Let me step forward in time, and mention how sensible I was to the power of these simple airs, in a visit which I made to Ayr, the birthplace of Robert Burns. I passed a whole morning about "the banks and braes of bonnie Doon," with his tender little love verses running in my head. I found a poor Scotch14 carpenter at work among the ruins of Kirk Alloway, which was to be converted into a school-house. Finding the purpose of my visit, he left his work, sat down with me on a grassy15 grave, close by where Burns' father was buried, and talked of the poet, whom he had known personally. He said his songs were familiar to the poorest and most illiterate16 of the country folk, "and it seemed to him as if the country had grown more beautiful, since Burns had written his bonnie little songs about it."
I found Scott was quite an enthusiast17 on the subject of the popular songs of his country, and he seemed gratified to find me so alive to them. Their effect in calling up in my mind the recollections of early times and scenes in which I had first heard them, reminded him, he said, of the lines of his poor Mend, Leyden, to the Scottish muse:
"In youth's first morn, alert and gay,
Ere rolling years had passed away,
Remembered like a morning dream,
I heard the dulcet18 measures float,
In many a liquid winding19 note,
Along the bank of Teviot's stream.
"Sweet sounds! that oft have soothed20 to rest
The sorrows of my guileless breast,
And charmed away mine infant tears;
Fond memory shall your strains repeat,
Like distant echoes, doubly sweet,
That on the wild the traveller hears."
Scott went on to expatiate21 on the popular songs of Scotland. "They are a part of our national inheritance," said he, "and something that we may truly call our own. They have no foreign taint22; they have the pure breath of the heather and the mountain breeze. All genuine legitimate23 races that have descended24 from the ancient Britons; such as the Scotch, the Welsh, and the Irish, have national airs. The English have none, because they are not natives of the soil, or, at least, are mongrels. Their music is all made up of foreign scraps25, like a harlequin jacket, or a piece of mosaic26. Even in Scotland, we have comparatively few national songs in the eastern part, where we have had most influx27 of strangers. A real old Scottish song is a cairngorm—a gem28 of our own mountains; or rather, it is a precious relic29 of old times, that bears the national character stamped upon it—like a cameo, that shows what the national visage was in former days, before the breed was crossed."
While Scott was thus discoursing30, we were passing up a narrow glen, with the dogs beating about, to right and left, when suddenly a blackcock burst upon the wing.
"Aha!" cried Scott, "there will be a good shot for Master Walter; we must send him this way with his gun, when we go home. Walter's the family sportsman now, and keeps us in game. I have pretty nigh resigned my gun to him; for I find I cannot trudge31 about as briskly as formerly32."
Our ramble2 took us on the hills commanding an extensive prospect33.
"Now," said Scott, "I have brought you, like the pilgrim in the
Pilgrim's Progress, to the top of the Delectable34 Mountains, that I may
show you all the goodly regions hereabouts. Yonder is Lammermuir, and
Smalholme; and there you have Gallashiels, and Torwoodlie, and
Gallawater; and in that direction you see Teviotdale, and the Braes of
Yarrow; and Ettrick stream, winding along, like a silver thread, to
throw itself into the Tweed."
He went on thus to call over names celebrated35 in Scottish song, and most of which had recently received a romantic interest from his own pen. In fact, I saw a great part of the border country spread out before me, and could trace the scenes of those poems and romances which had, in a manner, bewitched the world. I gazed about me for a time with mute surprise, I may almost say with disappointment. I beheld36 a mere succession of gray waving hills, line beyond line, as far as my eye could reach; monotonous37 in their aspect, and so destitute38 of trees, that one could almost see a stout39 fly walking along their profile; and the far-famed Tweed appeared a naked stream, flowing between bare hills, without a tree or thicket40 on its banks; and yet, such had been the magic web of poetry and romance thrown over the whole, that it had a greater charm for me than the richest scenery I beheld in England.
I could not help giving utterance41 to my thoughts. Scott hummed for a moment to himself, and looked grave; he had no idea of having his muse complimented at the expense of his native hills. "It may be partiality," said he, at length; "but to my eye, these gray bills and all this wild border country have beauties peculiar42 to themselves. I like the very nakedness of the land; it has something bold, and stern, and solitary about it. When I have been for some time in the rich scenery about Edinburgh, which is like ornamented43 garden land, I begin to wish myself back again among my own honest gray hills; and if I did not see the heather at least once a year, I think I should die!"
The last words were said with an honest warmth, accompanied with a thump44 on the ground with his staff, by way of emphasis, that showed his heart was in his speech. He vindicated45 the Tweed, too, as a beautiful stream in itself, and observed that he did not dislike it for being bare of trees, probably from having been much of an angler in his time, and an angler does not like to have a stream overhung by trees, which embarrass him in the exercise of his rod and line.
I took occasion to plead, in like manner, the associations of early life, for my disappointment in respect to the surrounding scenery. I had been so accustomed to hills crowned with forests, and streams breaking their way through a wilderness46 of trees, that all my ideas of romantic landscape were apt to be well wooded.
"Aye, and that's the great charm of your country," cried Scott. "You love the forest as I do the heather—but I would not have you think I do not feel the glory of a great woodland prospect. There is nothing I should like more than to be in the midst of one of your grand, wild, original forests with the idea of hundreds of miles of untrodden forest around me. I once saw, at Leith, an immense stick of timber, just landed from America. It must have been an enormous tree when it stood on its native soil, at its full height, and with all its branches. I gazed at it with admiration47; it seemed like one of the gigantic obelisks48 which are now and then brought from Egypt, to shame the pigmy monuments of Europe; and, in fact, these vast aboriginal49 trees, that have sheltered the Indians before the intrusion of the white men, are the monuments and antiquities50 of your country."
The conversation here turned upon Campbell's poem of "Gertrude of Wyoming," as illustrative of the poetic51 materials furnished by American scenery. Scott spoke52 of it in that liberal style in which I always found him to speak of the writings of his contemporaries. He cited several passages of it with great delight. "What a pity it is," said he, "that Campbell does not write more and oftener, and give full sweep to his genius. He has wings that would bear him to the skies; and he does now and then spread them grandly, but folds them up again and resumes his perch53, as if he was afraid to launch away. He don't know or won't trust his own strength. Even when he has done a thing well, he has often misgivings54 about it. He left out several fine passages of his Lochiel, but I got him to restore some of them." Here Scott repeated several passages in a magnificent style. "What a grand idea is that," said he, "about prophetic boding55, or, in common parlance56, second sight—
'Coming events cast their shadows before.'
"It is a noble thought, and nobly expressed, And there's that glorious little poem, too, of 'Hohenlinden;' after he had written it, he did not seem to think much of it, but considered some of it'd—d drum and trumpet57 lines.' I got him to recite it to me, and I believe that the delight I felt and expressed had an effect in inducing him to print it. The fact is," added he, "Campbell is, in a manner, a bugbear to himself. The brightness of his early success is a detriment58 to all his further efforts. He is afraid of the shadow that his own fame casts before him."
While we were thus chatting, we heard the report of a gun among the hills. "That's Walter, I think," said Scott; "he has finished his morning's studies, and is out with his gun. I should not be surprised if he had met with the blackcock; if so, we shall have an addition to our larder59, for Walter is a pretty sure shot." I inquired into the nature of Walter's studies. "Faith," said Scott, "I can't say much on that head. I am not over bent60 upon making prodigies61 of any of my children. As to Walter, I taught him, while a boy, to ride, and shoot, and speak the truth; as to the other parts of his education, I leave them to a very worthy62 young man, the son of one of our clergymen, who instructs all my children."
I afterward63 became acquainted with the young man in question, George Thomson, son of the minister of Melrose, and found him possessed64 of much learning, intelligence, and modest worth. He used to come every day from his father's residence at Melrose to superintend the studies of the young folks, and occasionally took his meals at Abbotsford, where he was highly esteemed65. Nature had cut him out, Scott used to say, for a stalwart soldier, for he was tall, vigorous, active, and fond of athletic66 exercises, but accident had marred67 her work, the loss of a limb in boyhood having reduced him to a wooden leg. He was brought up, therefore, for the Church, whence he was occasionally called the Dominie, and is supposed, by his mixture of learning, simplicity68, and amiable69 eccentricity70, to have furnished many traits for the character of Dominie Sampson. I believe he often acted as Scott's amanuensis, when composing his novels. With him the young people were occupied in general during the early part of the day, after which they took all kinds of healthful recreations in the open air; for Scott was as solicitous71 to strengthen their bodies as their minds.
We had not walked much further before we saw the two Miss Scotts advancing along the hillside to meet us. The morning studies being over, they had set off to take a ramble on the hills, and gather heather blossoms, with which to decorate their hair for dinner. As they came bounding lightly like young fawns72, and their dresses fluttering in the pure summer breeze, I was reminded of Scott's own description of his children in his introduction to one of the cantos of Marmion—
"My imps73, though hardy74, bold, and wild,
As best befits the mountain child,
Their summer gambols75 tell and mourn,
And anxious ask will spring return,
And birds and lambs again be gay,
And blossoms clothe the hawthorn76 spray?
"Yes, prattlers, yes, the daisy's flower
Again shall paint your summer bower77;
Again the hawthorn shall supply
The garlands you delight to tie;
The lambs upon the lea shall bound.
The wild birds carol to the round,
And while you frolic light as they,
Too short shall seem the summer day."
As they approached, the dogs all sprang forward and gambolled78 around them. They played with them for a time, and then joined us with countenances79 full of health and glee. Sophia, the eldest80, was the most lively and joyous81, having much of her father's varied82 spirit in conversation, and seeming to catch excitement from his words and looks. Ann was of quieter mood, rather silent, owing, in some measure, no doubt, to her being some years younger.
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1
rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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3
muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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7
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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13
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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15
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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16
illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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17
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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18
dulcet
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| adj.悦耳的 | |
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19
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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20
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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21
expatiate
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| v.细说，详述 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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23
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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24
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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25
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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27
influx
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| n.流入，注入 | |
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28
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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30
discoursing
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| 演说（discourse的现在分词形式） | |
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31
trudge
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| v.步履艰难地走；n.跋涉，费力艰难的步行 | |
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32
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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34
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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35
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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36
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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37
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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38
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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40
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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41
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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42
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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43
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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45
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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46
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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49
aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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50
antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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51
poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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52
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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53
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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54
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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55
boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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56
parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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57
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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60
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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62
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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66
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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72
fawns
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| n.（未满一岁的）幼鹿( fawn的名词复数 )；浅黄褐色；乞怜者；奉承者v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的第三人称单数 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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73
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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74
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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75
gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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76
hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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77
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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78
gambolled
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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80
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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