The death drum is muffled1, and sable2 the bier
— CAMPBELL
After a sleepless3 night, the first dawn of morning found Waverley on the esplanade in front of the old Gothic gate of Carlisle Castle. But he paced it long in every direction before the hour when, according to the rules of the garrison4, the gates were opened and the draw-bridge lowered. He produced his order to the sergeant5 of the guard and was admitted.
The place of Fergus’s confinement6 was a gloomy and vaulted7 apartment in the central part of the Castle; a huge old tower, supposed to be of great antiquity8, and surrounded by outworks, seemingly of Henry VIII’s time, or somewhat later. The grating of the large old-fashioned bars and bolts, withdrawn9 for the purpose of admitting Edward, was answered by the clash of chains, as the unfortunate Chieftain, strongly and heavily fettered11, shuffled12 along the stone floor of his prison to fling himself into his friend’s arms.
‘My dear Edward,’ he said, in a firm and even cheerful voice,‘this is truly kind. I heard of your approaching happiness with the highest pleasure. And how does Rose? and how is our old whimsical friend the Baron13? Well, I trust, since I see you at freedom. And how will you settle precedence between the three ermines passant and the bear and boot-jack?’
‘How, O how, my dear Fergus, can you talk of such things at such a moment!’
‘Why, we have entered Carlisle with happier auspices14, to be sure; on the 16th of November last, for example, when we marched in side by side, and hoisted15 the white flag on these ancient towers. But I am no boy, to sit down and weep because the luck has gone against me. I knew the stake which I risked; we played the game boldly and the forfeit16 shall be paid manfully. And now, since my time is short, let me come to the questions that interest me most — the Prince? has he escaped the bloodhounds?’
‘He has, and is in safety.’
‘Praised be God for that! Tell me the particulars of his escape.’
Waverley communicated that remarkable17 history, so far as it had then transpired18, to which Fergus listened with deep interest. He then asked after several other friends; and made many minute inquiries19 concerning the fate of his own clansmen. They had suffered less than other tribes who had been engaged in the affair; for, having in a great measure dispersed20 and returned home after the captivity21 of their Chieftain, according to the universal custom of the Highlanders, they were not in arms when the insurrection was finally suppressed, and consequently were treated with less rigour. This Fergus heard with great satisfaction.
‘You are rich,’ he said, ‘Waverley, and you are generous. When you hear of these poor Mac-Ivors being distressed23 about their miserable24 possessions by some harsh overseer or agent of government, remember you have worn their tartan and are an adopted son of their race, The Baron, who knows our manners and lives near our country, will apprise25 you of the time and means to be their protector. Will you promise this to the last Vich Ian Vohr?’
Edward, as may well be believed, pledged his word; which he afterwards so amply redeemed26 that his memory still lives in these glens by the name of the Friend of the Sons of Ivor.
‘Would to God,’ continued the Chieftain, ‘I could bequeath to you my rights to the love and obedience27 of this primitive28 and brave race; or at least, as I have striven to do, persuade poor Evan to accept of his life upon their terms, and be to you what he has been to me, the kindest, the bravest, the most devoted29 — ’
The tears which his own fate could not draw forth30 fell fast for that of his foster-brother.
‘But,’ said he, drying them,‘that cannot be. You cannot be to them Vich Ian Vohr; and these three magic words,’ said he, half smiling, ‘are the only Open Sesame to their feelings and sympathies, and poor Evan must attend his foster-brother in death, as he has done through his whole life.’
‘And I am sure,’ said Maccombich, raising himself from the floor, on which, for fear of interrupting their conversation, he had lain so still that, in the obscurity of the apartment, Edward was not aware of his presence — ‘I am sure Evan never desired or deserved a better end than just to die with his Chieftain.’
‘And now,’ said Fergus, ‘while we are upon the subject of clanship — what think you now of the prediction of the Bodach Glas?’ Then, before Edward could answer, ‘I saw him again last night: he stood in the slip of moonshine which fell from that high and narrow window towards my bed. “Why should I fear him?” I thought; “to-morrow, long ere this time, I shall be as immaterial as he.” “False spirit,” I said, “art thou come to close thy walks on earth and to enjoy thy triumph in the fall of the last descendant of thine enemy?” The spectre seemed to beckon31 and to smile as he faded from my sight. What do you think of it? I asked the same question of the priest, who is a good and sensible man; he admitted that the church allowed that such apparitions32 were possible, but urged me not to permit my mind to dwell upon it, as imagination plays us such strange tricks. What do you think of it?’
‘Much as your confessor,’ said Waverley, willing to avoid dispute upon such a point at such a moment. A tap at the door now announced that good man, and Edward retired33 while he administered to both prisoners the last rites34 of religion, in the mode which the Church of Rome prescribes.
In about an hour he was re-admitted; soon after, a file of soldiers entered with a blacksmith, who struck the fetters35 from the legs of the prisoners.
‘You see the compliment they pay to our Highland22 strength and courage; we have lain chained here like wild beasts, till our legs are cramped36 into palsy, and when they free us they send six soldiers with loaded muskets37 to prevent our taking the castle by storm!’
Edward afterwards learned that these severe precautions had been taken in consequence of a desperate attempt of the prisoners to escape, in which they had very nearly succeeded.
Shortly afterwards the drums of the garrison beat to arms. ‘This is the last turn-out,’ said Fergus, ‘that I shall hear and obey. And now, my dear, dear Edward, ere we part let us speak of Flora38 — a subject which awakes the tenderest feeling that yet thrills within me’
‘We part not here!’ said Waverley.
‘O yes, we do; you must come no farther. Not that I fear what is to follow for myself,’ he said proudly. ‘Nature has her tortures as well as art, and how happy should we think the man who escapes from the throes of a mortal and painful disorder39 in the space of a short half hour? And this matter, spin it out as they will, cannot last longer. But what a dying man can suffer firmly may kill a living friend to look upon. This same law of high treason,’ he continued, with astonishing firmness and composure, ‘is one of the blessings40, Edward, with which your free country has accommodated poor old Scotland; her own jurisprudence, as I have heard, was much milder. But I suppose one day or other — when there are no longer any wild Highlanders to benefit by its tender mercies — they will blot41 it from their records as levelling them with a nation of cannibals. The mummery, too, of exposing the senseless head — they have not the wit to grace mine with a paper coronet; there would be some satire42 in that, Edward. I hope they will set it on the Scotch43 gate though, that I may look, even after death, to the blue hills of my own country, which I love so dearly. The Baron would have added,
Moritur, et moriens dukes reminiscitur Argos.’
A bustle44, and the sound of wheels and horses’ feet, was now heard in the court-yard of the Castle. ‘As I have told you why you must not follow me, and these sounds admonish45 me that my time flies fast, tell me how you found poor Flora.’
Waverley, with a voice interrupted by suffocating46 sensations, gave some account of the state of her mind.
‘Poor Flora!’ answered the Chief, ‘she could have borne her own sentence of death, but not mine. You, Waverley, will soon know the happiness of mutual47 affection in the married state — long, long may Rose and you enjoy it! — but you can never know the purity of feeling which combines two orphans48 like Flora and me, left alone as it were in the world, and being all in all to each other from our very infancy49. But her strong sense of duty and predominant feeling of loyalty50 will give new nerve to her mind after the immediate51 and acute sensation of this parting has passed away. She will then think of Fergus as of the heroes of our race, upon whose deeds she loved to dwell.’
‘Shall she not see you then?’ asked Waverley. ‘She seemed to expect it.’
‘A necessary deceit will spare her the last dreadful parting. I could not part with her without tears, and I cannot bear that these men should think they have power to extort52 them. She was made to believe she would see me at a later hour, and this letter, which my confessor will deliver, will apprise her that all is over.’
An officer now appeared and intimated that the High Sheriff and his attendants waited before the gate of the Castle to claim the bodies of Fergus Mac-Ivor and Evan Maccombich. ‘I come,’ said Fergus. Accordingly, supporting Edward by the arm and followed by Evan Dhu and the priest, he moved down the stairs of the tower, the soldiers bringing up the rear. The court was occupied by a squadron of dragoons and a battalion53 of infantry54, drawn10 up in hollow square. Within their ranks was the sledge55 or hurdle56 on which the prisoners were to be drawn to the place of execution, about a mile distant from Carlisle. It was painted black, and drawn by a white horse. At one end of the vehicle sat the executioner, a horrid-looking fellow, as beseemed his trade, with the broad axe57 in his hand; at the other end, next the horse, was an empty seat for two persons. Through the deep and dark Gothic archway that opened on the drawbridge were seen on horseback the High Sheriff and his attendants, whom the etiquette58 betwixt the civil and military powers did not permit to come farther. ‘This is well GOT UP for a closing scene,’ said Fergus, smiling disdainfully as he gazed around upon the apparatus59 of terror. Evan Dhu exclaimed with some eagerness, after looking at the dragoons,’ These are the very chields that galloped60 off at Gladsmuir, before we could kill a dozen o’ them. They look bold enough now, however.’ The priest entreated61 him to be silent.
The sledge now approached, and Fergus, turning round, embraced Waverley, kissed him on each side of the face, and stepped nimbly into his place. Evan sat down by his side. The priest was to follow in a carriage belonging to his patron, the Catholic gentleman at whose house Flora resided. As Fergus waved his hand to Edward the ranks closed around the sledge, and the whole procession began to move forward. There was a momentary62 stop at the gateway63, while the governor of the Castle and the High Sheriff went through a short ceremony, the military officer there delivering over the persons of the criminals to the civil power. ‘God save King George!’ said the High Sheriff. When the formality concluded, Fergus stood erect64 in the sledge, and, with a firm and steady voice, replied,’ God save King JAMES!’ These were the last words which Waverley heard him speak.
The procession resumed its march, and the sledge vanished from beneath the portal, under which it had stopped for an instant. The dead march was then heard, and its melancholy65 sounds were mingled66 with those of a muffled peal67 tolled68 from the neighbouring cathedral. The sound of military music died away as the procession moved on; the sullen69 clang of the bells was soon heard to sound alone.
The last of the soldiers had now disappeared from under the vaulted archway through which they had been filing for several minutes; the court-yard was now totally empty, but Waverley still stood there as if stupefied, his eyes fixed70 upon the dark pass where he had so lately seen the last glimpse of his friend. At length a female servant of the governor’s, struck with compassion71, at the stupefied misery72 which his countenance73 expressed, asked him if he would not walk into her master’s house and sit down? She was obliged to repeat her question twice ere he comprehended her, but at length it recalled him to himself. Declining the courtesy by a hasty gesture, he pulled his hat over his eyes, and, leaving the Castle, walked as swiftly as he could through the empty streets till he regained74 his inn, then rushed into an apartment and bolted the door.
In about an hour and a half, which seemed an age of unutterable suspense75, the sound of the drums and fifes performing a lively air, and the confused murmur76 of the crowd which now filled the streets, so lately deserted77, apprised78 him that all was finished, and that the military and populace were returning from the dreadful scene. I will not attempt to describe his sensations.
In the evening the priest made him a visit, and informed him that he did so by directions of his deceased friend, to assure him that Fergus Mac-Ivor had died as he lived, and remembered his friendship to the last. He added, he had also seen Flora, whose state of mind seemed more composed since all was over. With her and sister Theresa the priest proposed next day to leave Carlisle for the nearest seaport79 from which they could embark80 for France. Waverley forced on this good man a ring of some value and a sum of money to be employed (as he thought might gratify Flora) in the services of the Catholic church for the memory of his friend. ‘Fun-garque inani munere,’ he repeated, as the ecclesiastic81 retired. ‘Yet why not class these acts of remembrance with other honours, with which affection in all sects82 pursues the memory of the dead?’
The next morning ere daylight he took leave of the town of Carlisle, promising83 to himself never again to enter its walls. He dared hardly look back towards the Gothic battlements of the fortified84 gate under which he passed, for the place is surrounded with an old wall. ‘They’re no there,’ said Alick Polwarth, who guessed the cause of the dubious85 look which Waverley cast backward, and who, with the vulgar appetite for the horrible, was master of each detail of the butchery — ‘the heads are ower the Scotch yate, as they ca’ it. It’s a great pity of Evan Dhu, who was a very weel-meaning, good-natured man, to be a Hielandman; and indeed so was the Laird o’ Glennaquoich too, for that matter, when he wasna in ane o’ his tirrivies.’
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1
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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2
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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7
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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9
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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apparitions
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| n.特异景象( apparition的名词复数 )；幽灵；鬼；（特异景象等的）出现 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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43
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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44
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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admonish
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| v.训戒；警告；劝告 | |
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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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48
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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50
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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51
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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52
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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53
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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hurdle
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| n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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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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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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67
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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tolled
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| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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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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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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74
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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75
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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76
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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77
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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78
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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80
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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81
ecclesiastic
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| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
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82
sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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83
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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84
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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85
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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