If thou hast any love of mercy in thee,
Turn me upon my face that I may die.
Joanna Baillie.
Our traveller hired a post-chaise at the place where he separated from Dinmont, with the purpose of proceeding1 to Kippletringan, there to inquire into the state of the family at Woodbourne, before he should venture to make his presence in the country known to Miss Mannering. The stage was a long one of eighteen or twenty miles, and the road lay across the country. To add to the inconveniences of the journey, the snow began to fall pretty quickly. The postilion, however, proceeded on his journey for a good many miles without expressing doubt or hesitation2. It was not until the night was completely set in that he intimated his apprehensions3 whether he was in the right road. The increasing snow rendered this intimation rather alarming, for, as it drove full in the lad’s face and lay whitening all around him, it served in two different ways to confuse his knowledge of the country, and to diminish the chance of his recovering the right track. Brown then himself got out and looked round, not, it may be well imagined, from any better hope than that of seeing some house at which he might make inquiry4. But none appeared; he could therefore only tell the lad to drive steadily5 on. The road on which they were ran through plantations7 of considerable extent and depth, and the traveller therefore conjectured8 that there must be a gentleman’s house at no great distance. At length, after struggling wearily on for about a mile, the post-boy stopped, and protested his horses would not budge9 a foot farther; ‘but he saw,’ he said, ‘a light among the trees, which must proceed from a house; the only way was to inquire the road there.’ Accordingly, he dismounted, heavily encumbered10 with a long great-coat and a pair of boots which might have rivalled in thickness the seven — fold shield of Ajax. As in this guise11 he was plodding12 forth13 upon his voyage of discovery, Brown’s impatience14 prevailed, and, jumping out of the carriage, he desired the lad to stop where he was by the horses, and he would himself go to the house; a command which the driver most joyfully15 obeyed.
Our traveller groped along the side of the inclosure from which the light glimmered16, in order to find some mode of approaching in that direction, and, after proceeding for some space, at length found a stile in the hedge, and a pathway leading into the plantation6, which in that place was of great extent. This promised to lead to the light which was the object of his search, and accordingly Brown proceeded in that direction, but soon totally lost sight of it among the trees. The path, which at first seemed broad and well marked by the opening of the wood through which it winded, was now less easily distinguishable, although the whiteness of the snow afforded some reflected light to assist his search. Directing himself as much as possible through the more open parts of the wood, he proceeded almost a mile without either recovering a view of the light or seeing anything resembling a habitation. Still, however, he thought it best to persevere18 in that direction. It must surely have been a light in the hut of a forester, for it shone too steadily to be the glimmer17 of an ignis fatuus. The ground at length became broken and declined rapidly, and, although Brown conceived he still moved along what had once at least been a pathway, it was now very unequal, and the snow concealing19 those breaches20 and inequalities, the traveller had one or two falls in consequence. He began now to think of turning back, especially as the falling snow, which his impatience had hitherto prevented his attending to, was coming on thicker and faster.
Willing, however, to make a last effort, he still advanced a little way, when to his great delight he beheld21 the light opposite at no great distance, and apparently22 upon a level with him. He quickly found that this last appearance was deception23, for the ground continued so rapidly to sink as made it obvious there was a deep dell, or ravine of some kind, between him and the object of his search. Taking every precaution to preserve his footing, he continued to descend24 until he reached the bottom of a very steep and narrow glen, through which winded a small rivulet25, whose course was then almost choked with snow. He now found himself embarrassed among the ruins of cottages, whose black gables, rendered more distinguishable by the contrast with the whitened surface from which they rose, were still standing26; the side-walls had long since given way to time, and, piled in shapeless heaps and covered with snow, offered frequent and embarrassing obstacles to our traveller’s progress. Still, however, he persevered27, crossed the rivulet, not without some trouble, and at length, by exertions28 which became both painful and perilous29, ascended30 its opposite and very rugged31 bank, until he came on a level with the building from which the gleam proceeded.
It was difficult, especially by so imperfect a light, to discover the nature of this edifice32; but it seemed a square building of small size, the upper part of which was totally ruinous. It had, perhaps, been the abode33 in former times of some lesser34 proprietor35, or a place of strength and concealment36, in case of need, for one of greater importance. But only the lower vault37 remained, the arch of which formed the roof in the present state of the building. Brown first approached the place from whence the light proceeded, which was a long narrow slit38 or loop-hole, such as usually are to be found in old castles. Impelled39 by curiosity to reconnoitre the interior of this strange place before he entered, Brown gazed in at this aperture40. A scene of greater desolation could not well be imagined. There was a fire upon the floor, the smoke of which, after circling through the apartment, escaped by a hole broken in the arch above. The walls, seen by this smoky light, had the rude and waste appearance of a ruin of three centuries old at least. A cask or two, with some broken boxes and packages, lay about the place in confusion. But the inmates41 chiefly occupied Brown’s attention. Upon a lair42 composed of straw, with a blanket stretched over it, lay a figure, so still that, except that it was not dressed in the ordinary habiliments of the grave, Brown would have concluded it to be a corpse43. On a steadier view he perceived it was only on the point of becoming so, for he heard one or two of those low, deep, and hard-drawn sighs that precede dissolution when the frame is tenacious44 of life. A female figure, dressed in a long cloak, sate45 on a stone by this miserable46 couch; her elbows rested upon her knees, and her face, averted47 from the light of an iron lamp beside her, was bent48 upon that of the dying person. She moistened his mouth from time to time with some liquid, and between whiles sung, in a low monotonous49 cadence50, one of those prayers, or rather spells, which, in some parts of Scotland and the north of England, are used by the vulgar and ignorant to speed the passage of a parting spirit, like the tolling52 of the bell in Catholic days. She accompanied this dismal53 sound with a slow rocking motion of her body to and fro, as if to keep time with her song. The words ran nearly thus:—
Wasted, weary, wherefore stay,
Wrestling thus with earth and clay?
From the body pass away.
Hark! the mass is singing.
From thee doff54 thy mortal weed,
Mary Mother be thy speed,
Saints to help thee at thy need.
Fear not snow-drift driving fast,
Sleet56, or hail, or levin blast.
Soon the shroud57 shall lap thee fast,
And the sleep be on thee cast
That shall ne’er know waking.
Haste thee, haste thee, to be gone,
Earth flits fast, and time draws on.
Gasp58 thy gasp, and groan59 thy groan,
Day is near the breaking.
The songstress paused, and was answered by one or two deep and hollow groans60, that seemed to proceed from the very agony of the mortal strife61. ‘It will not be,’ she muttered to herself; ‘he cannot pass away with that on his mind, it tethers him here —
Earth refuses to hide it.
16
I must open the door’; and, rising, she faced towards the door of the apartment, observing heedfully not to turn back her head, and, withdrawing a bolt or two (for, notwithstanding the miserable appearance of the place, the door was cautiously secured), she lifted the latch63, saying,
Open lock, end strife, Come death, and pass life.
Brown, who had by this time moved from his post, stood before her as she opened the door. She stepped back a pace, and he entered, instantly recognising, but with no comfortable sensation, the same gipsy woman whom he had met in Bewcastle. She also knew him at once, and her attitude, figure, and the anxiety of her countenance64, assumed the appearance of the well-disposed ogress of a fairy tale, warning a stranger not to enter the dangerous castle of her husband. The first words she spoke65 (holding up her hands in a reproving manner) were, ‘Said I not to ye, Make not, meddle66 not? Beware of the redding straik!17 You are come to no house o’ fair-strae death.’ So saying, she raised the lamp and turned its light on the dying man, whose rude and harsh features were now convulsed with the last agony. A roll of linen67 about his head was stained with blood, which had soaked also through the blankets and the straw. It was, indeed, under no natural disease that the wretch68 was suffering. Brown started back from this horrible object, and, turning to the gipsy, exclaimed, ‘Wretched woman, who has done this?’
‘They that were permitted,’ answered Meg Merrilies, while she scanned with a close and keen glance the features of the expiring man. ‘He has had a sair struggle; but it’s passing. I kenn’d he would pass when you came in. That was the death-ruckle; he’s dead.’
Sounds were now heard at a distance, as of voices. ‘They are coming,’ said she to Brown; ‘you are a dead man if ye had as mony lives as hairs.’ Brown eagerly looked round for some weapon of defence. There was none near. He then rushed to the door with the intention of plunging69 among the trees, and making his escape by flight from what he now esteemed70 a den51 of murderers, but Merrilies held him with a masculine grasp. ‘Here,’ she said, ‘here, be still and you are safe; stir not, whatever you see or hear, and nothing shall befall you.’
Brown, in these desperate circumstances, remembered this woman’s intimation formerly71, and thought he had no chance of safety but in obeying her. She caused him to couch down among a parcel of straw on the opposite side of the apartment from the corpse, covered him carefully, and flung over him two or three old sacks which lay about the place. Anxious to observe what was to happen, Brown arranged as softly as he could the means of peeping from under the coverings by which he was hidden, and awaited with a throbbing72 heart the issue of this strange and most unpleasant adventure. The old gipsy in the meantime set about arranging the dead body, composing its limbs, and straighting the arms by its side. ‘Best to do this,’ she muttered, ’ere he stiffen73.’ She placed on the dead man’s breast a trencher, with salt sprinkled upon it, set one candle at the head and another at the feet of the body, and lighted both. Then she resumed her song, and awaited the approach of those whose voices had been heard without.
Brown was a soldier, and a brave one; but he was also a man, and at this moment his fears mastered his courage so completely that the cold drops burst out from every pore. The idea of being dragged out of his miserable concealment by wretches74 whose trade was that of midnight murder, without weapons or the slightest means of defence, except entreaties75, which would be only their sport, and cries for help, which could never reach other ear than their own; his safety entrusted76 to the precarious77 compassion78 of a being associated with these felons79, and whose trade of rapine and imposture80 must have hardened her against every human feeling — the bitterness of his emotions almost choked him. He endeavoured to read in her withered81 and dark countenance, as the lamp threw its light upon her features, something that promised those feelings of compassion which females, even in their most degraded state, can seldom altogether smother82. There was no such touch of humanity about this woman. The interest, whatever it was, that determined83 her in his favour arose not from the impulse of compassion, but from some internal, and probably capricious, association of feelings, to which he had no clue. It rested, perhaps, on a fancied likeness84, such as Lady Macbeth found to her father in the sleeping monarch85. Such were the reflections that passed in rapid succession through Brown’s mind as he gazed from his hiding-place upon this extraordinary personage. Meantime the gang did not yet approach, and he was almost prompted to resume his original intention of attempting an escape from the hut, and cursed internally his own irresolution86, which had consented to his being cooped up where he had neither room for resistance nor flight.
Meg Merrilies seemed equally on the watch. She bent her ear to every sound that whistled round the old walls. Then she turned again to the dead body, and found something new to arrange or alter in its position. ‘He’s a bonny corpse,’ she muttered to herself, ‘and weel worth the streaking87.’ And in this dismal occupation she appeared to feel a sort of professional pleasure, entering slowly into all the minutise, as if with the skill and feelings of a connoisseur88. A long, dark-coloured sea-cloak, which she dragged out of a corner, was disposed for a pall89. The face she left bare, after closing the mouth and eyes, and arranged the capes90 of the cloak so as to hide the bloody91 bandages, and give the body, as she muttered, ‘a mair decent appearance.’
At once three or four men, equally ruffians in appearance and dress, rushed into the hut. ‘Meg, ye limb of Satan, how dare you leave the door open?’ was the first salutation of the party.
‘And wha ever heard of a door being barred when a man was in the dead-thraw? how d’ye think the spirit was to get awa through bolts and bars like thae?’
‘Is he dead, then?’ said one who went to the side of the couch to look at the body.
‘Ay, ay, dead enough,’ said another; ‘but here’s what shall give him a rousing lykewake.’ So saying, he fetched a keg of spirits from a corner, while Meg hastened to display pipes and tobacco. From the activity with which she undertook the task, Brown conceived good hope of her fidelity92 towards her guest. It was obvious that she wished to engage the ruffians in their debauch93, to prevent the discovery which might take place if by accident any of them should approach too nearly the place of Brown’s concealment.
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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5
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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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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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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15
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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16
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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18
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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19
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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breaches
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| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
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21
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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22
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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23
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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24
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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25
rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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26
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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27
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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29
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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30
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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32
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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33
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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34
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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35
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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36
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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37
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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38
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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39
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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41
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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42
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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43
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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44
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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45
sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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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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47
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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48
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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49
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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50
cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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51
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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52
tolling
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| [财]来料加工 | |
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53
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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doff
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| v.脱，丢弃，废除 | |
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knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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56
sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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57
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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59
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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60
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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61
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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62
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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63
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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64
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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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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66
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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67
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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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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69
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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70
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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71
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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72
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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73
stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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74
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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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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felons
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| n.重罪犯( felon的名词复数 )；瘭疽；甲沟炎；指头脓炎 | |
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imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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81
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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82
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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irresolution
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| n.不决断，优柔寡断，犹豫不定 | |
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streaking
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| n.裸奔（指在公共场所裸体飞跑）v.快速移动( streak的现在分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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capes
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| 碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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