首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第14章

第14章

  So,ontheidledreamsofyouth,Breakstheloudtrumpet-calloftruth,Bidseachfairvisionpassaway,Likelandscapeonthelakethatlay,Asfair,asflitting,andasfrail,AsthatwhichfledtheAutumngale-
  Foreverdeadtofancy’seyeBeeachgayformthatglidedby,Whiledreamsofloveandlady’scharmsGiveplacetohonourandtoarms!
  Insoberprose,asperhapstheseversesintimatelessdecidedly,thetransientideaofMissCeciliaStubbspassedfromCaptainWaverley’sheartamidtheturmoilwhichhisnewdestiniesexcited。Sheappeared,indeed,infullsplendourinherfather’spewupontheSundaywhenheattendedserviceforthelasttimeattheoldparishchurch,uponwhichoccasion,attherequestofhisuncleandAuntRachel,hewasinducednothingloth,ifthetruthmustbetoldtopresenthimselfinfulluniform。
  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。
  CravingpardonformyheroicswhichIamunableincertaincasestoresistgivingwayto,itisamelancholyfact,thatmyhistorymustheretakeleaveofthefairCecilia,who,likemanyadaughterofEve,afterthedepartureofEdward,andthedissipationofcertainidlevisionswhichshehadadopted,quietlycontentedherselfwitha_pis-aller,_andgaveherhand,atthedistanceofsixmonths,totheaforesaidJonas,sonoftheBaronet’ssteward,andheirnounfertileprospecttoasteward’sfortune;besidesthesnugprobabilityofsucceedingtohisfather’soffice。AlltheseadvantagesmovedSquireStubbs,asmuchastheruddybrowandmanlyformofthesuitorinfluencedhisdaughter,toabatesomewhatinthearticleoftheirgentry;andsothematchwasconcluded。NoneseemedmoregratifiedthanAuntRachel,whohadhithertolookedratheraskanceuponthepresumptuousdamselasmuchso,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,withtolerablehorsesandacivildriverastheadvertisementshaveit,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。Twowereblacktheregimentalcolour,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。TitusLivius。
  struckthegentleman,who,aswebeforeobserved,hadmanagedthedefenceofsomeofthoseunfortunatepersons,attheexpenseofSirEverard,andperhapssomeothersoftheparty。
  Hewas,besides,himselfaspecialadmireroftheoldPatavinian;
  andthoughprobablyhisownzealmightnothavecarriedhimsuchextravagantlengths,eventorecovertheeditionofSweynheimandPannartzsupposedtobetheprinceps,hedidnotthelessestimatethedevotionoftheNorthBriton,andinconsequenceexertedhimselftosomuchpurposetoremoveandsoftenevidence,detectlegalflaws,_etcetera,_thatheaccomplishedthefinaldischargeanddeliveranceofCosmoComyneBradwardinefromcertainveryawkwardconsequencesofapleabeforeoursovereignlordthekinginWestminster。
  TheBaronofBradwardine,forhewasgenerallysocalledinScotlandalthoughhisintimates,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,receivedtheremittanceof294,13s。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。