the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第4章
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imprecations and insult。 When irritated by persons for whom he
entertained little respect； his misanthropy displayed itself in words； and
sometimes in actions； of still greater rudeness； and he used on such
occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and
threats。〃 ＇SCOTS MAGAZINE； vol。 lxxx。 p。207。＇
Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works；
and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate； which does not possess
some source of gratification peculiar to itself； This poor man； whose
misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity；
had yet his own particular enjoyments。 Driven into solitude； he became
an admirer of the beauties of nature。 His garden； which he sedulously
cultivated； and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot；
was his pride and his delight； but he was also an admirer of more natural
beauty： the soft sweep of the green hill； the bubbling of a clear fountain；
or the complexities of a wild thicket； were scenes on which he often gazed
for hours； and； as he said； with inexpressible delight。 It was perhaps for
this reason that he was fond of Shenstone's pastorals； and some parts of
PARADISE LOST。 The author has heard his most unmusical voice
repeat the celebrated description of Paradise； which he seemed fully to
appreciate。 His other studies were of a different cast； chiefly polemical。
He never went to the parish church； and was therefore suspected of
entertaining heterodox opinions； though his objection was probably to the
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THE BLACK DWARF
concourse of spectators； to whom he must have exposed his unseemly
deformity。 He spoke of a future state with intense feeling； and even with
tears。 He expressed disgust at the idea； of his remains being mixed with
the common rubbish； as he called it； of the churchyard； and selected with
his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his
hermitage； in which to take his last repose。 He changed his mind；
however； and was finally interred in the common burial… ground of Manor
parish。
The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made
him appear； in the eyes of the vulgar； a man possessed of supernatural
power。 Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment； for
some of the poor and ignorant； as well as all the children； in the
neighbourhood； held him to be what is called uncanny。 He himself did
not altogether discourage the idea； it enlarged his very limited circle of
power； and in so far gratified his conceit； and it soothed his misanthropy；
by increasing his means of giving terror or pain。 But even in a rude
Scottish glen thirty years back； the fear of sorcery was very much out of
date。
David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes； especially such as
were supposed to be haunted； and valued himself upon his courage in
doing so。 To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly
than himself。 At heart； he was superstitious； and planted many rowans
（mountain ashes） around his hut； as a certain defence against necromancy。
For the same reason； doubtless； he desired to have rowan…trees set above
his grave。
We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty。
His only living favourites were a dog and a cat； to which he was
particularly attached； and his bees； which he treated with great care。 He
took a sister； latterly； to live in a hut adjacent to his own； but he did not
permit her to enter it。 She was weak in intellect； but not deformed in
person； simple； or rather silly； but not； like her brother； sullen or bizarre。
David was never affectionate to her； it was not in his nature； but he
endured her。 He maintained himself and her by the sale of the product of
their garden and bee…hives； and； latterly； they had a small allowance from
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THE BLACK DWARF
the parish。 Indeed； in the simple and patriarchal state in which the
country then was； persons in the situation of David and his sister were sure
to be supported。 They had only to apply to the next gentleman or
respectable farmer； and were sure to find them equally ready and willing
to supply their very moderate wants。 David often received gratuities
from strangers； which he never asked； never refused； and never seemed to
consider as an obligation。 He had a right； indeed； to regard himself as
one of Nature's paupers； to whom she gave a title to be maintained by his
kind； even by that deformity which closed against him all ordinary ways
of supporting himself by his own labour。 Besides； a bag was suspended
in the mill for David Ritchie's benefit； and those who were carrying home
a melder of meal； seldom failed to add a GOWPEN ＇Handful＇ to the alms…
bag of the deformed cripple。 In short； David had no occasion for money；
save to purchase snuff； his only luxury； in which he indulged himself
liberally。 When he died； in the beginning of the present century； he was
found to have hoarded about twenty pounds； a habit very consistent with
his disposition； for wealth is power； and power was what David Ritchie
desired to possess； as a compensation for his exclusion from human
society。
His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief
notice forms the introduction； and the author is sorry to learn that a sort of
〃local sympathy；〃 and the curiosity then expressed concerning the Author
of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels； exposed the poor woman
to enquiries which gave her pain。 When pressed about her brother's
peculiarities； she asked； in her turn； why they would not permit the dead to
rest？ To others； who pressed for some account of her parents； she
answered in the same tone of feeling。
The author saw this poor； and； it may be said； unhappy man； in autumn
1797 being then； as he has the happiness still to remain； connected by ties
of intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr。 Adam
Fergusson； the philosopher and historian； who then resided at the mansion…
house of Halyards； in the vale of Manor； about a mile from Ritchie's
hermitage； the author was upon a visit at Halyards； which lasted for
several days； and was made acquainted with this singular anchorite； whom
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Dr。 Fergusson considered as an extraordinary character； and whom he
assisted in various ways； particularly by the occasional loan of books。
Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant did not； it may be
supposed； always correspond； ＇I remember David was particularly anxious
to see a book； which he ca
