第51章

类别:其他 作者:Sir Walter Scott字数:6165更新时间:18/12/22 09:36:37
Hethenpausedforaninstant;butbeforeEdwardcouldadjustasuitablereply,orevenarrangehisideasastoitspurport,thePrincetookoutapaper,andthenproceeded:-Ishouldindeedhavenodoubtsuponthissubject,ifIcouldtrusttothisproclamation,setforthbythefriendsoftheElectorofHanover,inwhichtheyrankMr。Waverleyamongthenobilityandgentrywhoaremenacedwiththepainsofhightreasonforloyaltytotheirlegitimatesovereign。ButIdesiretogainnoadherentssavefromaffectionandconviction;andifMr。 Waverleyinclinestoprosecutehisjourneytothesouth,ortojointheforcesoftheElector,heshallhavemypassportandfreepermissiontodoso;andIcanonlyregret,thatmypresentpowerwillnotextendtoprotecthimagainsttheprobableconsequencesofsuchameasure-But,’’continuedCharlesEdward,afteranothershortpause,ifMr。Waverleyshould,likehisancestor,SirNigel,determinetoembraceacausewhichhaslittletorecommenditbutitsjustice,andfollowaprincewhothrowshimselfupontheaffectionsofhispeople,torecoverthethroneofhisancestorsorperishintheattempt,Icanonlysay,thatamongthesenoblesandgentlemenhewillfindworthyassociatesinagallantenterprise,andwillfollowamasterwhomaybeunfortunate,but,Itrust,willneverbeungrateful。’’ ThepoliticChieftainoftheraceofIvorknewhisadvantageinintroducingWaverleytothispersonalinterviewwiththeroyalAdventurer。Unaccustomedtotheaddressandmannersofapolishedcourt,inwhichCharleswaseminentlyskilful,hiswordsandhiskindnesspenetratedtheheartofourhero,andeasilyoutweighedallprudentialmotives。TobethuspersonallysolicitedforassistancebyaPrince,whoseformandmanners,aswellasthespiritwhichhedisplayedinthissingularenterprise,answeredhisideasofaheroofromance;tobecourtedbyhimintheancienthallsofhispaternalpalace,recoveredbytheswordwhichhewasalreadybendingtowardsotherconquests,gaveEdward,inhisowneyes,thedignityandimportancewhichhehadceasedtoconsiderashisattributes。Rejected,slandered,andthreatenedupontheoneside,hewasirresistiblyattractedtothecausewhichtheprejudicesofeducation,andthepoliticalprinciplesofhisfamily,hadalreadyrecommendedasthemostjust。Thesethoughtsrushedthroughhismindlikeatorrent,sweepingbeforethemeveryconsiderationofanoppositetendency,-thetime,besides,admittedofnodeliberation,-andWaverley,kneelingtoCharlesEdward,devotedhisheartandswordtothevindicationofhisrights! ThePrince(for,althoughunfortunateinthefaultsandfolliesofhisforefathers,weshallhere,andelsewhere,givehimthetitleduetohisbirth)raisedWaverleyfromtheground,andembracedhimwithanexpressionofthankstoowarmnottobegenuine。HealsothankedFergusMac-Ivorrepeatedlyforhavingbroughthimsuchanadherent,andpresentedWaverleytothevariousnoblemen,chieftains,andofficerswhowereabouthisperson,asayounggentlemanofthehighesthopesandprospects,inwhoseboldandenthusiasticavowalofhiscausetheymightseeanevidenceofthesentimentsoftheEnglishfamiliesofrankatthisimportantcrisis。<>Indeed,thiswasaNoteR。JacobiteSentiments。<!p263> pointmuchdoubtedamongtheadherentsofthehouseofStuart; andasawell-foundeddisbeliefintheco-operationoftheEnglishJacobiteskeptmanyScottishmenofrankfromhisstandard,anddiminishedthecourageofthosewhohadjoinedit,nothingcouldbemoreseasonablefortheChevalierthantheopendeclarationinhisfavouroftherepresentativeofthehouseofWaverley-Honour,solongknownascavaliersandroyalists。 ThisFergushadforeseenfromthebeginning。HereallylovedWaverley,becausetheirfeelingsandprojectsneverthwartedeachother;hehopedtoseehimunitedwithFlora,andherejoicedthattheywereeffectuallyengagedinthesamecause。 But,aswebeforehinted,healsoexultedasapoliticianinbeholdingsecuredtohispartyapartisanofsuchconsequence; andhewasfarfrombeinginsensibletothepersonalimportancewhichhehimselfgainedwiththePrince,fromhavingsomateriallyassistedinmakingtheacquisition。 CharlesEdward,onhispart,seemedeagertoshowhisattendantsthevaluewhichheattachedtohisnewadherent,byenteringimmediately,asinconfidence,uponthecircumstancesofhissituation。Youhavebeensecludedsomuchfromintelligence,Mr。Waverley,fromcausesofwhichIambutindistinctlyinformed,thatIpresumeyouareevenyetunacquaintedwiththeimportantparticularsofmypresentsituation。 Youhave,however,heardofmylandingintheremotedistrictofMoidart,withonlysevenattendants,andofthenumerouschiefsandclanswhoseloyalenthusiasmatonceplacedasolitaryadventurerattheheadofagallantarmy。Youmustalso,I think,havelearned,thattheCommander-in-chiefoftheHanoverianElector,SirJohnCope,marchedintotheHighlandsattheheadofanumerousandwell-appointedmilitaryforce,withtheintentionofgivingusbattle,butthathiscouragefailedhimwhenwewerewithinthreehours’marchofeachother,sothathefairlygaveustheslip,andmarchednorthwardtoAberdeen,leavingtheLowCountryopenandundefended。Nottolosesofavourableanopportunity,Imarchedontothismetropolis,drivingbeforemetworegimentsofhorse,Gardiner’sandHamilton’s,whohadthreatenedtocuttopieceseveryHighlanderthatshouldventuretopassStirling;andwhilediscussionswerecarryingforwardamongthemagistracyandcitizensofEdinburgh,whethertheyshoulddefendthemselvesorsurrender,mygoodfriendLochiel(layinghishandontheshoulderofthatgallantandaccomplishedchieftain)savedthemthetroubleoffartherdeliberation,byenteringthegateswithfivehundredCamerons。Thusfar,therefore,wehavedonewell;but,inthemeanwhile,thisdoughtygeneral’snervesbeingbracedbythekeenairofAberdeen,hehastakenshippingforDunbar,andIhavejustreceivedcertaininformationthathelandedthereyesterday。Hispurposemustunquestionablybetomarchtowardsustorecoverpossessionofthecapital。 Now,therearetwoopinionsinmycouncilofwar:one,thatbeinginferiorprobablyinnumbers,andcertainlyindisciplineandmilitaryappointments,nottomentionourtotalwantofartillery,andtheweaknessofourcavalry,itwillbesafesttofallbacktowardsthemountains,andthereprotractthewar,untilfreshsuccoursarrivefromFrance,andthewholebodyoftheHighlandclansshallhavetakenarmsinourfavour。Theoppositeopinionmaintains,thataretrogrademovement,inourcircumstance,iscertaintothrowutterdiscreditonourarmsandundertaking;and,farfromgainingusnewpartisans,willbethemeansofdishearteningthosewhohavejoinedourstandard。Theofficerswhousedtheselastarguments,amongwhomisyourfriendFergusMac-Ivor,maintainthatiftheHighlandersarestrangerstotheusualmilitarydisciplineofEurope,thesoldierswhomtheyaretoencounterarenolessstrangerstotheirpeculiarandformidablemodeofattack:thattheattachmentandcourageofthechiefsandgentlemenarenottobedoubted;andthatastheywillbeinthemidstoftheenemy,theirclansmenwillassurelyfollowthem;infine,thathavingdrawnthesword,weshouldthrowawaythescabbard,andtrustourcausetobattle,andtotheGodofBattles。WillMr。Waverleyfavouruswithhisopinioninthesearduouscircumstances?’’ Waverleycolouredhighbetwixtpleasureandmodestyatthedistinctionimpliedinthisquestion,andanswered,withequalspiritandreadiness,thathecouldnotventuretoofferanopinionasderivedfrommilitaryskill,butthatthecouncilwouldbefarthemostacceptabletohimwhichshouldfirstaffordhimanopportunitytoevincehiszealinhisRoyalHighness’sservice。 SpokenlikeaWaverley!’’answeredCharlesEdward;andthatyoumayholdarankinsomedegreecorrespondingtoyourname,allowme,insteadofthecaptain’scommissionwhichyouhavelost,toofferyouthebrevetrankofmajorinmyservice,withtheadvantageofactingasoneofmyaides-de-campuntilyoucanbeattachedtoaregiment,ofwhichIhopeseveralwillbespeedilyembodied。’’ YourRoyalHighnesswillforgiveme,’’answeredWaverley(forhisrecollectionturnedtoBalmawhappleandhisscantytroop),ifIdeclineacceptinganyrankuntilthetimeandplacewhereImayhaveinterestenoughtoraiseasufficientbodyofmentomakemycommandusefultoyourRoyalHighness’sservice。Inthemeanwhile,IhopeforyourpermissiontoserveasavolunteerundermyfriendFergusMac-Ivor。’’ Atleast,’’saidthePrince,whowasobviouslypleasedwiththisproposal,allowmethepleasureofarmingyouaftertheHighlandfashion。’’Withthesewords,heunbuckledthebroadswordwhichhewore,thebeltofwhichwasplatedwithsilver,andthesteelbaskethiltrichlyandcuriouslyinlaid。Theblade,’’saidthePrince,isagenuineAndreaFerrara;ithasbeenasortofheir-loominourfamily;butIamconvincedI putitintobetterhandsthanmyown,andwilladdtoitpistolsofthesameworkmanship-ColonelMac-Ivor,youmusthavemuchtosaytoyourfriend;Iwilldetainyounolongerfromyourprivateconversation;butrememberweexpectyoubothtoattendusintheevening。Itmaybeperhapsthelastnightwemayenjoyinthesehalls,andaswegotothefieldwithaclearconscience,wewillspendtheeveofbattlemerrily。’’ Thuslicensed,thechiefandWaverleyleftthepresence-chamber。 Howdoyoulikehim?’’wasFergus’sfirstquestion,astheydescendedthelargestonestaircase。 Aprincetoliveanddieunder,’’wasWaverley’senthusiasticanswer。 Iknewyouwouldthinksowhenyousawhim,andI intendedyoushouldhavemetearlier,butwaspreventedbyyoursprain。Andyethehashisfoibles,orratherhehasdifficultcardstoplay,andhisIrishofficers,<>whoaremuchabouthimNoteS。Irishofficers。<!p266> arebutsorryadvisers,-theycannotdiscriminateamongthenumerouspretensionsthataresetup。Wouldyouthinkit,- Ihavebeenobligedforthepresenttosuppressanearl’spatent,grantedforservicesrenderedtenyearsago,forfearofexcitingthejealousy,forsooth,ofCandM。Butyouwereveryright,Edward,torefusethesituationofaide-de-camp。Therearetwovacant,indeed,butClanronaldandLochiel,andalmostallofus,haverequestedoneforyoungAberchallader,andtheLowlandersandtheIrishpartyareequallydesiroustohavetheotherforthemasterofF。Now,ifeitherofthesecandidatesweretobesupersededinyourfavour,youwouldmakeenemies。AndthenIamsurprisedthatthePrinceshouldhaveofferedyouamajority,whenheknowsverywellthatnothingshortoflieutenant-colonelwillsatisfyothers,whocannotbringonehundredandfiftymentothefield。`Butpatience,cousin,andshufflethecards!’Itisallverywellforthepresent,andwemusthaveyouregularlyequippedfortheeveninginyournewcostume;for,tosaythetruth,youroutwardmanisscarcefitforacourt。’’ Why,’’saidWaverley,lookingathissoileddress,myshooting-jackethasseenservicesinceweparted;butthat,probably,you,myfriend,knowaswellorbetterthanI。’’ Youdomysecond-sighttoomuchhonour,’’saidFergus。 Weweresobusy,firstwiththeschemeofgivingbattletoCope,andafterwardswithouroperationsintheLowlands,thatIcouldonlygivegeneraldirectionstosuchofourpeopleaswereleftinPerthshiretorespectandprotectyou,shouldyoucomeintheirway。Butletmehearthefullstoryofyouradventures,fortheyhavereachedusinaverypartialandmutilatedmanner。’’ Waverleythendetailedatlengththecircumstanceswithwhichthereaderisalreadyacquainted,towhichFerguslistenedwithgreatattention。Bythistimetheyhadreachedthedoorofhisquarters,whichhehadtakenupinasmallpavedcourt,retiringfromthestreetcalledtheCanongate,atthehouseofabuxomwidowofforty,whoseemedtosmileverygraciouslyuponthehandsomeyoungchief,shebeingapersonwithwhomgoodlooksandgoodhumourweresuretosecureaninterest,whatevermightbetheparty’spoliticalopinions。HereCallumBegreceivedthemwithasmileofrecognition。Callum,’’saidtheChief,callShemusanSnachad’’(JamesoftheNeedle)。 ThiswasthehereditarytailorofVichIanVohr。Shemus,Mr。Waverleyistowearthe_cathdath_(battlecolour,ortartan); histrewsmustbereadyinfourhours。Youknowthemeasureofawell-mademan:twodoublenailstothesmalloftheleg’’ Elevenfromhaunchtoheel,sevenroundthewaist-IgiveyourhonourleavetohangShemus,ifthere’sapairofsheersintheHighlandsthathasabauldersneckthanher’sainatthe_cumadhantruais_’’(shapeofthetrews)。 GetaplaidofMac-Ivortartan,andsash,’’continuedtheChieftain,andabluebonnetofthePrince’spattern,atMr。 Mouat’sintheCrames。Myshortgreencoat,withsilverlaceandsilverbuttons,willfithimexactly,andIhaveneverwornit。TellEnsignMaccombichtopickoutahandsometargetfromamongmine。TheprincehasgivenMr。Waverleybroadswordandpistols,Iwillfurnishhimwithadirkandpurse; addbutapairoflowheeledshoes,andthenmydearEdward(turningtohim)youwillbeacompletesonofIvor。’’ Thesenecessarydirectionsgiven,theChieftainresumedthesubjectofWaverley’sadventures。Itisplain,’’hesaid,thatyouhavebeeninthecustodyofDonaldBeanLean。Youmustknow,thatwhenImarchedawaymyclantojointhePrince,Ilaidmyinjunctionsonthatworthymemberofsocietytoperformacertainpieceofservice,whichdone,hewastojoinmewithalltheforcehecouldmuster。Butinsteadofdoingso,thegentleman,findingthecoastclear,thoughtitbettertomakewaronhisownaccount,andhasscouredthecountry,plundering,Ibelieve,bothfriendandfoe,underpretenceoflevyingblackmail,sometimesasifbymyauthority,andsometimes(andbecursedtohisconsummateimpudence)inhisowngreatname!Uponmyhonour,ifIlivetoseethecairnofBenmoreagain,Ishallbetemptedtohangthatfellow!