第2章

\"ButIwasrousedbythecastleclockstrikingone，soloudthatitseemedasifitwereintheveryroom。ItwassometimebeforeIdaredopenmyeyes，lesttheyshouldagainencounterthehorriblespectacle。When，however，Isummonedcouragetolookup，shewasnolongervisible。Myfirstideawastopullmybell，waketheservants，andremovetoagarretorahay—loft，tobeensuredagainstasecondvisitation。Nay，Iwillconfessthetruththatmyresolutionwasaltered，notbytheshameofexposingmyself，butbythefearthat，asthebell—cordhungbythechimney，Imight，inmakingmywaytoit，beagaincrossedbythefiendishhag，who，Ifiguredtomyself，mightbestilllurkingaboutsomecorneroftheapartment。 \"Iwillnotpretendtodescribewhathotandcoldfever—fitstormentedmefortherestofthenight，throughbrokensleep，wearyvigils，andthatdubiousstatewhichformstheneutralgroundbetweenthem。Ahundredterribleobjectsappearedtohauntme；buttherewasthegreatdifferencebetwixtthevisionwhichIhavedescribed，andthosewhichfollowed，thatIknewthelasttobedeceptionsofmyownfancyandover—excitednerves。 \"Dayatlastappeared，andIrosefrommybedillinhealthandhumiliatedinmind。Iwasashamedofmyselfasamanandasoldier，andstillmoresoatfeelingmyownextremedesiretoescapefromthehauntedapartment，which，however，conqueredallotherconsiderations；sothat，huddlingonmyclotheswiththemostcarelesshaste，Imademyescapefromyourlordship’smansion，toseekintheopenairsomerelieftomynervoussystem，shakenasitwasbythishorriblerencounterwithavisitant，forsuchImustbelieveher，fromtheotherworld。 Yourlordshiphasnowheardthecauseofmydiscomposure，andofmysuddendesiretoleaveyourhospitablecastle。InotherplacesItrustwemayoftenmeet，butGodprotectmefromeverspendingasecondnightunderthatroof！\" StrangeastheGeneral’stalewas，hespokewithsuchadeepairofconvictionthatitcutshortalltheusualcommentarieswhicharemadeonsuchstories。LordWoodvilleneveronceaskedhimifhewassurehedidnotdreamoftheapparition，orsuggestedanyofthepossibilitiesbywhichitisfashionabletoexplainsupernaturalappearancesaswildvagariesofthefancy，ordeceptionsoftheopticnerves，Onthecontrary，heseemeddeeplyimpressedwiththetruthandrealityofwhathehadheard；and，afteraconsiderablepauseregretted，withmuchappearanceofsincerity，thathisearlyfriendshouldinhishousehavesufferedsoseverely。 \"Iamthemoresorryforyourpain，mydearBrowne，\"hecontinued，\"thatitistheunhappy，thoughmostunexpected，resultofanexperimentofmyown。Youmustknowthat，formyfatherandgrandfather’stime，atleast，theapartmentwhichwasassignedtoyoulastnighthadbeenshutonaccountofreportsthatitwasdisturbedbysupernaturalsightsandnoises。WhenI came，afewweekssince，intopossessionoftheestate，Ithoughttheaccommodationwhichthecastleaffordedformyfriendswasnotextensiveenoughtopermittheinhabitantsoftheinvisibleworldtoretainpossessionofacomfortablesleepingapartment。 IthereforecausedtheTapestriedChamber，aswecallit，tobeopened，and，withoutdestroyingitsairofantiquity，Ihadsuchnewarticlesoffurnitureplacedinitasbecamethemoderntimes。Yet，astheopinionthattheroomwashauntedverystronglyprevailedamongthedomestics，andwasalsoknownintheneighbourhoodandtomanyofmyfriends，IfearedsomeprejudicemightbeentertainedbythefirstoccupantoftheTapestriedChamber，whichmighttendtorevivetheevilreportwhichithadlabouredunder，andsodisappointmypurposeofrenderingitausefulpartorthehouse。Imustconfess，mydearBrowne，thatyourarrivalyesterday，agreeabletomeforathousandreasonsbesides，seemedthemostfavourableopportunityofremovingtheunpleasantrumourswhichattachedtotheroom，sinceyourcouragewasindubitable，andyourmindfreeofanypreoccupationonthesubject。Icouldnot，therefore，havechosenamorefittingsubjectformyexperiment。\" \"Uponmylife，\"saidGeneralBrowne，somewhathastily，\"Iaminfinitelyobligedtoyourlordship——veryparticularlyindebtedindeed。Iamlikelytorememberforsometimetheconsequencesoftheexperiment，asyourlordshipispleasedtocallit。\" \"Nay，nowyouareunjust，mydearfriend，\"saidLordWoodville。 \"Youhaveonlytoreflectforasinglemoment，inordertobeconvincedthatIcouldnotaugurthepossibilityofthepaintowhichyouhavebeensounhappilyexposed。Iwasyesterdaymorningacompletescepticonthesubjectofsupernaturalappearances。Nay，Iamsurethat，hadItoldyouwhatwassaidaboutthatroom，thoseveryreportswouldhaveinducedyou，byyourownchoice，toselectitforyouraccommodation。Itwasmymisfortune，perhapsmyerror，butreallycannotbetermedmyfault，thatyouhavebeenafflictedsostrangely。\" \"Strangelyindeed！\"saidtheGeneral，resuminghisgoodtemper； \"andIacknowledgethatIhavenorighttobeoffendedwithyourlordshipfortreatingmelikewhatIusedtothinkmyself——amanofsomefirmnessandcourage。ButIseemyposthorsesarearrived，andImustnotdetainyourlordshipfromyouramusement。\" \"Nay，myoldfriend，\"saidLordWoodville，\"sinceyoucannotstaywithusanotherday——which，indeed，Icannolongerurge——givemeatleasthalfanhourmore。Youusedtolovepictures，andI haveagalleryofportraits，someofthembyVandyke，representingancestrytowhomthispropertyandcastleformerlybelonged。Ithinkthatseveralofthemwillstrikeyouaspossessingmerit。\" GeneralBrowneacceptedtheinvitation，thoughsomewhatunwillingly。ItwasevidenthewasnottobreathefreelyorateasetillheleftWoodvilleCastlefarbehindhim。Hecouldnotrefusehisfriend’sinvitation，however；andthelessso，thathewasalittleashamedofthepeevishnesswhichhehaddisplayedtowardshiswell—meaningentertainer。 TheGeneral，therefore，followedLordWoodvillethroughseveralroomsintoalonggalleryhungwithpictures，whichthelatterpointedouttohisguest，tellingthenames，andgivingsomeaccountofthepersonageswhoseportraitspresentedthemselvesinprogression。GeneralBrownewasbutlittleinterestedinthedetailswhichtheseaccountsconveyedtohim。Theywere，indeed，ofthekindwhichareusuallyfoundinanoldfamilygallery。 HerewasaCavalierwhohadruinedtheestateintheroyalcause； thereafineladywhohadreinstateditbycontractingamatchwithawealthyRoundhead。TherehungagallantwhohadbeenindangerforcorrespondingwiththeexiledCourtatSaintGermain’s；hereonewhohadtakenarmsforWilliamattheRevolution；andthereathirdthathadthrownhisweightalternatelyintothescaleofWhigandTory。 WhilelordWoodvillewascrammingthesewordsintohisguest’sear，\"againstthestomachofhissense，\"theygainedthemiddleofthegallery，whenhebeheldGeneralBrownesuddenlystart，andassumeanattitudeoftheutmostsurprise，notunmixedwithfear，ashiseyesweresuddenlycaughtandrivetedbyaportraitofanoldladyinasacque，thefashionabledressoftheendoftheseventeenthcentury。 \"Theresheis！\"heexclaimed——\"theresheis，informandfeatures，thoughInferiorindemoniacexpressiontotheaccursedhagwhovisitedmelastnight！\" \"Ifthatbethecase，\"saidtheyoungnobleman，\"therecanremainnolongeranydoubtofthehorriblerealityofyourapparition。 Thatisthepictureofawretchedancestressofmine，ofwhosecrimesablackandfearfulcatalogueisrecordedinafamilyhistoryinmycharter—chest。Therecitalofthemwouldbetoohorrible；itisenoughtosay，thatinyonfatalapartmentincestandunnaturalmurderwerecommitted。Iwillrestoreittothesolitudetowhichthebetterjudgmentofthosewhoprecededmehadconsignedit；andnevershallanyone，solongasIcanpreventit，beexposedtoarepetitionofthesupernaturalhorrorswhichcouldshakesuchcourageasyours。\" Thusthefriends，whohadmetwithsuchglee，partedinaverydifferentmood——LordWoodvilletocommandtheTapestriedChambertobeunmantled，andthedoorbuiltup；andGeneralBrownetoseekinsomelessbeautifulcountry，andwithsomelessdignifiedfriend，forgetfulnessofthepainfulnightwhichhehadpassedinWoodvilleCastle。 ENDOFTHETAPESTRIEDCHAMBER。 * DEATHOFTHELAIRD’SJOCKbySirWalterScott。 [ThemannerinwhichthistriflewasintroducedatthetimetoMr。F。M。Reynolds，editorofTheKeepsakeof1828，leavesnooccasionforapreface。] AUGUST1831。 TOTHEEDITOROFTHEKEEPSAKE。 Youhaveaskedme，sir，topointoutasubjectforthepencil，andIfeelthedifficultyofcomplyingwithyourrequest，althoughIamnotcertainlyunaccustomedtoliterarycomposition，oratotalstrangertothestoresofhistoryandtradition，whichaffordthebestcopiesforthepainter’sart。ButalthoughSICUT PICTURAPOESISisanancientandundisputedaxiom——althoughpoetryandpaintingbothaddressthemselvestothesameobjectofexcitingthehumanimagination，bypresentingtoitpleasingorsublimeimagesofidealscenes——yettheoneconveyingitselfthroughtheearstotheunderstanding，andtheotherapplyingitselfonlytotheeyes，thesubjectswhicharebestsuitedtothebardortale—tellerareoftentotallyunfitforpainting，wheretheartistmustpresentinasingleglanceallthathisarthaspowertotellus。Theartistcanneitherrecapitulatethepastnorintimatethefuture。ThesingleNOWisallwhichhecanpresent；andhence，unquestionably，manysubjectswhichdelightusinpoetryorinnarrative，whetherrealorfictitious，cannotwithadvantagebetransferredtothecanvas。 Beinginsomedegreeawareofthesedifficulties，thoughdoubtlessunacquaintedbothwiththeirextentandthemeansbywhichtheymaybemodifiedorsurmounted，Ihave，nevertheless，venturedtodrawupthefollowingtraditionalnarrativeasastoryinwhich，whenthegeneraldetailsareknown，theinterestissomuchconcentratedinonestrongmomentofagonizingpassion，thatitcanbeunderstoodandsympathizedwithatasingleglance。IthereforepresumethatitmaybeacceptableasahinttosomeoneamongthenumerousartistswhohaveoflateyearsdistinguishedthemselvesasrearingupandsupportingtheBritishschool。 Enoughhasbeensaidandsungabout\"Thewell—contestedground，ThewarlikeBorder—land，\" torenderthehabitsofthetribeswhoinhabiteditbeforetheunionofEnglandandScotlandfamiliartomostofyourreaders。 Therougherandsternerfeaturesoftheircharacterweresoftenedbytheirattachmenttothefinearts，fromwhichhasarisenthesayingthatonthefrontierseverydalehaditsbattle，andeveryriveritssong。Arudespeciesofchivalrywasinconstantuse，andsinglecombatswerepractisedastheamusementofthefewintervalsoftrucewhichsuspendedtheexerciseofwar。Theinveteracyofthiscustommaybeinferredfromthefollowingincident：—— BernardGilpin，theapostleofthenorth，thefirstwhoundertooktopreachtheProtestantdoctrinestotheBorderdalesmen，wassurprised，onenteringoneoftheirchurches，toseeagauntletormail—glovehangingabovethealtar。Uponinquiring；themeaningofasymbolsoindecorousbeingdisplayedinthatsacredplace，hewasinformedbytheclerkthattheglovewasthatofafamousswordsman，whohungitthereasanemblemofageneralchallengeandgageofbattletoanywhoshoulddaretotakethefataltokendown。\"Reachittome，\"saidthereverendchurchman。 Theclerkandthesextonequallydeclinedtheperilousoffice，andthegoodBernardGilpinwasobligedtoremovetheglovewithhisownhands，desiringthosewhowerepresenttoinformthechampionthathe，andnoother，hadpossessedhimselfofthegageofdefiance。ButthechampionwasasmuchashamedtofaceBernardGilpinastheofficialsofthechurchhadbeentodisplacehispledgeofcombat。 ThedateofthefollowingstoryisaboutthelatteryearsofQueenElizabeth’sreign；andtheeventstookplaceinLiddesdale，ahillyandpastoraldistrictofRoxburghshire，which，onapartofitsboundary，isdividedfromEnglandonlybyasmallriver。 DuringthegoodoldtimesofRUGGINGANDRIVING——thatis，tuggingandtearing——underwhichtermthedisorderlydoingsofthewarlikeageareaffectionatelyremembered，thisvalleywasprincipallycultivatedbytheseptorclanoftheArmstrongs。 ThechiefofthiswarlikeracewastheLairdofMangerton。AttheperiodofwhichIspeak，theestateofMangerton，withthepoweranddignityofchief，waspossessedbyJohnArmstrong，amanofgreatsize，strength，andcourage。Whilehisfatherwasalive，hewasdistinguishedfromothersofhisclanwhoborethesamename，bytheepithetoftheLAIRD’SJOCK——thatistosay，theLaird’ssonJock，orJack。Thisnamehedistinguishedbysomanyboldanddesperateachievements，thatheretaineditevenafterhisfather’sdeath，andismentionedunderitbothinauthenticrecordsandintradition。SomeofhisfeatsarerecordedintheminstrelsyoftheScottishBorder，andothersarementionedincontemporarychronicles。 AtthespeciesofsingularcombatwhichwehavedescribedtheLaird’sJockwasunrivalled，andnochampionofCumberland，Westmoreland，orNorthumberlandcouldenduretheswayofthehugetwo—handedswordwhichhewielded，andwhichfewotherscouldevenlift。This\"awfulsword，\"asthecommonpeopletermit，wasasdeartohimasDurindanaorFushbertatotheirrespectivemasters，andwasnearlyasformidabletohisenemiesasthoserenownedfalchionsprovedtothefoesofChristendom。TheweaponhadbeenbequeathedtohimbyacelebratedEnglishoutlawnamedHobbieNoble，who，havingcommittedsomedeedforwhichhewasindangerfromjustice，fledtoLiddesdale，andbecameafollower，orratherabrother—in—arms，totherenownedLaird’sJock；till，venturingintoEnglandwithasmallescort，afaithlessguide，andwithalightsingle—handedswordinsteadofhisponderousbrand，HobbieNoble，attackedbysuperiornumbers，wasmadeprisonerandexecuted。 Withthisweapon，andbymeansofhisownstrengthandaddress，theLaird’sJockmaintainedthereputationofthebestswordsmanontheBorderside，anddefeatedorslewmanywhoventuredtodisputewithhimtheformidabletitle。 Butyearspassonwiththestrongandthebraveaswiththefeebleandthetimid。InprocessoftimetheLaird’sJockgrewincapableofwieldinghisweapons，andfinallyofallactiveexertion，evenofthemostordinarykind。Thedisabledchampionbecameatlengthtotallybedridden，andentirelydependentforhiscomfortonthepiousdutiesofanonlydaughter，hisperpetualattendantandcompanion。 Besidesthisdutifulchild，theLaird’sJockhadanonlyson，uponwhomdevolvedtheperiloustaskofleadingtheclantobattle，andmaintainingthewarlikerenownofhisnativecountry，whichwasnowdisputedbytheEnglishuponmanyoccasions。TheyoungArmstrongwasactive，brave，andstrong，andbroughthomefromdangerousadventuresmanytokensofdecidedsuccess。Still，theancientchiefconceived，asitwouldseem，thathissonwasscarceyetentitledbyageandexperiencetobeentrustedwiththetwo—handedsword，bytheuseofwhichhehadhimselfbeensodreadfullydistinguished。 AtlengthanEnglishchampion，oneofthenameofFoster（ifI rightlyrecollect），hadtheaudacitytosendachallengetothebestswordsmaninLiddesdale；andyoungArmstrong，burningforchivalrousdistinction，acceptedthechallenge。 Theheartofthedisabledoldmanswelledwithjoywhenheheardthatthechallengewaspassedandaccepted，andthemeetingfixedataneutralspot，usedastheplaceofrencontreuponsuchoccasions，andwhichhehimselfhaddistinguishedbynumerousvictories。Heexultedsomuchintheconquestwhichheanticipated，that，tonervehissontostillbolderexertions，heconferreduponhim，aschampionofhisclanandprovince，thecelebratedweaponwhichhehadhithertoretainedinhisowncustody。 Thiswasnotall。Whenthedayofcombatarrived，theLaird’sJock，inspiteofhisdaughter’saffectionateremonstrances，determined，thoughhehadnotlefthisbedfortwoyears，tobeapersonalwitnessoftheduel。Hiswillwasstillalawtohispeople，whoborehimontheirshoulders，wrappedinplaidsandblankets，tothespotwherethecombatwastotakeplace，andseatedhimonafragmentofrock，whichisstillcalledtheLaird’sJock’sstone。Thereheremainedwitheyesfixedonthelistsorbarrier，withinwhichthechampionswereabouttomeet。 Hisdaughter，havingdoneallshecouldforhisaccommodation，stoodmotionlessbesidehim，dividedbetweenanxietyforhishealth，andfortheeventofthecombattoherbelovedbrother。 Ereyetthefightbegan，theoldmengazedontheirchief，nowseenforthefirsttimeafterseveralyears，andsadlycomparedhisalteredfeaturesandwastedframewiththeparagonofstrengthandmanlybeautywhichtheyonceremembered。TheyoungmengazedonhislargeformandpowerfulmakeasuponsomeantediluviangiantwhohadsurvivedthedestructionoftheFlood。 Butthesoundofthetrumpetsonbothsidesrecalledtheattentionofeveryonetothelists，surroundedastheywerebynumbersofbothnationseagertowitnesstheeventoftheday。 Thecombatantsmetinthelists。Itisneedlesstodescribethestruggle：theScottishchampionfell。Foster，placinghisfootonhisantagonist，seizedontheredoubtedsword，sopreciousintheeyesofitsagedowner，andbrandisheditoverhisheadasatrophyofhisconquest。TheEnglishshoutedintriumph。Butthedespairingcryoftheagedchampion，whosawhiscountrydishonoured，andhissword，longtheterroroftheirrace，inthepossessionofanEnglishman，washeardhighabovetheacclamationsofvictory。Heseemedforaninstantanimatedbyallhiswontedpower；forhestartedfromtherockonwhichhesat，andwhilethegarmentswithwhichhehadbeeninvestedfellfromhiswastedframe，andshowedtheruinsofhisstrength，hetossedhisarmswildlytoheaven，andutteredacryofindignation，horror，anddespair，which，traditionsays，washeardtoapreternaturaldistance，andresembledthecryofadyinglionmorethanahumansound。 Hisfriendsreceivedhimintheirarmsashesankutterlyexhaustedbytheeffort，andborehimbacktohiscastleinmutesorrow；whilehisdaughteratonceweptforherbrother，andendeavouredtomitigateandsoothethedespairofherfather。 Butthiswasimpossible；theoldman’sonlytietolifewasrentrudelyasunder，andhishearthadbrokenwithit。Thedeathofhissonhadnopartinhissorrow。Ifhethoughtofhimatall，itwasasthedegenerateboythroughwhomthehonourofhiscountryandclanhadbeenlost；andhediedinthecourseofthreedays，neverevenmentioninghisname，butpouringoutunintermittedlamentationsforthelossofhisnoblesword。 Iconceivethatthemomentwhenthedisabledchiefwasrousedintoalastexertionbytheagonyofthemomentisfavourabletotheobjectofapainter。Hemightobtainthefulladvantageofcontrastingtheformoftheruggedoldman，intheextremityoffuriousdespair，withthesoftnessandbeautyofthefemaleform。 Thefatalfieldmightbethrownintoperspective，soastogivefulleffecttothesetwoprincipalfigures，andwiththesingleexplanationthatthepiecerepresentedasoldierbeholdinghissonslain，andthehonourofhiscountrylost，thepicturewouldbesufficientlyintelligibleatthefirstglance。Ifitwasthoughtnecessarytoshowmoreclearlythenatureoftheconflict，itmightbeindicatedbythepennonofSaintGeorgebeingdisplayedatoneendofthelists，andthatofSaintAndrewattheother。 Iremain，sir，Yourobedientservant，THEAUTHOROFWAVERLEY。