Hail, land of bowmen! seed of those who scorn’d
To stoop the neck to wide imperial Rome —
Oh, dearest half of Albion sea walled!
Albania (1737).
“I have been devising a mode,” said the well meaning provost, “by which I may make you both secure for a week or two from the malice1 of your enemies, when I have little doubt I may see a changed world at court. But that I may the better judge what is to be done, tell me frankly2, Simon, the nature of your connexion with Gilchrist MacIan, which leads you to repose3 such implicit4 confidence in him. You are a close observer of the rules of the city, and are aware of the severe penalties which they denounce against such burghers as have covine and alliance with the Highland5 clans6.”
“True, my lord; but it is also known to you that our craft, working in skins of cattle, stags, and every other description of hides, have a privilege, and are allowed to transact8 with those Highlanders, as with the men who can most readily supply us with the means of conducting our trade, to the great profit of the burgh. Thus it hath chanced with me to have great dealings with these men; and I can take it on my salvation9, that you nowhere find more just and honourable10 traffickers, or by whom a man may more easily make an honest penny. I have made in my day several distant journeys into the far Highlands, upon the faith of their chiefs; nor did I ever meet with a people more true to their word, when you can once prevail upon them to plight11 it in your behalf. And as for the Highland chief, Gilchrist MacIan, saving that he is hasty in homicide and fire raising towards those with whom he hath deadly feud12, I have nowhere seen a man who walketh a more just and upright path.”
“It is more than ever I heard before,” said Sir Patrick Charteris. “Yet I have known something of the Highland runagates too.”
“They show another favour, and a very different one, to their friends than to their enemies, as your lordship shall understand,” said the glover. “However, be that as it may, it chanced me to serve Gilchrist MacIan in a high matter. It is now about eighteen years since, that it chanced, the Clan7 Quhele and Clan Chattan being at feud, as indeed they are seldom at peace, the former sustained such a defeat as well nigh extirpated13 the family of their chief MacIan. Seven of his sons were slain14 in battle and after it, himself put to flight, and his castle taken and given to the flames. His wife, then near the time of giving birth to an infant, fled into the forest, attended by one faithful servant and his daughter. Here, in sorrow and care enough, she gave birth to a boy; and as the misery15 of the mother’s condition rendered her little able to suckle the infant, he was nursed with the milk of a doe, which the forester who attended her contrived16 to take alive in a snare17. It was not many months afterwards that, in a second encounter of these fierce clans, MacIan defeated his enemies in his turn, and regained18 possession of the district which he had lost. It was with unexpected rapture19 that he found his wife and child were in existence, having never expected to see more of them than the bleached20 bones, from which the wolves and wildcats had eaten the flesh.
“But a strong and prevailing21 prejudice, such as is often entertained by these wild people, prevented their chief from enjoying the full happiness arising from having thus regained his only son in safety. An ancient prophecy was current among them, that the power of the tribe should fall by means of a boy born under a bush of holly22 and suckled by a white doe. The circumstance, unfortunately for the chief, tallied23 exactly with the birth of the only child which remained to him, and it was demanded of him by the elders of the clan, that the boy should be either put to death or at least removed from the dominions24 of the tribe and brought up in obscurity. Gilchrist MacIan was obliged to consent and having made choice of the latter proposal, the child, under the name of Conachar, was brought up in my family, with the purpose, as was at first intended, of concealing25 from him all knowledge who or what he was, or of his pretensions26 to authority over a numerous and warlike people. But, as years rolled on, the elders of the tribe, who had exerted so much authority, were removed by death, or rendered incapable27 of interfering28 in the public affairs by age; while, on the other hand, the influence of Gilchrist MacIan was increased by his successful struggles against the Clan Chattan, in which he restored the equality betwixt the two contending confederacies, which had existed before the calamitous29 defeat of which I told your honour. Feeling himself thus firmly seated, he naturally became desirous to bring home his only son to his bosom30 and family; and for that purpose caused me to send the young Conachar, as he was called, more than once to the Highlands. He was a youth expressly made, by his form and gallantry of bearing, to gain a father’s heart. At length, I suppose the lad either guessed the secret of his birth or something of it was communicated to him; and the disgust which the paughty Hieland varlet had always shown for my honest trade became more manifest; so that I dared not so much as lay my staff over his costard, for fear of receiving a stab with a dirk, as an answer in Gaelic to a Saxon remark. It was then that I wished to be well rid of him, the rather that he showed so much devotion to Catharine, who, forsooth, set herself up to wash the Ethiopian, and teach a wild Hielandmnan mercy and morals. She knows herself how it ended.”
“Nay, my father,” said Catharine, “it was surely but a point of charity to snatch the brand from the burning.”
“But a small point of wisdom,” said her father, “to risk the burning of your own fingers for such an end. What says my lord to the matter?”
“My lord would not offend the Fair Maid of Perth,” said Sir Patrick; “and he knows well the purity and truth of her mind. And yet I must needs say that, had this nursling of the doe been shrivelled, haggard, cross made, and red haired, like some Highlanders I have known, I question if the Fair Maiden31 of Perth would have bestowed32 so much zeal33 upon his conversion34; and if Catharine had been as aged35, wrinkled, and bent36 by years as the old woman that opened the door for me this morning, I would wager37 my gold spurs against a pair of Highland brogues that this wild roebuck would never have listened to a second lecture. You laugh, glover, and Catharine blushes a blush of anger. Let it pass, it is the way of the world.”
“The way in which the men of the world esteem38 their neighbours, my lord,” answered Catharine, with some spirit.
“Nay, fair saint, forgive a jest,” said the knight39; “and thou, Simon, tell us how this tale ended — with Conachar’s escape to the Highlands, I suppose?”
“With his return thither40,” said the glover. “There was, for some two or three years, a fellow about Perth, a sort of messenger, who came and went under divers41 pretences42, but was, in fact, the means of communication between Gilchrist MacIan and his son, young Conachar, or, as he is now called, Hector. From this gillie I learned, in general, that the banishment43 of the dault an neigh dheil, or foster child of the white doe, was again brought under consideration of the tribe. His foster father, Torquil of the Oak, the old forester, appeared with eight sons, the finest men of the clan, and demanded that the doom44 of banishment should be revoked45. He spoke47 with the greater authority, as he was himself taishatar, or a seer, and supposed to have communication with the invisible world. He affirmed that he had performed a magical ceremony, termed tine egan, by which he evoked46 a fiend, from whom he extorted48 a confession49 that Conachar, now called Eachin, or Hector, MacIan, was the only man in the approaching combat between the two hostile clans who should come off without blood or blemish50. Hence Torquil of the Oak argued that the presence of the fated person was necessary to ensure the victory. ‘So much I am possessed51 of this,’ said the forester, ‘that, unless Eachin fight in his place in the ranks of the Clan Quhele, neither I, his foster father, nor any of my eight sons will lift a weapon in the quarrel.’
“This speech was received with much alarm; for the defection of nine men, the stoutest52 of their tribe, would be a serious blow, more especially if the combat, as begins to be rumoured53, should be decided54 by a small number from each side. The ancient superstition55 concerning the foster son of the white doe was counterbalanced by a new and later prejudice, and the father took the opportunity of presenting to the clan his long hidden son, whose youthful, but handsome and animated56, countenance57, haughty58 carriage, and active limbs excited the admiration59 of the clansmen, who joyfully60 received him as the heir and descendant of their chief, notwithstanding the ominous61 presage62 attending his birth and nurture63.
“From this tale, my lord,” continued Simon Glover, “your lordship may easily conceive why I myself should be secure of a good reception among the Clan Quhele; and you may also have reason to judge that it would be very rash in me to carry Catharine thither. And this, noble lord, is the heaviest of my troubles.”
“We shall lighten the load, then,” said Sir Patrick; “and, good glover, I will take risk for thee and this damsel. My alliance with the Douglas gives me some interest with Marjory, Duchess of Rothsay, his daughter, the neglected wife of our wilful64 Prince. Rely on it, good glover, that in her retinue65 thy daughter will be as secure as in a fenced castle. The Duchess keeps house now at Falkland, a castle which the Duke of Albany, to whom it belongs, has lent to her for her accommodation. I cannot promise you pleasure, Fair Maiden; for the Duchess Marjory of Rothsay is unfortunate, and therefore splenetic, haughty, and overbearing; conscious of the want of attractive qualities, therefore jealous of those women who possess them. But she is firm in faith and noble in spirit, and would fling Pope or prelate into the ditch of her castle who should come to arrest any one under her protection. You will therefore have absolute safety, though you may lack comfort.”
“I have no title to more,” said Catharine; “and deeply do I feel the kindness that is willing to secure me such honourable protection. If she be haughty, I will remember she is a Douglas, and hath right, as being such, to entertain as much pride as may become a mortal; if she be fretful, I will recollect66 that she is unfortunate, and if she be unreasonably67 captious68, I will not forget that she is my protectress. Heed69 no longer for me, my lord, when you have placed me under the noble lady’s charge. But my poor father, to be exposed amongst these wild and dangerous people!”
“Think not of that, Catharine,” said the glover: “I am as familiar with brogues and bracken as if I had worn them myself. I have only to fear that the decisive battle may be fought before I can leave this country; and if the clan Quhele lose the combat, I may suffer by the ruin of my protectors.”
“We must have that cared for,” said Sir Patrick: “rely on my looking out for your safety. But which party will carry the day, think you?”
“Frankly, my Lord Provost, I believe the Clan Chattan will have the worse: these nine children of the forest form a third nearly of the band surrounding the chief of Clan Quhele, and are redoubted champions.”
“And your apprentice70, will he stand to it, thinkest thou?”
“He is hot as fire, Sir Patrick,” answered the glover; “but he is also unstable71 as water. Nevertheless, if he is spared, he seems likely to be one day a brave man.”
“But, as now, he has some of the white doe’s milk still lurking72 about his liver, ha, Simon?”
“He has little experience, my lord,” said the glover, “and I need not tell an honoured warrior73 like yourself that danger must be familiar to us ere we can dally74 with it like a mistress.”
This conversation brought them speedily to the Castle of Kinfauns, where, after a short refreshment75, it was necessary that the father and the daughter should part, in order to seek their respective places of refuge. It was then first, as she saw that her father’s anxiety on her account had drowned all recollections of his friend, that Catharine dropped, as if in a dream, the name of “Henry Gow.”
“True — most true,” continued her father; “we must possess him of our purposes.”
“Leave that to me,” said Sir Patrick. “I will not trust to a messenger, nor will I send a letter, because, if I could write one, I think he could not read it. He will suffer anxiety in the mean while, but I will ride to Perth tomorrow by times and acquaint him with your designs.”
The time of separation now approached. It was a bitter moment, but the manly76 character of the old burgher, and the devout77 resignation of Catharine to the will of Providence78 made it lighter79 than might have been expected. The good knight hurried the departure of the burgess, but in the kindest manner; and even went so far as to offer him some gold pieces in loan, which might, where specie was so scarce, be considered as the ne plus ultra of regard. The glover, however, assured him he was amply provided, and departed on his journey in a northwesterly direction. The hospitable80 protection of Sir Patrick Charteris was no less manifested towards his fair guest. She was placed under the charge of a duenna who managed the good knight’s household, and was compelled to remain several days in Kinfauns, owing to the obstacles and delays interposed by a Tay boatman, named Kitt Henshaw, to whose charge she was to be committed, and whom the provost highly trusted.
Thus were severed81 the child and parent in a moment of great danger and difficulty, much augmented82 by circumstances of which they were then ignorant, and which seemed greatly to diminish any chance of safety that remained for them.
收听单词发音 |
1
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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extirpated
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| v.消灭，灭绝( extirpate的过去式和过去分词 )；根除 | |
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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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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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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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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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tallied
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| v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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28
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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calamitous
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| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
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30
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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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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32
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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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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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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40
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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pretences
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| n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称 | |
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banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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45
revoked
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| adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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47
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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48
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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50
blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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51
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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52
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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55
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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56
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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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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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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nurture
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| n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持 | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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72
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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73
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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74
dally
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| v.荒废(时日)，调情 | |
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75
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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76
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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80
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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81
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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