleofJuly1719。Themajorhadspenttheevening(and,ifImistakenot,itwastheSabbath)insomegaycompany,andhadanunhappyassignationwithamarriedwoman,whomhewastoattendexactlyattwelve。Thecompanybrokeupabouteleven;andnotjudgingitconvenienttoanticipatethetimeappointed,hewentintohischambertokillthetedioushour,perhapswithsomeamusingbook,orsomeotherway。 Butitveryaccidentallyhappened,thathetookupareligiousbook,whichhisgoodmotheroraunthad,withouthisknowledge,slippedintohisportmanteau。Itwascalled,ifIrememberthetitleexactly,`TheChristianSoldier,orHeaventakenbyStorm,’anditwaswrittenbyMr。ThomasWatson。Guessingbythetitleofitthathewouldfindsomephrasesofhisownprofessionspiritualisedinamannerwhichhethoughtmightaffordhimsomediversion,heresolvedtodipintoit;buthetooknoseriousnoticeofanythingithadinit;andyetwhilethisbookwasinhishand,animpressionwasmadeuponhismind(perhapsGodonlyknowshow) whichdrewafteritatrainofthemostimportantandhappyconsequences。 Hethoughthesawanunusualblazeoflightfalluponthebookwhichhewasreading,whichheatfirstimaginedmighthappenbysomeaccidentinthecandle;butliftinguphiseyes,heapprehendedtohisextremeamazement,thattherewasbeforehim,asitweresuspendedintheair,avisiblerepresentationoftheLordJesusChristuponthecross,surroundedonallsideswithaglory;andwasimpressed,asifavoice,orsomethingequivalenttoavoice,hadcometohim,tothiseffect(forhewasnotconfidentastothewords),`Oh,sinner!didIsufferthisforthee,andarethesethyreturns!’Struckwithsoamazingaphenomenonasthis,thereremainedhardlyanylifeinhim,sothathesunkdowninthearm-chairinwhichhesat,andcontinued,heknewnothowlong,insensible。’’ Withregardtothisvision,’’saystheingeniousDr。Hibbert,theappearanceofourSaviouronthecross,andtheawfulwordsrepeated,canbeconsideredinnootherlightthanassomanyrecollectedimagesofthemind,which,probably,hadtheirorigininthelanguageofsomeurgentappealtorepentance,thatthecolonelmighthavecasuallyread,orhearddelivered。Fromwhatcause,however,suchideaswererenderedasvividasactualimpressions,wehavenoinformationtobedependedupon。 Thisvisionwascertainlyattendedwithoneofthemostimportantofconsequences,connectedwiththeChristiandispensation-theconversionofasinner。Andhencenosinglenarrativehas,perhaps,donemoretoconfirmthesuperstitiousopinionthatapparitionsofthisawfulkindcannotarisewithoutadivinefiat。’’Dr。Hibbertadds,inanote-Ashorttimebeforethevision,ColonelGardinerhadreceivedaseverefallfromhishorse。Didthebrainreceivesomeslightdegreeofinjuryfromtheaccident,soastopredisposehimtothisspiritualillusion?’’-(_Hibbert’sPhilosophyofApparitions,_Edinburgh,1824,p。190)。 NoteD,p。<?p58>-ScottishInns。 Thecourtesyofaninvitationtopartakeatraveller’smeal,oratleastthatofbeinginvitedtosharewhateverliquortheguestcalledfor,wasexpectedbycertainoldlandlordsinScotlandevenintheyouthoftheauthor。Inrequital,minehostwasalwaysfurnishedwiththenewsofthecountry,andwas,probablyalittleofahumouristtoboot。Thedevolutionofthewholeactualbusinessanddrudgeryoftheinnuponthepoorgudewife,wasverycommonamongtheScottishBonifaces。Therewasinancienttimes,inthecityofEdinburgh,agentlemanofgoodfamily,whocondescended,inordertogainalivelihood,tobecomethenominalkeeperofacoffeehouse,oneofthefirstplacesofthekindwhichhadbeenopenedintheScottishmetropolis。Asusual,itwasentirelymanagedbythecarefulandindustriousMrs。B;whileherhusbandamusedhimselfwithfieldsports,withouttroublinghisheadaboutthematter。Onceuponatimethepremiseshavingtakenfire,thehusbandwasmet,walkinguptheHighStreetloadedwithhisgunsandfishing-rods,andrepliedcalmlytosomeonewhoinquiredafterhiswife,thatthepoorwomanwastryingtosaveaparcelofcrockery,andsometrumperybooks;’’thelastbeingthosewhichservedhertoconductthebusinessofthehouse。 Thereweremanyelderlygentlemenintheauthor’syoungerdays,whostillhelditpartoftheamusementofajourneytoparleywithminehost,’’whooftenresembled,inhisquainthumour,mineHostoftheGarterintheMerryWivesofWindsor;orBlagueoftheGeorgeintheMerryDevilofEdmonton。Sometimesthelandladytookhershareofentertainingthecompany。Ineithercasetheomittingtopaythemdueattentiongavedispleasure,andperhapsbroughtdownasmartjest,asonthefollowingoccasion:- Ajollydamewho,notSixtyYearssince,’’kepttheprincipalcaravan-saryatGreenlaw,inBerwickshire,hadthehonourtoreceiveunderherroofaveryworthyclergyman,withthreesonsofthesameprofession,eachhavingacureofsouls;beitsaidinpassing,noneofthereverendpartywerereckonedpowerfulinthepulpit。Afterdinnerwasover,theworthysenior,intheprideofhisheart,askedMrs。Buchanwhethersheeverhadhadsuchapartyinherhousebefore。HeresitI,’’hesaid,aplacedministeroftheKirkofScotland,andheresitmythreesons,eachaplacedministerofthesamekirk-Confess,LuckieBuchan,youneverhadsuchapartyinyourhousebefore。’’Thequestionwasnotpremisedbyanyinvitationtositdownandtakeaglassofwineorthelike,soMrs。B。answereddryly,Indeed,sir,IcannotjustsaythateverIhadsuchapartyinmyhousebefore,exceptonceintheforty-five,whenIhadaHighlandpiperhere,withhisthreesons,allHighlandpipers;_anddeilaspringtheycouldplayamangthem。_’’ NoteE,p。<?p78>-Stirrup-Cup。 Imayheremention,thatthefashionofcomputationdescribedinthetext,wasstilloccasionallypractisedinScotland,intheauthor’syouth。 Acompany,afterhavingtakenleaveoftheirhost,oftenwenttofinishtheeveningattheclachanorvillage,inwomboftavern。’’Theirentertaineralwaysaccompaniedthemtotakethestirrup-cup,whichoftenoccasionedalongandlaterevel。 The_PoculumPotatorium,_ofthevaliantBaron,hisblessedBear,hasaprototypeatthefineoldCastleofGlammis,sorichinmemorialsofancienttimes;itisamassivebeakerofsilver,doublegilt,mouldedintotheshapeofalion,andholdingaboutanEnglishpintofwine。TheformalludestothefamilynameofStrathmore,whichisLyon,and,whenexhibited,thecupmustnecessarilybeemptiedtotheEarl’shealth。TheauthoroughtperhapstobeashamedofrecordingthathehashadthehonourofswallowingthecontentsoftheLion;andtherecollectionofthefeatservedtosuggestthestoryoftheBearofBradwardine。InthefamilyofScottofThirlestane(notThirlestaneintheForest,buttheplaceofthesamenameinRoxburghshire)waslongpreservedacupofthesamekind,intheformofajackboot。Eachguestwasobligedtoemptythisathisdeparture。Iftheguest’snamewasScott,thenecessitywasdoublyimperative。 Whenthelandlordofaninnpresentedhisguestswithdeochandoruis,thatis,thedrinkatthedoor,orthestirrup-cup,thedraughtwasnotchargedinthereckoning。OnthispointalearnedBailieofthetownofForfar,pronouncedaverysoundjudgement。 A。,anale-wifeinForfar,hadbrewedherpeckofmalt,’’andsettheliquoroutofdoorstocool;thecowofB。,aneighbourofA。,chancedtocomeby,andseeingthegoodbeverage,wasalluredtotasteit,andfinallytodrinkitup。WhenA。cametotakeinherliquor,shefoundthetubempty,andfromthecow’sstaggeringandstaring,soastobetrayherintemperance,sheeasilydivinedthemodeinwhichherbrowst’’haddisappeared。TotakevengeanceonCrummie’sribswithastick,washerfirsteffort。TheroaringofthecowbroughtB。,hermaster,whoremonstratedwithhisangryneighbour,andreceivedinreplyademandforthevalueofthealewhichCrummiehaddrunkup。B。refusedpayment,andwasconveyedbeforeC。,theBailieorsittingMagistrate。Heheardthecasepatiently;andthendemandedoftheplaintiffA。,whetherthecowhadsatdowntoherpotation,ortakenitstanding。Theplaintiffanswered,shehadnotseenthedeedcommitted,butshesupposedthecowdrankthealestandingonherfeet;adding,thathadshebeennear,shewouldhavemadeherusethemtosomepurpose。TheBailie,onthisadmission,solemnlyadjudgedthecow’sdrinktobe_deochandoruis_-astirrup-cup,forwhichnochargecouldbemade,withoutviolatingtheancienthospitalityofScotland。 NoteF,p。<?p110>-Black-Mail。 Mac-DonaldofBarrisdale,oneoftheverylastHighlandgentlemenwhocarriedontheplunderingsystemtoanygreatextent,wasascholarandawell-bredgentleman。Heengravedonhisbroadswordsthewell-knownlines- Hctibieruntartes-pacisqueimponeremorem,Parceresubjectis,etdebellaresuperbos。