The warrior2 first feels pain —’tis when the heat
And fiery3 fever of his soul is pass’d,
The sinner feels remorse4.
Old play.
The feelings of compunction with which Halbert Glendinning was visited upon this painful occasion, were deeper than belonged to an age and country in which human life was held so cheap. They fell far short certainly of those which might have afflicted5 a mind regulated by better religious precepts6, and more strictly7 trained under social laws; but still they were deep and severely8 felt, and divided in Halbert’s heart even the regret with which he parted from Mary Avenel and the tower of his fathers.
The old traveller walked silently by his side for some time, and then addressed him. —“My son, it has been said that sorrow must speak or die — Why art thou so much cast down? — Tell me thy unhappy tale, and it may be that my gray head may devise counsel and aid for your young life.”
“Alas!” said Halbert Glendinning, “can you wonder why I am cast down? — I am at this instant a fugitive9 from my father’s house, from my mother, and from my friends, and I bear on my head the blood of a man who injured me but in idle words, which I have thus bloodily10 requited11. My heart now tells me I have done evil — it were harder than these rocks if it could bear unmoved the thought, that I have sent this man to a long account, unhousled and unshrieved.”
“Pause there, my son,” said the traveller. “That thou hast defaced God’s image in thy neighbour’s person — that thou hast sent dust to dust in idle wrath12 or idler pride, is indeed a sin of the deepest dye — that thou hast cut short the space which Heaven might have allowed him for repentance13, makes it yet more deadly — but for all this there is balm in Gilead.”
“I understand you not, father,” said Halbert, struck by the solemn tone which was assumed by his companion.
The old man proceeded. “Thou hast slain14 thine enemy — it was a cruel deed: thou hast cut him off perchance in his sins — it is a fearful aggravation15. Do yet by my counsel, and in lieu of him whom thou hast perchance consigned16 to the kingdom of Satan, let thine efforts wrest17 another subject from the reign18 of the Evil One.”
“I understand you, father,” said Halbert; “thou wouldst have me atone19 for my rashness by doing service to the soul of my adversary20 — But how may this be? I have no money to purchase masses, and gladly would I go barefoot to the Holy Land to free his spirit from purgatory21, only that —”
“My son,” said the old man, interrupting him, “the sinner for whose redemption I entreat22 you to labour, is not the dead but the living. It is not for the soul of thine enemy I would exhort23 thee to pray — that has already had its final doom24 from a Judge as merciful as he is just; nor, wert thou to coin that rock into ducats, and obtain a mass for each one, would it avail the departed spirit. Where the tree hath fallen, it must lie. But the sapling, which hath in it yet the vigour25 and juice of life, may be bended to the point to which it ought to incline.”
“Art thou a priest, father?” said the young man, “or by what commission dost thou talk of such high matters?”
“By that of my Almighty26 Master,” said the traveller, “under whose banner I am an enlisted27 soldier.”
Halbert’s acquaintance with religious matters was no deeper than could be derived28 from the Archbishop of Saint Andrew’s Catechism, and the pamphlet called the Twapennie Faith, both which were industriously29 circulated and recommended by the monks30 of Saint Mary’s. Yet, however indifferent and superficial a theologian, he began to suspect that he was now in company with one of the gospellers, or heretics, before whose influence the ancient system of religion now tottered31 to the very foundation. Bred up, as may well be presumed, in a holy horror against these formidable sectaries, the youth’s first feelings were those of a loyal and devoted32 church vassal33. “Old man,” he said, “wert thou able to make good with thy hand the words that thy tongue hath spoken against our Holy Mother Church, we should have tried upon this moor35 which of our creeds36 hath the better champion.”
“Nay,” said the stranger, “if thou art a true soldier of Rome, thou wilt37 not pause from thy purpose because thou hast the odds38 of years and of strength on thy side. Hearken to me, my son. I have showed thee how to make thy peace with Heaven, and thou hast rejected my proffer39. I will now show thee how thou shalt make thy reconciliation40 with the powers of this world. Take this gray head from the frail41 body which supports it, and carry it to the chair of proud Abbot Boniface; and when thou tellest him thou hast slain Piercie Shafton, and his ire rises at the deed, lay the head of Henry Warden42 at his foot, and thou shalt have praise instead of censure43.”
Halbert Glendinning stepped back in surprise. “What! are you that Henry Warden so famous among the heretics, that even Knox’s name is scarce more frequently in their mouths? Art thou he, and darest thou to approach the Halidome of Saint Mary’s?”
“I am Henry Warden, of a surety,” said the old man, “far unworthy to be named in the same breath with Knox, but yet willing to venture on whatever dangers my master’s service may call me to.”
“Hearken to me, then,” said Halbert; “to slay45 thee, I have no heart — to make thee prisoner, were equally to bring thy blood on my head — to leave thee in this wild without a guide, were little better. I will conduct thee, as I promised, in safety to the Castle of Avenel; but breathe not, while we are on the journey, a word against the doctrines46 of the holy church of which I am an unworthy — but though an ignorant, a zealous48 member. — When thou art there arrived, beware of thyself — there is a high price upon thy head, and Julian Avenel loves the glance of gold bonnet-pieces.” 52
“Yet thou sayest not,” answered the Protestant preacher, for such he was, “that for lucre50 he would sell the blood of his guest?”
“Not if thou comest an invited stranger, relying on his faith,” said the youth; “evil as Julian may be, he dare not break the rites51 of hospitality; for, loose as we on these marches may be in all other ties, these are respected amongst us even to idolatry, and his nearest relations would think it incumbent52 on them to spill his blood themselves, to efface53 the disgrace such treason would bring upon their name and lineage. But if thou goest self-invited, and without assurance of safety, I promise thee thy risk is great.”
“I am in God’s hand,” answered the preacher; “it is on His errand that I traverse these wilds amidst dangers of every kind; while I am useful for my master’s service, they shall not prevail against me, and when, like the barren fig-tree, I can no longer produce fruit, what imports it when or by whom the axe54 is laid to the root?”
“Your courage and devotion,” said Glendinning, “are worthy44 of a better cause.”
“That,” said Warden, “cannot be — mine is the very best.”
They continued their journey in silence, Halbert Glendinning tracing with the utmost accuracy the mazes55 of the dangerous and intricate morasses56 and hills which divided the Halidome from the barony of Avenel. From time to time he was obliged to stop, in order to assist his companion to cross the black intervals58 of quaking bog59, called in the Scottish dialect hags, by which the firmer parts of the morass57 were intersected.
“Courage, old man,” said Halbert, as he saw his companion almost exhausted60 with fatigue61, “we shall soon be upon hard ground. And yet soft as this moss62 is, I have seen the merry falconers go through it as light as deer when the quarry63 was upon the flight.”
“True, my son,” answered Warden, “for so I will still call you, though you term me no longer father; and even so doth headlong youth pursue its pleasures, without regard to the mire64 and the peril65 of the paths through which they are hurried.”
“I have already told thee,” answered Halbert Glendinning, sternly, “that I will hear nothing from thee that savours of doctrine47.”
“Nay, but, my son,” answered Warden, “thy spiritual father himself would surely not dispute the truth of what I have now spoken for your edification!”
Glendinning stoutly66 replied, “I know not how that may be — but I wot well it is the fashion of your brotherhood67 to bait your hook with fair discourse68, and to hold yourselves up as angels of light, that you may the better extend the kingdom of darkness.”
“May God,” replied the preacher, “pardon those who have thus reported of his servants! I will not offend thee, my son, by being instant out of season — thou speakest but as thou art taught — yet sure I trust that so goodly a youth will be still rescued, like a brand from the burning.”
While he thus spoke34, the verge69 of the morass was attained70, and their path lay on the declivity72. Green-sward it was, and, viewed from a distance, chequered with its narrow and verdant73 line the dark-brown heath which it traversed, though the distinction was not so easily traced when they were walking on it. 53 The old man pursued his journey with comparative ease; and, unwilling74 again to awaken75 the jealous zeal49 of his young companion for the Roman faith, he discoursed76 on other matters. The tone of his conversation was still grave, moral, and instructive. He had travelled much, and knew both the language and manners of other countries, concerning which Halbert Glendinning, already anticipating the possibility of being obliged to leave Scotland for the deed he had done, was naturally and anxiously desirous of information. By degrees he was more attracted by the charms of the stranger’s conversation than repelled77 by the dread78 of his dangerous character as a heretic, and Halbert had called him father more than once, ere the turrets79 of Avenel Castle came in view.
The situation of this ancient fortress80 was remarkable81. It occupied a small rocky islet in a mountain lake, or tarn82, as such a piece of water is called in Westmoreland. The lake might be about a mile in circumference83, surrounded by hills of considerable height, which, except where old trees and brushwood occupied the ravines that divided them from each other, were bare and heathy. The surprise of the spectator was chiefly excited by finding a piece of water situated84 in that high and mountainous region, and the landscape around had features which might rather be termed wild, than either romantic or sublime85; yet the scene was not without its charms. Under the burning sun of summer, the clear azure86 of the deep unruffled lake refreshed the eye, and impressed the mind with a pleasing feeling of deep solitude87. In winter, when the snow lay on the mountains around, these dazzling masses appeared to ascend88 far beyond their wonted and natural height, while the lake, which stretched beneath, and filled their bosom89 with all its frozen waves, lay like the surface of a darkened and broken mirror around the black and rocky islet, and the walls of the gray castle with which it was crowned.
As the castle occupied, either with its principal buildings, or with its flanking and outward walls, every projecting point of rock, which served as its site, it seemed as completely surrounded by water as the nest of a wild swan, save where a narrow causeway extended betwixt the islet and the shore. But the fortress was larger in appearance than in reality; and of the buildings which it actually contained, many had become ruinous and uninhabitable. In the times of the grandeur90 of the Avenel family, these had been occupied by a considerable garrison91 of followers92 and retainers, but they were now in a great measure deserted93; and Julian Avenel would probably have fixed94 his habitation in a residence better suited to his diminished fortunes, had it not been for the great security which the situation of the old castle afforded to a man of his precarious95 and perilous96 mode of life. Indeed, in this respect, the spot could scarce have been more happily chosen, for it could be rendered almost completely inaccessible97 at the pleasure of the inhabitant. The distance betwixt the nearest shore and the islet was not indeed above an hundred yards; but then the causeway which connected them was extremely narrow, and completely divided by two cuts, one in the mid-way between the islet and shore, and another close under the outward gate of the castle. These formed a formidable, and almost insurmountable interruption to any hostile approach. Each was defended by a drawbridge, one of which, being that nearest to the castle, was regularly raised at all times during the day, and both were lifted at night. 54
The situation of Julian Avenel, engaged in a variety of feuds98, and a party to almost every dark and mysterious transaction which was on foot in that wild and military frontier, required all these precautions for his security. His own ambiguous and doubtful course of policy had increased these dangers; for as he made professions to both parties in the state, and occasionally united more actively99 with either the one or the other, as chanced best to serve his immediate100 purpose, he could not be said to have either firm allies and protectors, or determined101 enemies. His life was a life of expedients102 and of peril; and while, in pursuit of his interest, he made all the doubles which he thought necessary to attain71 his object, he often overran his prey103, and missed that which he might have gained by observing a straighter course.
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1
stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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2
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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4
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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5
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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7
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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8
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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9
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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10
bloodily
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| adv.出血地；血淋淋地；残忍地；野蛮地 | |
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requited
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| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
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12
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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13
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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14
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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15
aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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16
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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17
wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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18
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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19
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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21
purgatory
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| n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的 | |
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22
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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23
exhort
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| v.规劝，告诫 | |
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24
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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25
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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26
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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27
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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28
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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29
industriously
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30
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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31
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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32
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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33
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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34
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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35
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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36
creeds
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| （尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 ) | |
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37
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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38
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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39
proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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40
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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41
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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42
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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43
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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44
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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45
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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46
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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47
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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48
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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49
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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50
lucre
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| n.金钱，财富 | |
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51
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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52
incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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53
efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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54
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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55
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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56
morasses
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| n.缠作一团( morass的名词复数 )；困境；沼泽；陷阱 | |
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57
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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58
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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59
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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60
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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61
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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62
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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63
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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64
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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65
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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66
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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67
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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68
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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69
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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70
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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71
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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72
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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73
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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74
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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75
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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76
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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77
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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80
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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81
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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82
tarn
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| n.山中的小湖或小潭 | |
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83
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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84
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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85
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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86
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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87
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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88
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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89
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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90
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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91
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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92
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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95
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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97
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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98
feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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100
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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101
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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102
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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103
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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