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WAVERLEY
第14章
类别:
其他
作者:
Sir Walter Scott
字数:5898
更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
So,ontheidledreamsofyouth,Breakstheloudtrumpet-calloftruth,Bidseachfairvisionpassaway,Likelandscapeonthelakethatlay,Asfair,asflitting,andasfrail,AsthatwhichfledtheAutumngale- Foreverdeadtofancy’seyeBeeachgayformthatglidedby,Whiledreamsofloveandlady’scharmsGiveplacetohonourandtoarms! Insoberprose,asperhapstheseversesintimatelessdecidedly,thetransientideaofMissCeciliaStubbspassedfromCaptainWaverley’sheartamidtheturmoilwhichhisnewdestiniesexcited。Sheappeared,indeed,infullsplendourinherfather’spewupontheSundaywhenheattendedserviceforthelasttimeattheoldparishchurch,uponwhichoccasion,attherequestofhisuncleandAuntRachel,hewasinduced(nothingloth,ifthetruthmustbetold)topresenthimselfinfulluniform。 Thereisnobetterantidoteagainstentertainingtoohighanopinionofothers,thanhavinganexcellentoneofourselvesattheverysametime。MissStubbshadindeedsummonedupeveryassistancewhichartcouldaffordtobeauty;but,alas! hoop,patches,frizzledlocks,andanewmantuaofgenuineFrenchsilk,werelostuponayoungofficerofdragoons,whowore,forthefirsttime,hisgold-lacedhat,jack-boots,andbroadsword。Iknownotwhether,likethechampionofanoldballad,Hisheartwasallonhonourbent,Hecouldnotstooptolove; NoladyinthelandhadpowerHisfrozenhearttomove; orwhetherthedeepandflamingbarsofembroideredgold,whichnowfencedhisbreast,defiedtheartilleryofCecilia’seyes;buteveryarrowwaslaunchedathiminvain。 YetdidImarkwhereCupid’sshaftdidlight; Itlightednotonlittlewesternflower,Butonboldyeoman,flowerofallthewest,HightJonasCulbertfield,thesteward’sson。 Cravingpardonformyheroics(whichIamunableincertaincasestoresistgivingwayto),itisamelancholyfact,thatmyhistorymustheretakeleaveofthefairCecilia,who,likemanyadaughterofEve,afterthedepartureofEdward,andthedissipationofcertainidlevisionswhichshehadadopted,quietlycontentedherselfwitha_pis-aller,_andgaveherhand,atthedistanceofsixmonths,totheaforesaidJonas,sonoftheBaronet’ssteward,andheir(nounfertileprospect)toasteward’sfortune;besidesthesnugprobabilityofsucceedingtohisfather’soffice。AlltheseadvantagesmovedSquireStubbs,asmuchastheruddybrowandmanlyformofthesuitorinfluencedhisdaughter,toabatesomewhatinthearticleoftheirgentry;andsothematchwasconcluded。NoneseemedmoregratifiedthanAuntRachel,whohadhithertolookedratheraskanceuponthepresumptuousdamsel(asmuchso,peradventure,ashernaturewouldpermit),butwho,onthefirstappearanceofthenew-marriedpairatchurch,honouredthebridewithasmileandaprofoundcourtesy,inpresenceoftherector,thecurate,theclerk,andthewholecongregationoftheunitedparishesofWaverleycumBeverley。 Ibegpardon,onceandforall,ofthosereaderswhotakeupnovelsmerelyforamusement,forplaguingthemsolongwithold-fashionedpolitics,andWhigandTory,andHanoveriansandJacobites。Thetruthis,Icannotpromisethemthatthisstoryshallbeintelligible,nottosayprobable,withoutit。MyplanrequiresthatIshouldexplainthemotivesonwhichitsactionproceeded;andthesemotivesnecessarilyarosefromthefeelings,prejudices,andpartiesofthetimes。Idonotinvitemyfairreaders,whosesexandimpatiencegivethemthegreatestrighttocomplainofthesecircumstances,intoaflyingchariotdrawnbyhippogriffs,ormovedbyenchantment。MineisanhumbleEnglishpost-chaise,drawnuponfourwheels,andkeepinghisMajesty’shighway。Suchasdislikethevehiclemayleaveitatthenexthalt,andwaitfortheconveyanceofPrinceHussein’stapestry,orMalektheWeaver’sflyingsentry-box。 Thosewhoarecontentedtoremainwithmewillbeoccasionallyexposedtothedulnessinseparablefromheavyroads,steephills,sloughs,andotherterrestrialretardations;but,withtolerablehorsesandacivildriver(astheadvertisementshaveit),Iengagetogetassoonaspossibleintoamorepicturesqueandromanticcountry,ifmypassengersinclinetohavesomepatiencewithmeduringmyfirststages。<> TheseIntroductoryChaptershavebeenagooddealcensuredastediousandunnecessary。Yettherearecircumstancesrecordedinthemwhichtheauthorhasnotbeenabletopersuadehimselftoretractorcancel。 CHAPTERSIXTH。 THEADIEUSOFWAVERLEY。 ItwasupontheeveningofthismemorableSundaythatSirEverardenteredthelibrary,wherehenarrowlymissedsurprisingouryoungheroashewentthroughtheguardsofthebroadswordwiththeancientweaponofoldSirHildebrand,which,beingpreservedasanheir-loom,usuallyhungoverthechimneyinthelibrary,beneathapictureoftheknightandhishorse,wherethefeatureswerealmostentirelyhiddenbytheknight’sprofusionofcurledhair,andtheBucephaluswhichhebestrodeconcealedbythevoluminousrobesoftheBathwithwhichhewasdecorated。SirEverardentered,andafteraglanceatthepictureandanotherathisnephew,beganalittlespeech,which,however,soondroptintothenaturalsimplicityofhiscommonmanner,agitateduponthepresentoccasionbynocommonfeeling。Nephew,’’hesaid;andthen,asmendinghisphrase,MydearEdward,itisGod’swill,andalsothewillofyourfather,whom,underGod,itisyourdutytoobey,thatyoushouldleaveustotakeuptheprofessionofarms,inwhichsomanyofyourancestorshavebeendistinguished。I havemadesucharrangementsaswillenableyoutotakethefieldastheirdescendant,andastheprobableheirofthehouseofWaverley;and,sir,inthefieldofbattleyouwillrememberwhatnameyoubear。And,Edward,mydearboy,rememberalsothatyouarethelastofthatrace,andtheonlyhopeofitsrevivaldependsuponyou;therefore,asfarasdutyandhonourwillpermit,avoiddanger-Imeanunnecessarydanger-andkeepnocompanywithrakes,gamblers,andWhigs,ofwhom,itistobefeared,therearebuttoomanyintheserviceintowhichyouaregoing。Yourcolonel,asIaminformed,isanexcellentman-foraPresbyterian;butyouwillrememberyourdutytoGod,theChurchofEngland,andthe’’-(thisbreachoughttohavebeensupplied,accordingtotherubric,withtheword_king;_butas,unfortunately,thatwordconveyedadoubleandembarrassingsense,onemeaning_defacto,_andtheother_dejure,_theknightfilleduptheblankotherwise)-theChurchofEngland,andallconstitutedauthorities。’’Then,nottrustinghimselfwithanyfurtheroratory,hecarriedhisnephewtohisstablestoseethehorsesdestinedforhiscampaign。Twowereblack(theregimentalcolour),superbchargersboth;theotherthreewereactivehacks,designedfortheroad,orforhisdomestics,ofwhomtwoweretoattendhimfromtheHall:anadditionalgroom,ifnecessary,mightbepickedupinScotland。 Youwilldepartwithbutasmallretinue,’’quoththeBaronet,comparedtoSirHildebrand,whenhemusteredbeforethegateoftheHallalargerbodyofhorsethanyourwholeregimentconsistsof。Icouldhavewishedthatthesetwentyyoungfellowsfrommyestate,whohaveenlistedinyourtroop,hadbeentomarchwithyouonyourjourneytoScotland。Itwouldhavebeensomething,atleast;butIamtoldtheirattendancewouldbethoughtunusualinthesedays,wheneverynewandfoolishfashionisintroducedtobreakthenaturaldependenceofthepeopleupontheirlandlords。’’ SirEverardhaddonehisbesttocorrectthisunnaturaldispositionofthetimes,forhehadbrightenedthechainofattachmentbetweentherecruitsandtheiryoungcaptain,notonlybyacopiousrepastofbeefandale,bywayofpartingfeast,butbysuchapecuniarydonationtoeachindividual,astendedrathertoimprovetheconvivialitythanthedisciplineoftheirmarch。Afterinspectingthecavalry,SirEverardagainconductedhisnephewtothelibrary,whereheproducedaletter,carefullyfolded,surroundedbyalittlestripeofflox-silk,accordingtoancientform,andsealedwithanaccurateimpressionoftheWaverleycoat-of-arms。Itwasaddressed,withgreatformality,ToCosmoComyneBradwardine,Esq。ofBradwardine,athisprincipalmansionofTully-Veolan,inPerthshire,NorthBritain。These-BythehandsofCaptainEdwardWaverley,nephewofSirEverardWaverley,ofWaverley-Honour,Bart。’’ Thegentlemantowhomthisenormousgreetingwasaddressed,ofwhomweshallhavemoretosayinthesequel,hadbeeninarmsfortheexiledfamilyofStewartintheyear1715,andwasmadeprisoneratPrestoninLancashire。Hewasofaveryancientfamily,andsomewhatembarrassedfortune;ascholar,accordingtothescholarshipofScotchmen,thatis,hislearningwasmorediffusethanaccurate,andhewasratherareaderthanagrammarian。Ofhiszealfortheclassicauthorsheissaidtohavegivenanuncommoninstance。OntheroadbetweenPrestonandLondonhemadehisescapefromhisguards;butbeingafterwardsfoundloiteringneartheplacewheretheyhadlodgedtheformernight,hewasrecognised,andagainarrested。Hiscompanions,andevenhisescort,weresurprisedathisinfatuation,andcouldnothelpinquiring,why,beingonceatliberty,hehadnotmadethebestofhiswaytoaplaceofsafety;towhichhereplied,thathehadintendedtodoso,but,ingoodfaith,hehadreturnedtoseekhisTitusLivius,whichhehad,forgotinthehurryofhisescape。<>ThesimplicityofthisanecdoteNoteA。<!p51>TitusLivius。 struckthegentleman,who,aswebeforeobserved,hadmanagedthedefenceofsomeofthoseunfortunatepersons,attheexpenseofSirEverard,andperhapssomeothersoftheparty。 Hewas,besides,himselfaspecialadmireroftheoldPatavinian; andthoughprobablyhisownzealmightnothavecarriedhimsuchextravagantlengths,eventorecovertheeditionofSweynheimandPannartz(supposedtobetheprinceps),hedidnotthelessestimatethedevotionoftheNorthBriton,andinconsequenceexertedhimselftosomuchpurposetoremoveandsoftenevidence,detectlegalflaws,_etcetera,_thatheaccomplishedthefinaldischargeanddeliveranceofCosmoComyneBradwardinefromcertainveryawkwardconsequencesofapleabeforeoursovereignlordthekinginWestminster。 TheBaronofBradwardine,forhewasgenerallysocalledinScotland(althoughhisintimates,fromhisplaceofresidence,usedtodenominatehimTully-Veolan,ormorefamiliarly,Tully),nosoonerstood_rectusincuri
,_thenheposteddowntopayhisrespectsandmakehisacknowledgmentsatWaverley-Honour。 Acongenialpassionforfield-sportsandageneralcoincidenceinpoliticalopinions,cementedhisfriendshipwithSirEverard,notwithstandingthedifferenceoftheirhabitsandstudiesinotherparticulars;and,havingspentseveralweeksatWaverley-Honour,theBarondepartedwithmanyexpressionsofregard,warmlypressingtheBaronettoreturnhisvisit,andpartakeofthediversionofgrouse-shootinguponhismoorsinPerthshirenextseason。Shortlyafter,Mr。BradwardineremittedfromScotlandasuminreimbursementofexpensesincurredintheKing’sHighCourtofWestminster,which,althoughnotquitesoformidablewhenreducedtotheEnglishdenomination,had,initsoriginalformofScotchpounds,shillings,andpence,suchaformidableeffectupontheframeofDuncanMacwheeble,thelaird’sconfidentialfactor,baron-bailie,andmanofresource,thathehadafitofthecolicwhichlastedforfivedays,occasioned,hesaid,solelyandutterlybybecomingtheunhappyinstrumentofconveyingsuchaserioussumofmoneyoutofhisnativecountryintothehandsofthefalseEnglish。Butpatriotism,asitisthefairest,soitisoftenthemostsuspiciousmaskofotherfeelings;andmanywhoknewBailieMacwheeble,concludedthathisprofessionsofregretwerenotaltogetherdisinterested,andthathewouldhavegrudgedthemoneyspaidtothe_loons_atWestminstermuchlesshadtheynotcomefromBradwardineestate-afundwhichheconsideredasmoreparticularlyhisown。ButtheBailieprotestedhewasabsolutelydisinterested- Woe,woe,forScotland,notawhitforme! Thelairdwasonlyrejoicedthathisworthyfriend,SirEverardWaverleyofWaverley-Honour,wasreimbursedoftheexpenditurewhichhehadoutlaidonaccountofthehouseofBradwardine。 Itconcerned,hesaid,thecreditofhisownfamily,andofthekingdomofScotlandatlarge,thatthesedisbursementsshouldberepaidforthwith,and,ifdelayed,itwouldbeamatterofnationalreproach。SirEverard,accustomedtotreatmuchlargersumswithindifference,receivedtheremittanceof
294,13s。6d,withoutbeingawarethatthepaymentwasaninternationalconcern,and,indeed,wouldprobablyhaveforgotthecircumstancealtogether,ifBailieMacwheeblehadthoughtofcomfortinghiscolicbyinterceptingthesubsidy。Ayearlyintercoursetookplace,ofashortletter,andahamper,oracaskortwo,betweenWaverley-HonourandTully-Veolan,theEnglishexportsconsistingofmightycheesesandmightierale,pheasantsandvenison,andtheScottishreturnsbeingvestedingrouse,whitehares,pickledsalmon,andusquebaugh。Allwhichweremeant,sent,andreceived,aspledgesofconstantfriendshipandamitybetweentwoimportanthouses。Itfollowedasamatterofcourse,thattheheir-apparentofWaverley-Honourcouldnot,withpropriety,visitScotlandwithoutbeingfurnishedwithcredentialstotheBaronofBradwardine。
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