首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第58章

第58章

  buthispurposewasdeprecatedbyallaroundhim,andhewaswithdifficultyinducedtoabandonit。
  Bothlineswerenowmovingforward,thefirstpreparedforinstantcombat。Theclansofwhichitwascomposed,formedeachasortofseparatephalanx,narrowinfront,andindepthten,twelve,orfifteenfiles,accordingtothestrengthofthefollowing。Thebest-armedandbest-born,forthewordsweresynonymous,wereplacedinfrontofeachoftheseirregularsubdivisions。Theothersintherearshoulderedforwardthefront,andbytheirpressureaddedbothphysicalimpulse,andadditionalardourandconfidence,tothosewhowerefirsttoencounterthedanger。
  Downwithyourplaid,Waverley,’’criedFergus,throwingoffhisown;we’llwinsilksforourtartansbeforethesunisabovethesea。’’
  Theclansmenoneverysidestripttheirplaids,preparedtheirarms,andtherewasanawfulpauseofaboutthreeminutes,duringwhichthemen,pullingofftheirbonnets,raisedtheirfacestoheaven,andutteredashortprayer;thenpulledtheirbonnetsovertheirbrows,andbegantomoveforwardatfirstslowly。Waverleyfelthisheartatthatmomentthrobasitwouldhaveburstfromhisbosom,Itwasnotfear,itwasnotardour,-itwasacompoundofboth,anewanddeeplyenergeticimpulse,thatwithitsfirstemotionchilledandastounded,thenfeveredandmaddenedhismind。Thesoundsaroundhimcombinedtoexalthisenthusiasm;thepipesplayed,andtheclansrushedforward,eachinitsowndarkcolumn。Astheyadvancedtheymendedtheirpace,andthemutteringsoundsofthementoeachotherbegantoswellintoawildcry。
  Atthismomentthesun,whichwasnowrisenabovethehorizon,dispelledthemist。Thevapoursroselikeacurtain,andshowedthetwoarmiesintheactofclosing。ThelineoftheregularswasformeddirectlyfrontingtheattackoftheHighlanders;
  itglitteredwiththeappointmentsofacompletearmy,andwasflankedbycavalryandartillery。Butthesightimpressednoterrorontheassailants。
  Forward,sonsofIvor,’’criedtheirChief,ortheCameronswilldrawthefirstblood!’’-Theyrushedonwithatremendousyell。
  Therestiswellknown。Thehorse,whowerecommandedtochargetheadvancingHighlandersintheflank,receivedanirregularfirefromtheirfuseesastheyranon,and,seizedwithadisgracefulpanic,wavered,halted,disbanded,andgallopedfromthefield。Theartillerymen,desertedbythecavalry,fledafterdischargingtheirpieces,andtheHighlanders,whodroppedtheirgunswhenfired,anddrewtheirbroadswords,rushedwithheadlongfuryagainsttheinfantry。
  Itwasatthismomentofconfusionandterror,thatWaverleyremarkedanEnglishofficer,apparentlyofhighrank,standingaloneandunsupportedbyafield-piece,which,aftertheflightofthemenbywhomitwaswrought,hehadhimselflevelledanddischargedagainsttheclanofMac-Ivor,thenearestgroupofHighlanderswithinhisaim。Struckwithhistall,martialfigure,andeagertosavehimfrominevitabledestruction,Waverleyoutstrippedforaninstanteventhespeediestofthewarriors,and,reachingthespotfirst,calledtohimtosurrender。
  Theofficerrepliedbyathrustwithhissword,whichWaverleyreceivedinhistarget,andinturningitasidetheEnglishman’sweaponbroke。Atthesametimethebattle-axeofDugaldMahonywasintheactofdescendingupontheofficer’shead。
  Waverleyinterceptedandpreventedtheblow,andtheofficer,perceivingfurtherresistanceunavailing,andstruckwithEdward’sgenerousanxietyforhissafety,resignedthefragmentofhissword,andwascommittedbyWaverleytoDugald,withstrictchargetousehimwell,andnottopillagehisperson,promisinghim,atthesametime,fullindemnificationforthespoil。
  OnEdward’sright,thebattleforafewminutesragedfierceandthick。TheEnglishinfantry,trainedinthewarsinFlanders,stoodtheirgroundwithgreatcourage。Buttheirextendedfileswerepiercedandbrokeninmanyplacesbytheclosemassesoftheclans;andinthepersonalstrugglewhichensued,thenatureoftheHighlanders’weapons,andtheirextraordinaryfiercenessandactivity,gavethemadecidedsuperiorityoverthosewhohadbeenaccustomedtotrustmuchtotheirarrayanddiscipline,andfeltthattheonewasbrokenandtheotheruseless。Waverley,ashecasthiseyestowardsthissceneofsmokeandslaughter,observedColonelGardiner,desertedbyhisownsoldiersinspiteofallhisattemptstorallythem,yetspurringhishorsethroughthefieldtotakethecommandofasmallbodyofinfantry,who,withtheirbacksarrangedagainstthewallofhisownparkforhishousewasclosebythefieldofbattle,continuedadesperateandunavailingresistance。
  Waverleycouldperceivethathehadalreadyreceivedmanywounds,hisclothesandsaddlebeingmarkedwithblood。Tosavethisgoodandbraveman,becametheinstantobjectofhismostanxiousexertions。Buthecouldonlywitnesshisfall。
  EreEdwardcouldmakehiswayamongtheHighlanders,who,furiousandeagerforspoil,nowthrongeduponeachother,hesawhisformercommanderbroughtfromhishorsebytheblowofascythe,andbeheldhimreceive,whileontheground;
  morewoundsthanwouldhaveletouttwentylives。WhenWaverleycameup,however,perceptionhadnotentirelyfled。
  ThedyingwarriorseemedtorecogniseEdward,forhefixedhiseyeuponhimwithanupbraiding,yetsorrowfullook,andappearedtostruggleforutterance。Buthefeltthatdeathwasdealingcloselywithhim,andresigninghispurpose,andfoldinghishandsasifindevotion,hegaveuphissoultohisCreator。
  ThelookwithwhichheregardedWaverleyinhisdyingmomentsdidnotstrikehimsodeeplyatthatcrisisofhurryandconfusion,aswhenitrecurredtohisimaginationatthedistanceofsometime。
  NoteV。DeathofColonelGardiner。
  Loudshoutsoftriumphnowechoedoverthewholefield。
  Thebattlewasfoughtandwon,andthewholebaggage,artillery,andmilitarystoresoftheregulararmyremainedinpossessionofthevictors。Neverwasavictorymorecomplete。Scarceanyescapedfromthebattle,exceptingthecavalry,whohadleftitattheveryonset,andeventhesewerebrokenintodifferentparties,andscatteredalloverthecountry。Sofarasourtaleisconcerned,wehaveonlytorelatethefateofBalmawhapple,who,mountedonahorseasheadstrongandstiff-neckedashisrider,pursuedtheflightofthedragoonsabovefourmilesfromthefieldofbattle,whensomedozenofthefugitivestookheartofgrace,turnedround,and,cleavinghisskullwiththeirbroadswords,satisfiedtheworldthattheunfortunategentlemanhadactuallybrains,theendofhislifethusgivingproofofafactgreatlydoubtedduringitsprogress。Hisdeathwaslamentedbyfew。MostofthosewhoknewhimagreedinthepithyobservationofEnsignMaccombich,thattherewasmair_tint_
  lostatSheriff-Muir。’’HisfriendLieutenantJinker,benthiseloquenceonlytoexculpatehisfavouritemarefromanyshareincontributingtothecatastrophe。Hehadtauldthelairdathousandtimes,’’hesaid,thatitwasaburningshametoputamartingaleuponthepuirthing,whenhewouldneedsrideherwi’acurbofhalf-a-yardlang;andthathecouldnabutbringhimsellnottosayhertosomemischief,byflingingherdown,orotherwise;whereas,ifhehadhadaweebitrinninringonthesnaffle,shewadha’rein’dascannilyasacadger’spownie。’’
  SuchwastheelegyoftheLairdofBalmawhapple。
  NoteW。LairdofBalmawhapple。
  Whenthebattlewasover,andallthingscomingintoorder,theBaronofBradwardine,returningfromthedutyoftheday,andhavingdisposedthoseunderhiscommandintheirproperstations,soughttheChieftainofGlennaquoichandhisfriendEdwardWaverley。Hefoundtheformerbusiedindeterminingdisputesamonghisclansmenaboutpointsofprecedenceanddeedsofvalour,besidessundryhighanddoubtfulquestionsconcerningplunder。Themostimportantofthelastrespectedthepropertyofagoldwatch,whichhadoncebelongedtosomeunfortunateEnglishofficer。Thepartyagainstwhomjudgmentwasawardedconsoledhimselfbyobserving,She_i。e。_thewatch,whichhetookforalivinganimaldiedtheverynightVichIanVohrgavehertoMurdock;’’themachinehaving,infact,stoppedforwantofwindingup。
  Itwasjustwhenthisimportantquestionwasdecided,thattheBaronofBradwardine,withacarefulandyetimportantexpressionofcountenance,joinedthetwoyoungmen。Hedescendedfromhisreekingcharger,thecareofwhichherecommendedtooneofhisgrooms。Iseldomban,sir,’’saidhetotheman;butifyouplayanyofyourhound’s-foottricks,andleavepuirBerwickbeforehe’ssorted,torinafterspuilzie,deilbewi’meifIdonotgiveyourcraigathraw。’’Hethenstrokedwithgreatcomplacencytheanimalwhichhadbornehimthroughthefatiguesoftheday,andhavingtakenatenderleaveofhim,-Weel,mygoodyoungfriends,agloriousanddecisivevictory,’’saidhe;buttheseloonsoftroopersfledowersoon。Ishouldhavelikedtohaveshownyouthetruepointsofthe_prliumequestre,_orequestriancombat,whilktheircowardicehaspostponed,andwhichIholdtobetheprideandterrorofwarfare。Weel,Ihavefoughtoncemoreinthisoldquarrel,thoughIadmitIcouldnotbesofar_ben_asyoulads,beingthatitwasmypointofdutytokeeptogetherourhandfulofhorse。Andnocavalieroughtinanywisetobegrudgehonourthatbefallshiscompanions,eventhoughtheyareordereduponthricehisdanger,whilk,anothertime,bytheblessingofGod,maybehisowncase-But,Glennaquoich,andyou,Mr。Waverley,Iprayyetogivemeyourbestadviceonamatterofmickleweight,andwhichdeeplyaffectsthehonourofthehouseofBradwardine-Icraveyourpardon,EnsignMaccombich,andyours,Inveraughlin,andyours,Edderalshendrach,andyours,sir。’’
  ThelastpersonheaddressedwasBallenkeiroch,who,rememberingthedeathofhisson,loweredonhimwithalookofsavagedefiance。TheBaron,quickaslightningattakingumbrage,hadalreadybenthisbrow,whenGlennaquoichdraggedhismajorfromthespot,andremonstratedwithhim,intheauthoritativetoneofachieftain,onthemadnessofrevivingaquarrelinsuchamoment。
  Thegroundiscumberedwithcarcases,’’saidtheoldmountaineer,turningsullenlyaway;_onemore_wouldhardlyhavebeenkenn’duponit;andifitwasnaforyoursell,VichIanVohr,thatoneshouldbeBradwardine’sormine。’’
  Thechiefsoothedwhilehehurriedhimaway;andthenreturnedtotheBaron。ItisBallenkeiroch,’’hesaid,inanunderandconfidentialvoice,fatheroftheyoungmanwhofelleightyearssinceintheunluckyaffairattheMains。’’
  Ah!’’saidtheBaron,instantlyrelaxingthedoubtfulsternnessofhisfeatures,IcantakemicklefraamantowhomIhaveunhappilyrenderedsicadispleasureasthat。Yewererighttoapprizeme,Glennaquoich;hemaylookasblackasmidnightatMartinmasereCosmoComyneBradwardineshallsayhedoeshimwrang。Ah!Ihavenaemalelineage,andIshouldbearwithoneIhavemadechildless,thoughyouareawaretheblood-witwasmadeuptoyourainsatisfactionbyassythment,andthatIhavesinceexpeditedlettersofslains-
  Weel,asIhavesaid,Ihavenomaleissue,andyetitisneedfulthatImaintainthehonourofmyhouse;anditisonthatscoreIprayedyeforyourpeculiarandprivateattention。’’
  Thetwoyoungmenawaitedtohearhiminanxiouscuriosity。
  Idoubtna,lads,’’heproceeded,butyoureducationhasbeensaeseento,thatyeunderstandthetruenatureofthefeudaltenures?’’
  Fergus,afraidofanendlessdissertation,answered,Intimately,Baron,’’andtouchedWaverley,asasignaltoexpressnoignorance。
  Andyeareaware,Idoubtnot,thattheholdingoftheBaronyofBradwardineisofanaturealikehonourableandpeculiar,beingblanchwhichCraigopinesoughttobeLatinated_blancum,_orrather_francum,_afreeholding_proservitiodetrahendi,seuexuendi,caligasregispostbattalliam。_’’HereFergusturnedhisfalconeyeuponEdward,withanalmostimperceptibleriseofhiseyebrow,towhichhisshoulderscorrespondedinthesamedegreeofelevation。Now,twapointsofdubitationoccurtomeuponthistopic。First,whetherthisservice,orfeudalhomage,beatanyeventduetothepersonofthePrince,thewordsbeing,_perexpressum,caligas_=regis,=thebootsofthekinghimself;andIprayyouropinionanentthatparticularbeforeweproceedfarther。’’
  Why,heisPrinceRegent,’’answeredMac-Ivor,withlaudablecomposureofcountenance;andinthecourtofFranceallthehonoursarerenderedtothepersonoftheRegentwhichareduetothatoftheKing。Besides,wereItopulloffeitheroftheirboots,IwouldrenderthatservicetotheyoungChevaliertentimesmorewillinglythantohisfather。’’
  Ay,butItalknotofpersonalpredilections。However,yourauthorityisofgreatweightastotheusagesofthecourtofFrance:anddoubtlessthePrince,as_alterego,_mayhavearighttoclaimthe_homagium_ofthegreattenantsofthecrown,sinceallfaithfulsubjectsarecommanded,inthecommissionofregency,torespecthimastheking’sownperson。Far,therefore,beitfrommetodiminishthelustreofhisauthority,bywithholdingthisactofhomage,sopeculiarlycalculatedtogiveitsplendour;forIquestioniftheEmperorofGermanyhathhisbootstakenoffbyafreebaronoftheempire。Butherelieththeseconddifficulty-ThePrincewearsnoboots,butsimplybroguesandtrews。’’