James had no sooner resumed his seat at the council-board than he began to hitch2 in his chair, cough, use his handkerchief, and make other intimations that he meditated3 a long speech. The council composed themselves to the beseeming degree of attention. Charles, as strict in his notions of decorum, as his father was indifferent to it, fixed4 himself in an attitude of rigid5 and respectful attention, while the haughty6 favourite, conscious of his power over both father and son, stretched himself more easily on his seat, and, in assuming an appearance of listening, seemed to pay a debt to ceremonial rather than to duty.
“I doubt not, my lords,” said the Monarch7, “that some of you may be thinking the hour of refection is past, and that it is time to ask with the slave in the comedy—Quid de symbolo?—Nevertheless, to do justice and exercise judgment8 is our meat and drink; and now we are to pray your wisdom to consider the case of this unhappy youth, Lord Glenvarloch, and see whether, consistently with our honour, any thing can be done in his favour.”
“I am surprised at your Majesty9's wisdom making the inquiry,” said the Duke; “it is plain this Dalgarno hath proved one of the most insolent10 villains11 on earth, and it must therefore be clear, that if Lord Glenvarloch had run him through the body, there would but have been out of the world a knave12 who had lived in it too long. I think Lord Glenvarloch hath had much wrong; and I regret that, by the persuasions13 of this false fellow, I have myself had some hand in it.”
“Ye speak like a child, Steenie—I mean my Lord of Buckingham,” answered the king, “and as one that does not understand the logic14 of the schools; for an action may be inconsequential or even meritorious15, quoad hominem, that is, as touching16 him upon whom it is acted; and yet most criminal, quoad locum, or considering the place wherein it is done; as a man may lawfully18 dance Chrighty Beardie or any other dance in a tavern19, but not inter20 parietes ecclesiae. So that, though it may have been a good deed to have sticked Lord Dalgarno, being such as he has shown himself, anywhere else, yet it fell under the plain statute21, when violence was offered within the verge22 of the Court. For, let me tell you, my lords, the statute against striking would be of no small use in our Court, if it could be eluded23 by justifying24 the person stricken to be a knave. It is much to be lamented26 that I ken25 nae Court in Christendom where knaves27 are not to be found; and if men are to break the peace under pretence28 of beating them, why, it will rain Jeddart staves [Footnote: The old-fashioned weapon called the Jeddart staff was a species of battle-axe. Of a very great tempest, it is said, in the south of Scotland, that it rains Jeddart staffs, as in England the common people talk of its raining cats and dogs.] in our very ante-chamber29.”
“What your Majesty says,” replied Prince Charles, “is marked with your usual wisdom—the precincts of palaces must be sacred as well as the persons of kings, which are respected even in the most barbarous nations, as being one step only beneath their divinities. But your Majesty's will can control the severity of this and every other law, and it is in your power, on consideration of his case, to grant the rash young man a free pardon.”
“Rem acu tetigisti, Carole, mi puerule,” answered the king; “and know, my lords, that we have, by a shrewd device and gift of our own, already sounded the very depth of this Lord Glenvarloch's disposition30. I trow there be among you some that remember my handling in the curious case of my Lady Lake, and how I trimmed them about the story of hearkening behind the arras. Now this put me to cogitation31, and I remembered me of having read that Dionysius, King of Syracuse, whom historians call Tyrannos, which signifieth not in the Greek tongue, as in ours, a truculent32 usurper33, but a royal king who governs, it may be, something more strictly34 than we and other lawful17 monarchs35, whom the ancients termed Basileis—Now this Dionysius of Syracuse caused cunning workmen to build for himself a lugg—D'ye ken what that is, my Lord Bishop36?”
“A cathedral, I presume to guess,” answered the Bishop.
“What the deil, man—I crave37 your lordship's pardon for swearing—but it was no cathedral—only a lurking-place called the king's lugg, or ear, where he could sit undescried, and hear the converse38 of his prisoners. Now, sirs, in imitation of this Dionysius, whom I took for my pattern, the rather that he was a great linguist39 and grammarian, and taught a school with good applause after his abdication40, (either he or his successor of the same name, it matters not whilk)—I have caused them to make a lugg up at the state-prison of the Tower yonder, more like a pulpit than a cathedral, my Lord Bishop—and communicating with the arras behind the Lieutenant's chamber, where we may sit and privily41 hear the discourse42 of such prisoners as are pent up there for state-offences, and so creep into the very secrets of our enemies.”
The Prince cast a glance towards the Duke, expressive43 of great vexation and disgust. Buckingham shrugged44 his shoulders, but the motion was so slight as to be almost imperceptible.
“Weel, my lords, ye ken the fray45 at the hunting this morning—I shall not get out of the trembling exies until I have a sound night's sleep—just after that, they bring ye in a pretty page that had been found in the Park. We were warned against examining him ourselves by the anxious care of those around us; nevertheless, holding our life ever at the service of these kingdoms, we commanded all to avoid the room, the rather that we suspected this boy to be a girl. What think ye, my lords?—few of you would have thought I had a hawk's eye for sic gear; but we thank God, that though we are old, we know so much of such toys as may beseem a man of decent gravity. Weel, my lords, we questioned this maiden46 in male attire47 ourselves, and I profess48 it was a very pretty interrogatory, and well followed. For, though she at first professed49 that she assumed this disguise in order to countenance50 the woman who should present us with the Lady Hermione's petition, for whom she professed entire affection; yet when we, suspecting anguis in herba, did put her to the very question, she was compelled to own a virtuous51 attachment52 for Glenvarlochides, in such a pretty passion of shame and fear, that we had much ado to keep our own eyes from keeping company with hers in weeping. Also, she laid before us the false practices of this Dalgarno towards Glenvarlochides, inveigling53 him into houses of ill resort, and giving him evil counsel under pretext54 of sincere friendship, whereby the inexperienced lad was led to do what was prejudicial to himself, and offensive to us. But, however prettily55 she told her tale, we determined56 not altogether to trust to her narration57, but rather to try the experiment whilk we had devised for such occasions. And having ourselves speedily passed from Greenwich to the Tower, we constituted ourselves eavesdropper, as it is called, to observe what should pass between Glenvarlochides and his page, whom we caused to be admitted to his apartment, well judging that if they were of counsel together to deceive us, it could not be but something of it would spunk58 out—And what think ye we saw, my lords?—Naething for you to sniggle and laugh at, Steenie—for I question if you could have played the temperate59 and Christian-like part of this poor lad Glenvarloch. He might be a Father of the Church in comparison of you, man.—And then, to try his patience yet farther, we loosed on him a courtier and a citizen, that is Sir Mungo Malagrowther and our servant George Heriot here, wha dang the poor lad about, and didna greatly spare our royal selves.—You mind, Geordie, what you said about the wives and concubines? but I forgie ye, man—nae need of kneeling, I forgie ye—the readier, that it regards a certain particular, whilk, as it added not much to Solomon's credit, the lack of it cannot be said to impinge on ours. Aweel, my lords, for all temptation of sore distress60 and evil ensample, this poor lad never loosed his tongue on us to say one unbecoming word—which inclines us the rather, acting61 always by your wise advice, to treat this affair of the Park as a thing done in the heat of blood, and under strong provocation62, and therefore to confer our free pardon on Lord Glenvarloch.”
“I am happy your gracious Majesty,” said the Duke of Buckingham, “has arrived at that conclusion, though I could never have guessed at the road by which you attained63 it.”
“I trust,” said Prince Charles, “that it is not a path which your Majesty will think it consistent with your high dignity to tread frequently.”
“Never while I live again, Baby Charles, that I give you my royal word on. They say that hearkeners hear ill tales of themselves—by my saul, my very ears are tingling64 wi' that auld65 sorrow Sir Mungo's sarcasms66. He called us close-fisted, Steenie—I am sure you can contradict that. But it is mere67 envy in the auld mutilated sinner, because he himself has neither a noble to hold in his loof, nor fingers to close on it if he had.” Here the king lost recollection of Sir Mungo's irreverence68 in chuckling69 over his own wit, and only farther alluded70 to it by saying—“We must give the old maunderer bos in linguam—something to stop his mouth, or he will rail at us from Dan to Beersheba.—And now, my lords, let our warrant of mercy to Lord Glenvarloch be presently expedited, and he put to his freedom; and as his estate is likely to go so sleaveless a gate, we will consider what means of favour we can show him.—My lords, I wish you an appetite to an early supper—for our labours have approached that term.—Baby Charles and Steenie, you will remain till our couchee.—My Lord Bishop, you will be pleased to stay to bless our meat.—Geordie Heriot, a word with you apart.”
His Majesty then drew the citizen into a corner, while the counsellors, those excepted who had been commanded to remain, made their obeisance71, and withdrew. “Geordie,” said the king, “my good and trusty servant”—Here he busied his fingers much with the points and ribbons of his dress,—“Ye see that we have granted, from our own natural sense of right and justice, that which yon long-backed fallow, Moniplies I think they ca' him, proffered73 to purchase from us with a mighty74 bribe75; whilk we refused, as being a crowned king, who wad neither sell our justice nor our mercy for pecuniar consideration. Now, what think ye should be the upshot of this?”
“My Lord Glenvarloch's freedom, and his restoration to your Majesty's favour,” said Heriot.
“I ken that,” said the king, peevishly76. “Ye are very dull to-day. I mean, what do you think this fallow Moniplies should think about the matter?”
“Surely that your Majesty is a most good and gracious sovereign,” answered Heriot.
“We had need to be gude and gracious baith,” said the king, still more pettishly77, “that have idiots about us that cannot understand what we mint at, unless we speak it out in braid Lowlands. See this chield Moniplies, sir, and tell him what we have done for Lord Glenvarloch, in whom he takes such part, out of our own gracious motion, though we refused to do it on ony proffer72 of private advantage. Now, you may put it till him, as if of your own mind, whether it will be a gracious or a dutiful part in him, to press us for present payment of the two or three hundred miserable78 pounds for whilk we were obliged to opignorate our jewels? Indeed, mony men may think ye wad do the part of a good citizen, if you took it on yourself to refuse him payment, seeing he hath had what he professed to esteem79 full satisfaction, and considering, moreover, that it is evident he hath no pressing need of the money, whereof we have much necessity.”
George Heriot sighed internally. “O my Master,” thought he—“my dear Master, is it then fated you are never to indulge any kingly or noble sentiment, without its being sullied by some afterthought of interested selfishness!”
The king troubled himself not about what he thought, but taking him by the collar, said,—“Ye ken my meaning now, Jingler—awa wi' ye. You are a wise man—manage it your ain gate—but forget not our present straits.” The citizen made his obeisance, and withdrew.
“And now, bairns,” said the king, “what do you look upon each other for—and what have you got to ask of your dear dad and gossip?”
“Only,” said the Prince, “that it would please your Majesty to command the lurking-place at the prison to be presently built up—the groans80 of a captive should not be brought in evidence against him.”
“What! build up my lugg, Baby Charles? And yet, better deaf than hear ill tales of oneself. So let them build it up, hard and fast, without delay, the rather that my back is sair with sitting in it for a whole hour.—And now let us see what the cooks have been doing for us, bonny bairns.”
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收听单词发音
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1
eavesdropper
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| 偷听者 | |
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hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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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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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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persuasions
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| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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justifying
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| 证明…有理( justify的现在分词 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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cogitation
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| n.仔细思考，计划，设计 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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linguist
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| n.语言学家；精通数种外国语言者 | |
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abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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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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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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53
inveigling
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的现在分词 ) | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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spunk
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| n.勇气，胆量 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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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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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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sarcasms
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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irreverence
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| n.不尊敬 | |
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chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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pettishly
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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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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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