He then, for the first time since leaving Edinburgh, began to experience that pleasure which almost all feel who return to a verdant8, populous9, and highly cultivated country from scenes of waste desolation or of solitary10 and melancholy grandeur11. But how were those feelings enhanced when he entered on the domain12 so long possessed13 by his forefathers14; recognised the old oaks of Waverley- Chace; thought with what delight he should introduce Rose to all his favourite haunts; beheld15 at length the towers of the venerable hall arise above the woods which embowered it, and finally threw himself into the arms of the venerable relations to whom he owed so much duty and affection!
The happiness of their meeting was not tarnished17 by a single word of reproach. On the contrary, whatever pain Sir Everard and Mrs. Rachel had felt during Waverley’s perilous18 engagement with the young Chevalier, it assorted19 too well with the principles in which they had been brought up to incur20 reprobation21, or even censure22. Colonel Talbot also had smoothed the way with great address for Edward’s favourable23 reception by dwelling24 upon his gallant25 behaviour in the military character, particularly his bravery and generosity26 at Preston; until, warmed at the idea of their nephew’s engaging in single combat, making prisoner, and saving from slaughter27 so distinguished28 an officer as the Colonel himself, the imagination of the Baronet and his sister ranked the exploits of Edward with those of Wilibert, Hildebrand, and Nigel, the vaunted heroes of their line.
The appearance of Waverley, embrowned by exercise and dignified30 by the habits of military discipline, had acquired an athletic31 and hardy32 character, which not only verified the Colonel’s narration33, but surprised and delighted all the inhabitants of Waverley-Honour. They crowded to see, to hear him, and to sing his praises. Mr. Pembroke, who secretly extolled34 his spirit and courage in embracing the genuine cause of the Church of England, censured35 his pupil gently, nevertheless, for being so careless of his manuscripts, which indeed, he said, had occasioned him some personal inconvenience, as, upon the Baronet’s being arrested by a king’s messenger, he had deemed it prudent36 to retire to a concealment37 called ‘The Priest’s Hole,’ from the use it had been put to in former days; where, he assured our hero, the butler had thought it safe to venture with food only once in the day, so that he had been repeatedly compelled to dine upon victuals38 either absolutely cold or, what was worse, only half warm, not to mention that sometimes his bed had not been arranged for two days together. Waverley’s mind involuntarily turned to the Patmos of the Baron29 of Bradwardine, who was well pleased with Janet’s fare and a few bunches of straw stowed in a cleft39 in the front of a sand-cliff; but he made no remarks upon a contrast which could only mortify40 his worthy41 tutor.
All was now in a bustle42 to prepare for the nuptials43 of Edward, an event to which the good old Baronet and Mrs. Rachel looked forward as if to the renewal44 of their own youth. The match, as Colonel Talbot had intimated, had seemed to them in the highest degree eligible45, having every recommendation but wealth, of which they themselves had more than enough. Mr. Clippurse was therefore summoned to Waverley-Honour, under better auspices46 than at the commencement of our story. But Mr. Clippurse came not alone; for, being now stricken in years, he had associated with him a nephew, a younger vulture (as our English Juvenal, who tells the tale of Swallow the attorney, might have called him), and they now carried on business as Messrs. Clippurse and Hookem. These worthy gentlemen had directions to make the necessary settlements on the most splendid scale of liberality, as if Edward were to wed16 a peeress in her own right, with her paternal47 estate tacked48 to the fringe of her ermine.
But before entering upon a subject of proverbial delay, I must remind my reader of the progress of a stone rolled downhill by an idle truant49 boy (a pastime at which I was myself expert in my more juvenile50 years), it moves at first slowly, avoiding by inflection every obstacle of the least importance; but when it has attained51 its full impulse, and draws near the conclusion of its career, it smokes and thunders down, taking a rood at every spring, clearing hedge and ditch like a Yorkshire huntsman, and becoming most furiously rapid in its course when it is nearest to being consigned52 to rest for ever. Even such is the course of a narrative53 like that which you are perusing54. The earlier events are studiously dwelt upon, that you, kind reader, may be introduced to the character rather by narrative than by the duller medium of direct description; but when the story draws near its close, we hurry over the circumstances, however important, which your imagination must have forestalled55, and leave you to suppose those things which it would be abusing your patience to relate at length.
We are, therefore, so far from attempting to trace the dull progress of Messrs. Clippurse and Hookem, or that of their worthy official brethren who had the charge of suing out the pardons of Edward Waverley and his intended father-in-law, that we can but touch upon matters more attractive. The mutual56 epistles, for example, which were exchanged between Sir Everard and the Baron upon this occasion, though matchless specimens57 of eloquence58 in their way, must be consigned to merciless oblivion. Nor can I tell you at length how worthy Aunt Rachel, not without a delicate and affectionate allusion59 to the circumstances which had transferred Rose’s maternal60 diamonds to the hands of Donald Bean Lean, stocked her casket with a set of jewels that a duchess might have envied. Moreover, the reader will have the goodness to imagine that Job Houghton and his dame61 were suitably provided for, although they could never be persuaded that their son fell otherwise than fighting by the young squire’s side; so that Alick, who, as a lover of truth, had made many needless attempts to expound62 the real circumstances to them, was finally ordered to say not a word more upon the subject. He indemnified himself, however, by the liberal allowance of desperate battles, grisly executions, and raw-head and bloody-bone stories with which he astonished the servants’ hall.
But although these important matters may be briefly63 told in narrative, like a newspaper report of a Chancery suit, yet, with all the urgency which Waverley could use, the real time which the law proceedings64 occupied, joined to the delay occasioned by the mode of travelling at that period, rendered it considerably65 more than two months ere Waverley, having left England, alighted once more at the mansion66 of the Laird of Duchran to claim the hand of his plighted67 bride.
The day of his marriage was fixed68 for the sixth after his arrival. The Baron of Bradwardine, with whom bridals, christenings, and funerals were festivals of high and solemn import, felt a little hurt that, including the family of the Duchran and all the immediate69 vicinity who had title to be present on such an occasion, there could not be above thirty persons collected. ‘When he was married,’ he observed,‘three hundred horse of gentlemen born, besides servants, and some score or two of Highland70 lairds, who never got on horseback, were present on the occasion.’
But his pride found some consolation71 in reflecting that, he and his son-in-law having been so lately in arms against government, it might give matter of reasonable fear and offence to the ruling powers if they were to collect together the kith, kin5, and allies of their houses, arrayed in effeir of war, as was the ancient custom of Scotland on these occasions — ‘And, without dubitation,’ he concluded with a sigh, ‘many of those who would have rejoiced most freely upon these joyful72 espousals are either gone to a better place or are now exiles from their native land.’
The marriage took place on the appointed day. The Reverend Mr. Rubrick, kinsman73 to the proprietor74 of the hospitable75 mansion where it was solemnised, and chaplain to the Baron of Bradwardine, had the satisfaction to unite their hands; and Frank Stanley acted as bridesman, having joined Edward with that view soon after his arrival. Lady Emily and Colonel Talbot had proposed being present; but Lady Emily’s health, when the day approached, was found inadequate76 to the journey. In amends77 it was arranged that Edward Waverley and his lady, who, with the Baron, proposed an immediate journey to Waverley-Honour, should in their way spend a few days at an estate which Colonel Talbot had been tempted78 to purchase in Scotland as a very great bargain, and at which he proposed to reside for some time.
点击收听单词发音
1 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 prospects | |
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 verdant | |
adj.翠绿的,青翠的,生疏的,不老练的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 domain | |
n.(活动等)领域,范围;领地,势力范围 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 forefathers | |
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 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: |
|
|
16 wed | |
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 tarnished | |
(通常指金属)(使)失去光泽,(使)变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 ); 玷污,败坏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 assorted | |
adj.各种各样的,各色俱备的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 incur | |
vt.招致,蒙受,遭遇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 reprobation | |
n.斥责 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 censure | |
v./n.责备;非难;责难 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 baron | |
n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 athletic | |
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 hardy | |
adj.勇敢的,果断的,吃苦的;耐寒的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 narration | |
n.讲述,叙述;故事;记叙体 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 extolled | |
v.赞颂,赞扬,赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 censured | |
v.指责,非难,谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 victuals | |
n.食物;食品 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 cleft | |
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 mortify | |
v.克制,禁欲,使受辱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 bustle | |
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 nuptials | |
n.婚礼;婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 renewal | |
adj.(契约)延期,续订,更新,复活,重来 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 eligible | |
adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 auspices | |
n.资助,赞助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 paternal | |
adj.父亲的,像父亲的,父系的,父方的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 tacked | |
用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 ); 附加,增补; 帆船抢风行驶,用粗线脚缝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 truant | |
n.懒惰鬼,旷课者;adj.偷懒的,旷课的,游荡的;v.偷懒,旷课 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 juvenile | |
n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 attained | |
(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) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 consigned | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 perusing | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的现在分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 forestalled | |
v.先发制人,预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 specimens | |
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 allusion | |
n.暗示,间接提示 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 maternal | |
adj.母亲的,母亲般的,母系的,母方的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 dame | |
n.女士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 expound | |
v.详述;解释;阐述 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 plighted | |
vt.保证,约定(plight的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 highland | |
n.(pl.)高地,山地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 joyful | |
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 kinsman | |
n.男亲属 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 proprietor | |
n.所有人;业主;经营者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 hospitable | |
adj.好客的;宽容的;有利的,适宜的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 inadequate | |
adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 amends | |
n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 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: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |