They told me, by the sentence of the law,
They had commission to seize all thy fortune.
Here stood a ruffian with a horrid1 face,
Lording it o’er a pile of massy plate,
Tumbled into a heap for public sale;
There was another, making villainous jests
At thy undoing2; he had ta’en possession
Of all thy ancient most domestic ornaments3.
Otway.
Early next morning Mannering mounted his horse and, accompanied by his servant, took the road to Ellangowan. He had no need to inquire the way. A sale in the country is a place of public resort and amusement, and people of various descriptions streamed to it from all quarters.
After a pleasant ride of about an hour, the old towers of the ruin presented themselves in the landscape. The thoughts, with what different feelings he had lost sight of them so many years before, thronged4 upon the mind of the traveller. The landscape was the same; but how changed the feelings, hopes, and views of the spectator! Then life and love were new, and all the prospect5 was gilded6 by their rays. And now, disappointed in affection, sated with fame and what the world calls success, his mind, goaded7 by bitter and repentant8 recollection, his best hope was to find a retirement9 in which he might nurse the melancholy10 that was to accompany him to his grave. ‘Yet why should an individual mourn over the instability of his hopes and the vanity of his prospects11? The ancient chiefs who erected12 these enormous and massive towers to be the fortress13 of their race and the seat of their power, — could they have dreamed the day was to come when the last of their descendants should be expelled, a ruined wanderer, from his possessions! But Nature’s bounties15 are unaltered. The sun will shine as fair on these ruins, whether the property of a stranger or of a sordid16 and obscure trickster of the abused law, as when the banners of the founder17 first waved upon their battlements.’
These reflections brought Mannering to the door of the house, which was that day open to all. He entered among others, who traversed the apartments, some to select articles for purchase, others to gratify their curiosity. There is something melancholy in such a scene, even under the most favourable18 circumstances. The confused state of the furniture, displaced for the convenience of being easily viewed and carried off by the purchasers, is disagreeable to the eye. Those articles which, properly and decently arranged, look creditable and handsome, have then a paltry19 and wretched appearance; and the apartments, stripped of all that render them commodious21 and comfortable, have an aspect of ruin and dilapidation22. It is disgusting also to see the scenes of domestic society and seclusion23 thrown open to the gaze of the curious and the vulgar, to hear their coarse speculations24 and brutal25 jests upon the fashions and furniture to which they are unaccustomed, — a frolicsome26 humour much cherished by the whisky which in Scotland is always put in circulation on such occasions. All these are ordinary effects of such a scene as Ellangowan now presented; but the moral feeling, that in this case they indicated the total ruin of an ancient and honourable27 family, gave them treble weight and poignancy28.
It was some time before Colonel Mannering could find any one disposed to answer his reiterated29 questions concerning Ellangowan himself. At length an old maidservant, who held her apron30 to her eyes as she spoke31, told him ‘the Laird was something better, and they hoped he would be able to leave the house that day. Miss Lucy expected the chaise every moment, and, as the day was fine for the time o’year, they had carried him in his easychair up to the green before the auld32 castle, to be out of the way of this unco spectacle.’ Thither33 Colonel Mannering went in quest of him, and soon came in sight of the little group, which consisted of four persons. The ascent34 was steep, so that he had time to reconnoitre them as he advanced, and to consider in what mode he should make his address.
Mr. Bertram, paralytic35 and almost incapable36 of moving, occupied his easy-chair, attired37 in his nightcap and a loose camlet coat, his feet wrapped in blankets. Behind him, with his hands crossed on the cane39 upon which he rested, stood Dominie Sampson, whom Mannering recognised at once. Time had made no change upon him, unless that his black coat seemed more brown, and his gaunt cheeks more lank38, than when Mannering last saw him. On one side of the old man was a sylph-like form — a young woman of about seventeen, whom the Colonel accounted to be his daughter. She was looking from time to time anxiously towards the avenue, as if expecting the post-chaise; and between whiles busied herself in adjusting the blankets so as to protect her father from the cold, and in answering inquiries40, which he seemed to make with a captious41 and querulous manner. She did not trust herself to look towards the Place, although the hum of the assembled crowd must have drawn42 her attention in that direction. The fourth person of the group was a handsome and genteel young man, who seemed to share Miss Bertram’s anxiety, and her solicitude43 to soothe44 and accommodate her parent.
This young man was the first who observed Colonel Mannering, and immediately stepped forward to meet him, as if politely to prevent his drawing nearer to the distressed46 group. Mannering instantly paused and explained. ‘He was,’ he said, ‘a stranger to whom Mr. Bertram had formerly47 shown kindness and hospitality; he would not have intruded48 himself upon him at a period of distress45, did it not seem to be in some degree a moment also of desertion; he wished merely to offer such services as might be in his power to Mr. Bertram and the young lady.’
He then paused at a little distance from the chair. His old acquaintance gazed at him with lack-lustre eye, that intimated no tokens of recognition; the Dominie seemed too deeply sunk in distress even to observe his presence. The young man spoke aside with Miss Bertram, who advanced timidly, and thanked Colonel Mannering for his goodness; ‘but,’ she said, the tears gushing49 fast into her eyes, ‘her father, she feared, was not so much himself as to be able to remember him.’
She then retreated towards the chair, accompanied by the Colonel. ‘Father,’ she said, ‘this is Mr. Mannering, an old friend, come to inquire after you.’
‘He’s very heartily50 welcome,’ said the old man, raising himself in his chair, and attempting a gesture of courtesy, while a gleam of hospitable51 satisfaction seemed to pass over his faded features; ‘but, Lucy, my dear, let us go down to the house; you should not keep the gentleman here in the cold. Dominie, take the key of the wine-cooler. Mr. a — a — the gentleman will surely take something after his ride.’
Mannering was unspeakably affected52 by the contrast which his recollection made between this reception and that with which he had been greeted by the same individual when they last met. He could not restrain his tears, and his evident emotion at once attained53 him the confidence of the friendless young lady.
‘Alas!’ she said, ‘this is distressing54 even to a stranger; but it may be better for my poor father to be in this way than if he knew and could feel all.’
A servant in livery now came up the path, and spoke in an undertone to the young gentleman — ‘Mr. Charles, my lady’s wanting you yonder sadly, to bid for her for the black ebony cabinet; and Lady Jean Devorgoil is wi’ her an’ a’; ye maun come away directly.’
‘Tell them you could not find me, Tom, or, stay, — say I am looking at the horses.’
‘No, no, no,’ said Lucy Bertram, earnestly; ‘if you would not add to the misery55 of this miserable56 moment, go to the company directly. This gentleman, I am sure, will see us to the carriage.’
‘Unquestionably, madam,’ said Mannering, ‘your young friend may rely on my attention.’
‘Farewell, then,’ said young Hazlewood, and whispered a word in her ear; then ran down the steep hastily, as if not trusting his resolution at a slower pace.
‘Where’s Charles Hazlewood running?’ said the invalid57, who apparently58 was accustomed to his presence and attentions; ‘where’s Charles Hazlewood running? what takes him away now?’
‘He’ll return in a little while,’ said Lucy, gently.
The sound of voices was now heard from the ruins. The reader may remember there was a communication between the castle and the beach, up which the speakers had ascended59.
‘Yes, there’s a plenty of shells and seaware for manure60, as you observe; and if one inclined to build a new house, which might indeed be necessary, there’s a great deal of good hewn stone about this old dungeon61, for the devil here — ’
‘Good God!’ said Miss Bertram hastily to Sampson, ‘‘t is that wretch20 Glossin’s voice! If my father sees him, it will kill him outright62!’
Sampson wheeled perpendicularly63 round, and moved with long strides to confront the attorney as he issued from beneath the portal arch of the ruin. ‘Avoid ye!’ he said, ‘avoid ye! wouldst thou kill and take possession?’
‘Come, come, Master Dominie Sampson,’ answered Glossin insolently64, ‘if ye cannot preach in the pulpit, we’ll have no preaching here. We go by the law, my good friend; we leave the gospel to you.’
The very mention of this man’s name had been of late a subject of the most violent irritation65 to the unfortunate patient. The sound of his voice now produced an instantaneous effect. Mr. Bertram started up without assistance and turned round towards him; the ghastliness of his features forming a strange contrast with the violence of his exclamations66. — ‘Out of my sight, ye viper67! ye frozen viper, that I warmed, till ye stung me! Art thou not afraid that the walls of my father’s dwelling68 should fall and crush thee limb and bone? Are ye not afraid the very lintels of the door of Ellangowan Castle should break open and swallow you up? Were ye not friendless, houseless, penniless, when I took ye by the hand; and are ye not expelling me — me and that innocent girl — friendless, houseless, and penniless, from the house that has sheltered us and ours for a thousand years?’
Had Glossin been alone, he would probably have slunk off; but the consciousness that a stranger was present, besides the person who came with him (a sort of land-surveyor), determined69 him to resort to impudence70. The task, however, was almost too hard even for his effrontery71 — ‘Sir — sir — Mr. Bertram, sir, you should not blame me, but your own imprudence, sir — ’
The indignation of Mannering was mounting very high. ‘Sir,’ he said to Glossin, ‘without entering into the merits of this controversy72, I must inform you that you have chosen a very improper73 place, time, and presence for it. And you will oblige me by withdrawing without more words.’
Glossin, being a tall, strong, muscular man, was not unwilling74 rather to turn upon the stranger, whom he hoped to bully75, than maintain his wretched cause against his injured patron. — ‘I do not know who you are, sir,’ he said, ‘and I shall permit no man to use such d — d freedom with me.’
Mannering was naturally hot-tempered: his eyes flashed a dark light; he compressed his nether76 lip so closely that the blood sprung, and approaching Glossin — ‘Look you, sir,’ he said,’ that you do not know me is of little consequence. I know you; and if you do not instantly descend14 that bank, without uttering a single syllable77, by the Heaven that is above us you shall make but one step from the top to the bottom!’
The commanding tone of rightful anger silenced at once the ferocity of the bully. He hesitated, turned on his heel, and, muttering something between his teeth about unwillingness78 to alarm the lady, relieved them of his hateful company.
Mrs. Mac-Candlish’s postilion, who had come up in time to hear what passed, said aloud, ‘If he had stuck by the way, I would have lent him a heezie, the dirty scoundrel, as willingly as ever I pitched a boddle.’
He then stepped forward to announce that his horses were in readiness for the invalid and his daughter. But they were no longer necessary. The debilitated79 frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted80 by this last effort of indignant anger, and when he sunk again upon his chair, he expired almost without a struggle or groan81. So little alteration82 did the extinction83 of the vital spark make upon his external appearance that the screams of his daughter, when she saw his eye fix and felt his pulse stop, first announced his death to the spectators.
收听单词发音 |
1
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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2
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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3
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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8
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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9
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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10
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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11
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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12
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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13
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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14
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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15
bounties
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| （由政府提供的）奖金( bounty的名词复数 )； 赏金； 慷慨； 大方 | |
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16
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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18
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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19
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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20
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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21
commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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22
dilapidation
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| n.倒塌；毁坏 | |
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23
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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24
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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25
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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26
frolicsome
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| adj.嬉戏的，闹着玩的 | |
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27
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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28
poignancy
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| n.辛酸事，尖锐 | |
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29
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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31
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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auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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35
paralytic
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| adj. 瘫痪的 n. 瘫痪病人 | |
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36
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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37
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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39
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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40
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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41
captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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42
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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45
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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48
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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49
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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50
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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51
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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52
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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53
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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54
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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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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56
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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57
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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58
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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59
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
manure
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| n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥 | |
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61
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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62
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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65
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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66
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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71
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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72
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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75
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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78
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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79
debilitated
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| adj.疲惫不堪的，操劳过度的v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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81
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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82
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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83
extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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