Come, princes of the ragged1 regiment2,
You of the blood! Prigs, my most upright lord,
And these, what name or title e’er they bear,
Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke or Clapper-Dudgeon,
Prater3 or Abram-Man — I speak of all.
Beggar’s Bush.
Although the character of those gipsy tribes which formerly4 inundated5 most of the nations of Europe, and which in some degree still subsist6 among them as a distinct people, is generally understood, the reader will pardon my saying a few words respecting their situation in Scotland.
It is well known that the gipsies were at an early period acknowledged as a separate and independent race by one of the Scottish monarchs7, and that they were less favourably8 distinguished9 by a subsequent law, which rendered the character of gipsy equal in the judicial10 balance to that of common and habitual11 thief, and prescribed his punishment accordingly. Notwithstanding the severity of this and other statutes13, the fraternity prospered14 amid the distresses16 of the country, and received large accessions from among those whom famine, oppression, or the sword of war had deprived of the ordinary means of subsistence. They lost in a great measure by this intermixture the national character of Egyptians, and became a mingled17 race, having all the idleness and predatory habits of their Eastern ancestors, with a ferocity which they probably borrowed from the men of the north who joined their society. They travelled in different bands, and had rules among themselves, by which each tribe was confined to its own district. The slightest invasion of the precincts which had been assigned to another tribe produced desperate skirmishes, in which there was often much blood shed.
The patriotic18 Fletcher of Saltoun drew a picture of these banditti about a century ago, which my readers will peruse19 with astonishment:—
‘There are at this day in Scotland (besides a great many poor families very meanly provided for by the church boxes, with others who, by living on bad food, fall into various diseases) two hundred thousand people begging from door to door. These are not only no way advantageous20, but a very grievous burden to so poor a country. And though the number of them be perhaps double to what it was formerly, by reason of this present great distress15, yet in all times there have been about one hundred thousand of those vagabonds, who have lived without any regard or subjection either to the laws of the land or even those of God and nature . . . No magistrate21 could ever discover, or be informed, which way one in a hundred of these wretches22 died, or that ever they were baptized. Many murders have been discovered among them; and they are not only a most unspeakable oppression to poor tenants23 (who, if they give not bread or some kind of provision to perhaps forty such villains24 in one day, are sure to be insulted by them), but they rob many poor people who live in houses distant from any neighbourhood. In years of plenty, many thousands of them meet together in the mountains, where they feast and riot for many days; and at country weddings, markets, burials, and other the like public occasions, they are to be seen, both man and woman, perpetually drunk, cursing, blaspheming, and fighting together.’
Notwithstanding the deplorable picture presented in this extract, and which Fletcher himself, though the energetic and eloquent25 friend of freedom, saw no better mode of correcting than by introducing a system of domestic slavery, the progress of time, and increase both of the means of life and of the power of the laws, gradually reduced this dreadful evil within more narrow bounds. The tribes of gipsies, jockies, or cairds — for by all these denominations26 such banditti were known — became few in number, and many were entirely27 rooted out. Still, however, a sufficient number remained to give, occasional alarm and constant vexation. Some rude handicrafts were entirely resigned to these itinerants28, particularly the art of trencher-making, of manufacturing horn-spoons, and the whole mystery of the tinker. To these they added a petty trade in the coarse sorts of earthenware29. Such were their ostensible30 means of livelihood31. Each tribe had usually some fixed32 place of rendezvous33, which they occasionally occupied and considered as their standing12 camp, and in the vicinity of which they generally abstained34 from depredation35. They had even talents and accomplishments36, which made them occasionally useful and entertaining. Many cultivated music with success; and the favourite fiddler or piper of a district was often to be found in a gipsy town. They understood all out-of-door sports, especially otter-hunting, fishing, or finding game. They bred the best and boldest terriers, and sometimes had good pointers for sale. In winter the women told fortunes, the men showed tricks of legerdemain37; and these accomplishments often helped to while away a weary or stormy evening in the circle of the ‘farmer’s ha’.’ The wildness of their character, and the indomitable pride with which they despised all regular labour, commanded a certain awe38, which was not diminished by the consideration that these strollers were a vindictive39 race, and were restrained by no check, either of fear or conscience, from taking desperate vengeance40 upon those who had offended them. These tribes were, in short, the pariahs41 of Scotland, living like wild Indians among European settlers, and, like them, judged of rather by their own customs, habits, and opinions, than as if they had been members of the civilised part of the community. Some hordes42 of them yet remain, chiefly in such situations as afford a ready escape either into a waste country or into another Jurisdiction43. Nor are the features of their character much softened44. Their numbers, however, are so greatly diminished that, instead of one hundred thousand, as calculated by Fletcher, it would now perhaps be impossible to collect above five hundred throughout all Scotland.
A tribe of these itinerants, to whom Meg Merrilies appertained, had long been as stationary45 as their habits permitted in a glen upon the estate of Ellangowan. They had there erected46 a few huts, which they denominated their ‘city of refuge,’ and where, when not absent on excursions, they harboured unmolested, as the crows that roosted in the old ash-trees around them. They had been such long occupants that they were considered in some degree as proprietors47 of the wretched shealings which they inhabited. This protection they were said anciently to have repaid by service to the Laird in war, or more frequently, by infesting48 or plundering49 the lands of those neighbouring barons50 with whom he chanced to be at feud51. Latterly their services were of a more pacific nature. The women spun52 mittens53 for the lady, and knitted boot-hose for the Laird, which were annually54 presented at Christmas with great form. The aged55 sibyls blessed the bridal bed of the Laird when he married, and the cradle of the heir when born. The men repaired her ladyship’s cracked china, and assisted the Laird in his sporting parties, wormed his dogs, and cut the ears of his terrier puppies. The children gathered nuts in the woods, and cranberries56 in the moss57, and mushrooms on the pastures, for tribute to the Place. These acts of voluntary service, and acknowledgments of dependence58, were rewarded by protection on some occasions, connivance59 on others, and broken victuals60, ale, and brandy when circumstances called for a display of generosity61; and this mutual62 intercourse63 of good offices, which had been carried on for at least two centuries, rendered the inhabitants of Derncleugh a kind of privileged retainers upon the estate of Ellangowan. ‘The knaves’ were the Laird’s ‘exceeding good friends’; and he would have deemed himself very ill used if his countenance64 could not now and then have borne them out against the law of the country and the local magistrate. But this friendly union was soon to be dissolved.
The community of Derncleugh, who cared for no rogues65 but their own, were wholly without alarm at the severity of the Justice’s proceedings66 towards other itinerants. They had no doubt that he determined67 to suffer no mendicants or strollers in the country but what resided on his own property, and practised their trade by his immediate68 permission, implied or expressed. Nor was Mr. Bertram in a hurry to exert his newly-acquired authority at the expense of these old settlers. But he was driven on by circumstances.
At the quarter-sessions our new Justice was publicly upbraided69 by a gentleman of the opposite party in county politics, that, while he affected70 a great zeal71 for the public police, and seemed ambitious of the fame of an active magistrate, he fostered a tribe of the greatest rogues in the country, and permitted them to harbour within a mile of the house of Ellangowan. To this there was no reply, for the fact was too evident and well known. The Laird digested the taunt72 as he best could, and in his way home amused himself with speculations73 on the easiest method of ridding himself of these vagrants74, who brought a stain upon his fair fame as a magistrate. Just as he had resolved to take the first opportunity of quarrelling with the pariahs of Derncleugh, a cause of provocation75 presented itself.
Since our friend’s advancement76 to be a conservator of the peace, he had caused the gate at the head of his avenue, which formerly, having only one hinge, remained at all times hospitably77 open — he had caused this gate, I say, to be newly hung and handsomely painted. He had also shut up with paling, curiously78 twisted with furze, certain holes in the fences adjoining, through which the gipsy boys used to scramble79 into the plantations80 to gather birds’ nests, the seniors of the village to make a short cut from one point to another, and the lads and lasses for evening rendezvous — all without offence taken or leave asked. But these halcyon82 days were now to have an end, and a minatory83 inscription84 on one side of the gate intimated ‘prosecution according to law’ (the painter had spelt it ‘persecution’ — l’un vaut bien l’autre) to all who should be found trespassing85 on these inclosures. On the other side, for uniformity’s sake, was a precautionary annunciation of spring-guns and man-traps of such formidable powers that, said the rubrick, with an emphatic86 nota bene — ‘if a man goes in they will break a horse’s leg.’
In defiance87 of these threats, six well-grown gipsy boys and girls were riding cock-horse upon the new gate, and plaiting may — flowers, which it was but too evident had been gathered within the forbidden precincts. With as much anger as he was capable of feeling, or perhaps of assuming, the Laird commanded them to descend88; — they paid no attention to his mandate89: he then began to pull them down one after another; — they resisted, passively at least, each sturdy bronzed varlet making himself as heavy as he could, or climbing up as fast as he was dismounted.
The Laird then called in the assistance of his servant, a surly fellow, who had immediate recourse to his horsewhip. A few lashes90 sent the party a-scampering; and thus commenced the first breach91 of the peace between the house of Ellangowan and the gipsies of Derncleugh.
The latter could not for some time imagine that the war was real; until they found that their children were horsewhipped by the grieve when found trespassing; that their asses81 were poinded by the ground-officer when left in the plantations, or even when turned to graze by the roadside, against the provision of the turnpike acts; that the constable92 began to make curious inquiries93 into their mode of gaining a livelihood, and expressed his surprise that the men should sleep in the hovels all day, and be abroad the greater part of the night.
When matters came to this point, the gipsies, without scruple94, entered upon measures of retaliation95. Ellangowan’s hen-roosts were plundered96, his linen97 stolen from the lines or bleaching-ground, his fishings poached, his dogs kidnapped, his growing trees cut or barked. Much petty mischief98 was done, and some evidently for the mischief’s sake. On the other hand, warrants went forth99, without mercy, to pursue, search for, take, and apprehend100; and, notwithstanding their dexterity101, one or two of the depredators were unable to avoid conviction. One, a stout102 young fellow, who sometimes had gone to sea a-fishing, was handed over to the captain of the impress service at D—; two children were soundly flogged, and one Egyptian matron sent to the house of correction.
Still, however, the gipsies made no motion to leave the spot which they had so long inhabited, and Mr. Bertram felt an unwillingness103 to deprive them of their ancient ‘city of refuge’; so that the petty warfare104 we have noticed continued for several months, without increase or abatement105 of hostilities106 on either side.
收听单词发音 |
1
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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prater
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| 多嘴的人，空谈者 | |
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4
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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inundated
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| v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付 | |
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subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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8
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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9
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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10
judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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11
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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12
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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13
statutes
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| 成文法( statute的名词复数 )； 法令； 法规； 章程 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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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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18
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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19
peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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20
advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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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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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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26
denominations
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| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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28
itinerants
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| n.巡回者（如传教士、行商等）( itinerant的名词复数 ) | |
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29
earthenware
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| n.土器，陶器 | |
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30
ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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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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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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34
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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depredation
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| n.掠夺，蹂躏 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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legerdemain
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| n.戏法，诈术 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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40
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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41
pariahs
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| n.被社会遗弃者( pariah的名词复数 )；贱民 | |
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hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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44
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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45
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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46
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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infesting
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| v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的现在分词 )；遍布于 | |
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plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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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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52
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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53
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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cranberries
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| n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 ) | |
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57
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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connivance
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| n.纵容；默许 | |
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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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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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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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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rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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upbraided
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| v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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vagrants
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| 流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖 | |
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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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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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halcyon
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| n.平静的，愉快的 | |
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minatory
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| adj.威胁的；恫吓的 | |
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84
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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85
trespassing
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| [法]非法入侵 | |
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86
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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88
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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89
mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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91
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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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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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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98
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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100
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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101
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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103
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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104
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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105
abatement
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| n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销 | |
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106
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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