the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第6章
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makes them be ca'd lang or short。 I believe if ye were to measure their
backs； the short sheep wad be rather the langer… bodied o' the twa； but it's
the woo' that pays the rent in thae days； and it had muckle need。〃
〃Odd； Bauldie says very true；short sheep did make short rents my
father paid for our steading just threescore punds； and it stands me in three
hundred； plack and bawbee。And that's very trueI hae nae time to be
standing here claveringLandlord； get us our breakfast； and see an' get the
yauds fedI am for doun to Christy Wilson's； to see if him and me can
gree about the luckpenny I am to gie him for his year…aulds。 We had
drank sax mutchkins to the making the bargain at St。 Boswell's fair； and
some gate we canna gree upon the particulars preceesely； for as muckle
time as we took about itI doubt we draw to a pleaBut hear ye；
neighbour；〃 addressing my WORTHY AND LEARNED patron； 〃if ye
want to hear onything about lang or short sheep； I will be back here to my
kail against ane o'clock； or； if ye want ony auld…warld stories about the
Black Dwarf； and sic…like； if ye'll ware a half mutchkin upon Bauldie there；
he'll crack t'ye like a pen…gun。 And I'se gie ye a mutchkin mysell； man； if
I can settle weel wi' Christy Wilson。〃
The farmer returned at the hour appointed； and with him came Christy
Wilson； their difference having been fortunately settled without an appeal
to the gentlemen of the long robe。 My LEARNED AND WORTHY
patron failed not to attend； both on account of the refreshment promised to
the mind and to the body； ALTHOUGH HE IS KNOWN TO PARTAKE
OF THE LATTER IN A VERY MODERATE DEGREE； and the party；
with which my Landlord was associated； continued to sit late in the
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THE BLACK DWARF
evening； seasoning their liquor with many choice tales and songs。 The
last incident which I recollect； was my LEARNED AND WORTHY
patron falling from his chair； just as he concluded a long lecture upon
temperance； by reciting； from the 〃Gentle Shepherd；〃 a couplet； which he
RIGHT HAPPILY transferred from the vice of avarice to that of ebriety：
He that has just eneugh may soundly sleep； The owercome only
fashes folk to keep。
In the course of the evening the Black Dwarf had not been forgotten；
and the old shepherd； Bauldie； told so many stories of him； that they
excited a good deal of interest。 It also appeared； though not till the third
punch…bowl was emptied； that much of the farmer's scepticism on the
subject was affected； as evincing a liberality of thinking； and a freedom
from ancient prejudices； becoming a man who paid three hundred pounds
a…year of rent； while； in fact； he had a lurking belief in the traditions of his
forefathers。 After my usual manner； I made farther enquiries of other
persons connected with the wild and pastoral district in which the scene of
the following narrative is placed； and I was fortunate enough to recover
many links of the story； not generally known； and which account； at least
in some degree； for the circumstances of exaggerated marvel with which
superstition has attired it in the more vulgar traditions。
＇The Black Dwarf； now almost forgotten； was once held a formidable
personage by the dalesmen of the Border； where he got the blame of
whatever mischief befell the sheep or cattle。 〃He was；〃 says Dr。 Leyden；
who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of
Keeldar； 〃a fairy of the most malignant orderthe genuine Northern
Duergar。〃 The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and
mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that
eminent antiquary； Richard Surtees； Esq。 of Mainsforth； author of the
HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM。
According to this well…attested legend； two young Northumbrians were
out on a shooting party； and had plunged deep among the mountainous
moorlands which border on Cumberland。 They stopped for refreshment
in a little secluded dell by the side of a rivulet。 There； after they had
partaken of such food as they brought with them； one of the party fell
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THE BLACK DWARF
asleep； the other； unwilling to disturb his friend's repose； stole silently out
of the dell with the purpose of looking around him； when he was
astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong to
this world； as he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever shone
on。 His head was of full human size； forming a frightful contrast with his
height； which was considerably under four feet。 It was thatched with no
other covering than long matted red hair； like that of the felt of a badger in
consistence； and in colour a reddish brown； like the hue of the heather…
blossom。 His limbs seemed of great strength； nor was he otherwise
deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his diminutive
height。 The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible apparition；
until； with an angry countenance； the being demanded by what right he
intruded himself on those hills； and destroyed their harmless inhabitants。
The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the incensed dwarf； by
offering to surrender his game； as he would to an earthly Lord of the
Manor。 The proposal only redoubled the offence already taken by the
dwarf； who alleged that he was the lord of those mountains； and the
protector of the wild creatures who found a retreat in their solitary recesses；
and that all spoils derived from their death； or misery； were abhorrent to
him。 The hunter humbled himself before the angry goblin； and by
protestations of his ignorance； and of his resolution to abstain from such
intrusion in future； at last succeeded in pacifying him。 The gnome now
became more communicative； and spoke of himself as belonging to a
species of beings something between the angelic race and humanity。 He
added； moreover； which could hardly have been anticipated； that he had
hopes of sharing in the redemption of the race of Adam。 He pressed the
sportsman to visit his dwelling； which he said was hard by； and plighted
his faith for his safe return。 But at this moment； the shout of the
sportsman's companion was heard calling for his friend； and the dwarf； as
if unwilling that more than one person should be cognisant of his presence；
disappeared as the young man emerged from the dell to join his comrade。
It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such matters；
that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit； he would； notwithstanding
the dwarf's fair pretences； have been either torn to pieces； or immured for
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