贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > appendix-1 >

第3章

appendix-1-第3章

小说: appendix-1 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!





  At the same time a whirlwind of irresistible fury howled through the
long hall; bore the unfortunate horse…jockey clear out of the mouth of the
cavern; and precipitated him over a steep; bank of loose stones; where the
shepherds found him the next morning; with just breath sufficient to tell
his fearful tale; after concluding which he expired。


  This legend; with several variations; is found in many parts of Scotland
and England…the scene is sometimes laid in some favourite glen of the
Highlands; sometimes in the deep coal…mines of Northumberland and
Cumberland; which run so far beneath the ocean。 It is also to be found
in Reginald Scott's book on Witchcraft; which was written in the sixteenth
century。 It would be in vain to ask what was the original of the tradition。
The choice between the horn and sword may; perhaps; include as a moral;
that it is fool…hardy to awaken danger before we have arms in our hands
to resist it。

  Although admitting of much poetical ornament; it is clear that this
legend would have formed but an unhappy foundation for a prose story;
and must have degenerated into a mere fairy tale。 Dr。 John Leyden has
beautifully introduced the tradition in his Scenes of Infancy:…

Mysterious Rhymer; doomed by fate's decree;
Still to revisit Eildon's fated tree;
Where oft the swain; at dawn of Hallow…day;
Hears thy fleet barb with wild impatience neigh
Say who is he; with summons long and high;
Shall bid the charmed sleep of ages fly;
Roll the long sound through Eildon's caverns vast;
While each dark warrior kindles at the blast?
The horn; the falchion grasp with mighty hand;
And peal proud Arthur's march from Fairy…land?
Scenes of Infancy; _Part I。_





In the same cabinet with the preceding fragment; the following occurred
among other _disjecta membra。_ It seems to be an attempt at a tale of a
different description from the last; but was almost instantly abandoned。
The introduction points out the time of the composition to have been about
the end of the eighteenth century。


THE LORD OF ENNERDALE。

IN A FRAGMENT OF A LETTER FROM JOHN B; ESQ。 OF THAT ILK;
TO WILLIAM G; F。R。S。E。


  ‘‘Fill a bumper;'' said the Knight; ‘‘the ladies may spare us a little
longer…Fill a bumper to the Archduke Charles。''

  The company did due honour to the toast of their landlord。

  ‘‘The success of the Archduke;'' said the muddy Vicar; ‘‘will tend to
further our negotiation at Paris; and if''

  ‘‘Pardon the interruption; Doctor;'' quoth a thin emaciated figure; with
somewhat of a foreign accent; ‘‘but why should you connect those events
unless to hope that the bravery and victories of our allies may supersede
the necessity of a degrading treaty?''

  ‘‘We begin to feel; Monsieur l'Abb;
‘‘a gratuitous exertion of generosity? Was there no fear of the wide…wasting
spirit of innovation which had gone abroad? Did not the laity
tremble for their property; the clergy for their religion; and every loyal
heart for the constitution? Was it not thought necessary to destroy the
building which was on fire; ere the conflagration spread around the
vicinity?''

  ‘‘Yet; if upon trial;'' said the Doctor; ‘‘the walls were found to resist
our utmost efforts; I see no great prudence in persevering in our labour
amid the smouldering ruins。''

  ‘‘What; Doctor;'' said the Baronet; ‘‘must I call to your recollection
your own sermon on the late general fast?…did you not encourage us to
hope that the Lord of Hosts would go forth with our armies; and that our
enemies; who blasphemed him; should be put to shame?''

  ‘‘It may please a kind father to chasten even his beloved children;''
answered the Vicar。

  ‘‘I think;'' said a gentleman near the foot of the table; ‘‘that the
Covenanters made some apology of the same kind for the failure of their
prophecies at the battle of Dumbar; when their mutinous preachers compelled
the prudent Lesley to go down against the Philistines in Gilgal。''

  The Vicar fixed a scrutinizing and not a very complacent eye upon this
intruder。 He was a young man of mean stature; and rather a reserved appearance。
Early and severe study had quenched in his features the gaiety
peculiar to his age; and impressed upon them a premature cast of thoughtfulness。
His eye had; however; retained its fire; and his gesture its animation。
Had he remained silent; he would have been long unnoticed; but
when he spoke; there was something in his manner which arrested attention。

  ‘‘Who is this young man?'' said the Vicar in a low voice; to his
neighbour。

  ‘‘A Scotchman called Maxwell; on a visit to Sir Henry;'' was the answer。

  ‘‘I thought so; from his accent and his manners;'' said the Vicar。

  It may be here observed; that the Northern English retain rather more
of the ancient hereditary aversion to their neighbours than their countrymen
of the South。 The interference of other disputants; each of whom urged his
opinion with all the vehemence of wine and politics; rendered the summons
to the drawing…room agreeable to the more sober part of the company。

  The company dispersed by degrees; and at length the Vicar and the
young Scotchman alone remained; besides the Baronet; his lady; daughters;
and myself。 The clergyman had not; it would seem; forgot the observation
which ranked him with the false prophets of Dunbar; for he addressed Mr。
Maxwell upon the first opportunity。

  ‘‘Hem! I think; sir; you mentioned something about the civil wars of
last century? You must be deeply skilled in them; indeed; if you can
draw any parallel betwixt those and the present evil days…days which I
am ready to maintain are the most gloomy that ever darkened the prospects
of Britain。''

  ‘‘God forbid; Doctor; that I should draw a comparison between the
present times and those you mention。 I am too sensible of the advantages
we enjoy over our ancestors。 Faction and ambition have introduced
division among us; but we are still free from the guilt of civil bloodshed;
and from all the evils which flow from it。 Our foes; sir; are not those of
our own household; and while we continue united and firm; from the
attacks of a foreign enemy; however artful; or however inveterate; we have;
I hope; little to dread。''

  ‘‘Have you found anything curious; Mr。 Maxwell; among the dusty
papers?'' said Sir Henry; who seemed to dread a revival of political
discussion。

  ‘‘My investigation amongst them led to reflections which I have just
now hinted;'' said Maxwell; ‘‘and I think they are pretty strongly exemplified
by a story which I have been endeavouring to arrange from some
of your family manuscripts。''

  ‘‘You are welcome to make what use of them you please;'' said Sir
Henry; ‘‘they have been undisturbed for in any a day; and I have often
wished for some person as well skilled as you in these old pot…hooks; to
tell me their meaning。''

  ‘‘Those I just mentioned;'' answered Maxwell; ‘‘relate to a piece of
private history; savouring not a little of the marvellous; and intimately
connected with your family: if it is agreeable; I can read to you the
anecdotes; in the modern shape into which I have been endeavouring to
throw them; and you can then judge of the value of the originals。''

  There was something in this proposal agreeable to all parties。 Sir
Henry had family pride; which prepared him to take an interest in whatever
related to his ancestors。 The ladies had dipped deeply into the
fashionable reading of the present day。 Lady Ratcliff and her fair daughters
had climbed every pass; viewed every pine…shrouded ruin; heard every
groan; and lifted every trap…door; in company with the noted heroine of
Udolpho。 They had been heard; however; to observe; that the famous
incident of the Black Veil singularly r

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的