“Bear these stoutly7 my gallant8 countrymen,” cried he, “and remember, that although the dragon12 of England has burned up your harvests, and laid our homes in ashes, there is yet a lion in Scotland to wither9 his power, and glut10 you with his spoil!”
12 The standard of Edward I, was a golden dragon-a very ancient British standard, but derived11 from pagan times.-(1809.)
The interest of the scene, and the clatter12 of the arms he was dispensing13, prevented anybody present hearing any sound of what was taking place beyond the room. But the earl had hardly uttered these words, when the double-doors of the apartment were abruptly15 opened, and all eyes were blasted by the sudden sight of Lord Soulis,13 and a man in splendid English armor, with a train of Southron soldiers, following the recreant16 Scot.
13 William Lord Soulis was a powerful chief in the south of Scotland. He founded pretensions17 to the Scottish crown, on his descent from an illegitimate daughter of Alexander II. Soulis was a traitor18 to his country, and so notoriously wicked, that tradition endows him with the power of infernal necromancy19. His castle of Hermitage, in Teviotdale, is still shown as the resort of malignant20 demons21.-(1809.)
The earl started from his couch. “Lord Soulis! what is the occasion of this unapprised visit?”
“The ensign of the liege lord of Scotland is my warrant!” replied he; “you are my prisoner; and in the name of King Edward of England, I take possession of this castle.”
“Never!” cried the earl, “while there is a man’s arm within it.”
“Man and woman,” returned Lord Soulis, “must surrender to Edward. Three thousand English have seized three hundred of our insurgents22 on Bothwell Moor. The castle is surrounded, and resistance impossible. Throw down your arms!” cried he, turning to the clansmen, who thronged23 round their chief; “or be hanged for rebellion against your lawful24 sovereign!”
“Our lawful sovereign!” returned a young man who stood near him, “must be the enemy of Edward; and to none else will we yield our arms!”
“Traitor!” cried the English commander, while with a sudden and dreadful stroke of his battle-ax he laid the body of the generous Scot a headless corpse25 at his feet. A direful cry proceeded from his enraged26 comrades. Every sword was drawn27; and before the bewildered and soul-struck earl could utter a word, the Furies blew their most horrible blast through the chamber28; and the half-frantic Mar beheld29 his brave Scots at one moment victorious30, and in the next the floor strewed31 with their dead bodies. A new succession of blood-hounds had rushed in at every door; and before the exterminating32 sword was allowed to rest, the whole of his faithful troops lay around him, wounded and dying. Several had fallen across his body, having warded1 with their lives the strokes they believed leveled at his. In vain his voice had called upon his men to surrender-in vain he had implored33 the iron-hearted Soulis, and his coadjutor Aymer de Valence, to stop the havoc34 of death.
All now lay in blood; and the heat of the room, thronged by the victors, became so intolerable that De Valence, for his own sake, ordered the earl to be removed into another apartment.
Meanwhile, unconscious of these events, Helen had lain down on her bed, to seek a few minutes’ repose35; and having watched the whole of the preceding night, was sunk into a profound sleep.
Murray, who was present at the abrupt14 entrance of the enemy, no sooner heard them declare that the castle was surrounded by a comparatively large army, than he foresaw all would be lost. On the instant, and before the dreadful signal of carnage was given in the fall of the young Scot, he slid behind the canopy36 of his uncle’s couch; and lifting the arras by a back door which led to some private rooms, hastily made way to the chamber of his cousin. As he hurried along, he heard a fearful shout. He paused for a moment, but thinking it best, whatever might have happened, to secure the safety of Helen, he flew onward, and entered her room. She lay upon the bed in a deep sleep. “Awake, Helen!” he cried; “for your life, awake!”
She opened her eyes; but, without allowing her time to speak, he hastily added; “The castle is full of armed men, led hither by the English commander, Aymer de Valence, and the execrable Soulis. Unless you fly through the vaulted38 passage, you will be their prisoner.”
Helen gazed at him in terror. “Where is my father? Leave him I cannot.”
“Fly, in pity to your father! Oh, do not hesitate! What will be his anguish39, should you fall into the hands of the furious man whose love you have rejected; when it will no longer be in the power of a parent to preserve your person from the outrages40 of his eager and avengeful passion! If you had seen Soulis’ threatening eyes —” He was interrupted by a clamor in the opposite gallery, and the shrieks41 of women. Helen grasped his arm. “Alas, my poor damsels! I will go with you, whither you will, to be far from him.”
As Murray threw his arm about her waist, to impel43 her failing steps, his eyes fell on the banner and the suit of armor.
“All else must be left,” exclaimed he, seizing the banner; and hurrying Helen forward, he hastened with her down the stairs which led from the western watch-tower to the vaults44 beneath the castle. On entering the first cellar, to which a dim light was admitted through a small grating near the top, he looked round for the archway that contained the avenue of their release. Having descried45 it, and raised one of the large flags which paved the floor, he assisted his affrighted cousin down a short flight of steps, into the secret passage. “This,” whispered he, “will carry us in a direct line to the cell of the prior of St. Fillan.”
“But what will become of my father, and Lady Mar? This flight, while they are in danger! oh! I fear to complete it!”
“Rather fear the libertine46 Soulis,” returned Murray, “he can only make them prisoners; and even that injury shall be of short duration. I will soon join the brave Wallace; and then, my sweet cousin, liberty, and a happy meeting!”
“Alas! his venerable harper,” cried she, suddenly remembering Halbert; “should he be discovered to have belonged to Wallace, he, too, will be massacred by these merciless men.”
Murray stopped. “Have you courage to remain in this darkness alone? If so, I will seek him, and he shall accompany us.”
Helen had courage for anything but the dangers Murray might encounter by returning into the castle; but the generous youth had entered too fully47 into her apprehensions48 concerning the old man to be withheld49. “Should I be delayed in coming back,” said he, recollecting50 the possibility of himself being attacked and slain51, “go forward to the end of this passage; it will lead you to a flight of stairs; ascend52 them; and by drawing the bolt of a door, you will find yourself at once in the prior’s cell.”
“Talk not of delay,” replied Helen; “return quickly, and I will await you at the entrance of the passage.” So saying, she swiftly retraced53 with him her steps to the bottom of the stone stairs by which they had descended54. He raised the flag, sprung out of the aperture55, and closing it down, left her in solitude56 and darkness.
Murray passed through the first cellar, and was proceeding57 to the second (among the catacombs of which lay the concealed58 entrance to the private stairs), when he saw the great gates of the cellar open, and a large party of English soldiers enter. They were conducted by the butler of the castle, who seemed to perform his office unwillingly59, while they crowded in, thirsty and riotous60.
Aware how unequal his single arm would be to contend with such numbers, Murray, at the first glance of these plunderers, retreated behind a heap of casks in a remote corner. While the trembling butler was loading a dozen of the men with flasks61 for the refreshment62 of their masters above, the rest were helping63 themselves from the adjacent catacombs. Some left the cellars with their booty, and others remained to drink it on the spot. Glad to escape the insults of the soldiers who lay wallowing in the wine, Bothwell’s old servant quitted the cellar with the last company which bore flagons to their comrades above.
Murray listened anxiously, in hopes of hearing from his garrulous64 neighbors some intimation of the fate of his uncle and aunt. He hearkened in vain, for nothing was uttered by these intoxicated65 banditti, but loud boastings of the number each had slain in the earl’s apartment; execrations against the Scots for their obstinate66 resistance; and a thousand sanguinary wishes, that the nation had but one neck, to strike off at a blow.
How often, during this conversation, was Murray tempted67 to rush out amongst them, and seize a desperate revenge! But the thought of his poor cousin, now awaiting his return, and perhaps already suffering dreadful alarms from such extraordinary uproar68, restrained him; and unable to move from his hiding-place without precipitating69 himself into instant death, he remained nearly an hour in the most painful anxiety, watching the dropping to sleep of this horrid70 crew, one by one.
When all seemed hushed-not a voice, even in a whisper, startling his ear-he ventured forth71 with a stealing step toward the slumbering72 group. Like his brave ancestor, Gaul, the son of Morni, “he disdained73 to stab a sleeping foe74!” He must pass them to reach the private stairs. He paused and listened. Silence still reigned75; not even a hand moved, so deeply were they sunk in the fumes76 of wine. He took courage, and flew with the lightness of air to the secret door. As he laid his hand on it, it opened from without, and two persons appeared. By the few rays which gleamed from the expiring torches of the sleepers77, he could see that the first wore English armor. Murray made a spring, and caught the man by the throat; when some one seizing his arm, exclaimed, “Stop, my Lord Murray! it is the faithful Grimsby.” Murray let go his hold, glad to find that both his English friend and the venerable object of his solicitude78 were thus providentially brought to meet him; but fearing that the violence of his action, and Halbert’s exclamation79, might have alarmed the sleeping soldiers (who, drunk as they were, were too numerous to be resisted), he laid his finger on the tip of Grimsby, and motioned to the astonished pair to follow him.
As they advanced, they perceived one of the soldiers move as if disturbed. Murray held his sword over the sleeping wretch80, ready to plunge81 it into his heart should he attempt to rise; but he became still again; and the fugitive82 having approached the flag, Murray drew it up, and eager to haven83 his double charge, he thrust them together down the stairs. At that moment, a shriek42 from Helen (who had discovered, by a gleam of light which burst into the vault37, a man descending84 in English armor), echoed through the cellars. Two of the soldiers jumped upon their feet, and rushed upon Murray. He had let the flag drop behind him; but still remaining by it, in case of an opportunity to escape, he received the strokes of their weapons upon his target, and returned them with equal rapidity. One assailant lay gasping85 at his feet. But the clashing of arms, and the cries of the survivor86 had already awakened87 the whole crew. With horrid menaces, they threw themselves toward the young Scot, and would certainly have cut him to pieces, had he not snatched the only remaining torch out of the hand of the staggering soldier, and extinguished it under his foot. Bewildered where to find their prey88, with threats and imprecations, they groped in darkness, slashing89 the air with their swords, and not unfrequently wounding each other in the vain search.
Murray was now far from their pursuit. He had no sooner put out the light, than he pulled up the flag, and leaping down, drew it after him, and found himself in safety. Desperate as was the contest, it had been short; for he yet heard the footsteps of the panic-struck Helen, flying along the passage. The Englishman and Halbert, on the first falling of the flag, not knowing its spring, had unsuccessfully tried to re-raise it, that they might assist Murray in the tumult90 above. On his appearing again so unexpectedly, they declared their joy; but the young lord, impatient to calm the apprehensions of his cousin, returned no other answer than “Follow me!” while he darted91 forward. Terror had given her wings, and even prevented her hearing the low sounds of Murray’s voice, which he durst not raise to a higher pitch, for fear of being overheard by the enemy. Thus, while she lost all presence of mind, he did not come up with her till she fell breathless against he stairs at the extremity92 of the vault.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
warded
|
|
| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
levy
|
|
| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
mar
|
|
| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
moor
|
|
| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
stoutly
|
|
| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
wither
|
|
| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
glut
|
|
| n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
derived
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
dispensing
|
|
| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
abrupt
|
|
| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
recreant
|
|
| n.懦夫；adj.胆怯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pretensions
|
|
| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
necromancy
|
|
| n.巫术；通灵术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
malignant
|
|
| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
demons
|
|
| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
insurgents
|
|
| n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lawful
|
|
| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
beheld
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
strewed
|
|
| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
exterminating
|
|
| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
implored
|
|
| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
havoc
|
|
| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
canopy
|
|
| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
vaulted
|
|
| adj.拱状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
impel
|
|
| v.推动；激励，迫使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
vaults
|
|
| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
descried
|
|
| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
libertine
|
|
| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
apprehensions
|
|
| 疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
recollecting
|
|
| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ascend
|
|
| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
aperture
|
|
| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
unwillingly
|
|
| adv.不情愿地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
riotous
|
|
| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
flasks
|
|
| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
refreshment
|
|
| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
garrulous
|
|
| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
precipitating
|
|
| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
slumbering
|
|
| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
disdained
|
|
| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
fumes
|
|
| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
sleepers
|
|
| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
fugitive
|
|
| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
haven
|
|
| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
survivor
|
|
| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
slashing
|
|
| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
tumult
|
|
| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |