SCOTT began to work on “The Heart of Mid-Lothian” almost before he had completed “Rob Roy.” On Nov. 10, 1817, he writes to Archibald Constable1 announcing that the negotiations2 for the sale of the story to Messrs. Longman have fallen through, their firm declining to relieve the Ballantynes of their worthless “stock.” “So you have the staff in your own hands, and, as you are on the spot, can manage it your own way. Depend on it that, barring unforeseen illness or death, these will be the best volumes which have appeared. I pique3 myself on the first tale, which is called ‘The Heart of Mid-Lothian.’” Sir Walter had thought of adding a romance, “The Regalia,” on the Scotch4 royal insignia, which had been rediscovered in the Castle of Edinburgh. This story he never wrote. Mr. Cadell was greatly pleased at ousting5 the Longmans —“they have themselves to blame for the want of the Tales, and may grumble7 as they choose: we have Taggy by the tail, and, if we have influence to keep the best author of the day, we ought to do it.”—[Archibald Constable, iii. 104.]
Though contemplated8 and arranged for, “The Heart of Mid-Lothian” was not actually taken in hand till shortly after Jan. 15, 1818, when Cadell writes that the tracts9 and pamphlets on the affair of Porteous are to be collected for Scott. “The author was in great glee . . . he says that he feels very strong with what he has now in hand.” But there was much anxiety concerning Scott’s health. “I do not at all like this illness of Scott’s,” said James Ballantyne to Hogg. “I have eften seen him look jaded10 of late, and am afraid it is serious.” “Hand your tongue, or I’ll gar you measure your length on the pavement,” replied Hogg. “You fause, down-hearted loon11, that ye are, you daur to speak as if Scott were on his death-bed! It cannot be, it must not be! I will not suffer you to speak that gait.” Scott himself complains to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe of “these damned spasms12. The merchant Abudah’s hag was a henwife to them when they give me a real night of it.”
“The Heart of Mid-Lothian,” in spite of the author’s malady13, was published in June 1818. As to its reception, and the criticism which it received, Lockhart has left nothing to be gleaned14. Contrary to his custom, he has published, but without the writer’s name, a letter from Lady Louisa Stuart, which really exhausts what criticism can find to say about the new novel. “I have not only read it myself,” says Lady Louisa, “but am in a house where everybody is tearing it out of each other’s hands, and talking of nothing else.” She preferred it to all but “Waverley,” and congratulates him on having made “the perfectly15 good character the most interesting. . . . Had this very story been conducted by a common hand, Effie would have attracted all our concern and sympathy, Jeanie only cold approbation16. Whereas Jeanie, without youth, beauty, genius, warns passions, or any other novel-perfection, is here our object from beginning to end.” Lady Louisa, with her usual frankness, finds the Edinburgh lawyers tedious, in the introduction, and thinks that Mr. Saddletree “will not entertain English readers.” The conclusion “flags”; “but the chief fault I have to find relates to the reappearance and shocking fate of the boy. I hear on all sides ‘Oh, I do not like that!’ I cannot say what I would have had instead, but I do not like it either; it is a lame6, huddled17 conclusion. I know you so well in it, by-the-by! You grow tired yourself, want to get rid of the story, and hardly care how.” Lady Lousia adds that Sir George Staunton would never have hazarded himself in the streets of Edinburgh. “The end of poor Madge Wildfire is most pathetic. The meeting at Muschat’s Cairn tremendous. Dumbiedikes and Rory Beau are delightful18. . . . I dare swear many of your readers never heard of the Duke of Argyle before.” She ends: “If I had known nothing, and the whole world had told me the contrary, I should have found you out in that one parenthesis19, ‘for the man was mortal, and had been a schoolmaster.’”
Lady Louisa omits a character who was probably as essential to Scott’s scheme as any — Douce Davie Deans, the old Cameronian. He had almost been annoyed by the criticism of his Covenanters in “Old Mortality,” “the heavy artillery21 out of the Christian22 Instructor23 or some such obscure field work,” and was determined24 to “tickle off” another. There are signs of a war between literary Cavaliers and literary Covenanters at this time, after the discharge of Dr. McCrie’s “heavy artillery.” Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe was presented by Surtees of Mainsforth with a manuscript of Kirkton’s unprinted “History of the Church of Scotland.” This he set forth25 to edite, with the determination not to “let the Whig dogs have the best of it.” Every Covenanting26 scandal and absurdity27, such as the old story of Mess David Williamson —“Dainty Davie”— and his remarkable28 prowess, and presence of mind at Cherrytrees, was raked up, and inserted in notes to Kirkton. Scott was Sharpe’s ally in this enterprise. “I had in the persons of my forbears a full share, you see, of religious persecution29 . . . for all my greatgrandfathers were under the ban, and I think there were hardly two of them out of jail at once.” “I think it would be most scandalous to let the godly carry it oft thus.” “It” seems to have been the editing of Kirkton. “It is very odd the volume of Wodrow, containing the memoir30 of Russell concerning the murder, is positively31 vanished from the library” (the Advocates’ Library). “Neither book nor receipt is to be found: surely they have stolen it in the fear of the Lord.” The truth seems to have been that Cavaliers and Covenanters were racing32 for the manuscripts wherein they found smooth stones of the brook33 to pelt34 their opponents withal. Soon after Scott writes: “It was not without exertion35 and trouble that I this day detected Russell’s manuscript (the account of the murder of Sharpe by one of the murderers), also Kirkton and one or two others, which Mr. McCrie had removed from their place in the library and deposited in a snug36 and secret corner.” The Covenanters had made a raid on the ammunition37 of the Cavaliers. “I have given,” adds Sir Walter, “an infernal row on the subject of hiding books in this manner.” Sharpe replies that the “villainous biographer of John Knox” (Dr. McCrie), “that canting rogue,” is about to edite Kirkton. Sharpe therefore advertised his own edition at once, and edited Kirkton by forced marches as it were. Scott reviewed the book in the Quarterly (Jan. 1818). He remarked that Sharpe “had not escaped the censure38 of these industrious39 literary gentlemen of opposite principles, who have suffered a work always relied upon as one of their chief authorities to lie dormant40 for a hundred and forty years.” Their “querulous outcries” (probably from the field-work of the Christian Instructor) he disregards. Among the passions of this literary “bicker,” which Scott allowed to amuse him, was Davie Deans conceived. Scott was not going to be driven by querulous outcries off the Covenanting field, where he erected41 another trophy42. This time he was more friendly to the “True Blue Presbyterians.” His Scotch patriotism43 was one of his most earnest feelings, the Covenanters, at worst, were essentially44 Scotch, and he introduced a new Cameronian, with all the sterling45 honesty, the Puritanism, the impracticable ideas of the Covenant20, in contact with changed times, and compelled to compromise.
He possessed46 a curious pamphlet, Haldane’s “Active Testimony47 of the true blue Presbyterians” (12mo, 1749). It is a most impartial48 work, “containing a declaration and testimony against the late unjust invasion of Scotland by Charles, Pretended Prince of Wales, and William, Pretended Duke of Cumberland.” Everything and everybody not Covenanted49, the House of Stuart, the House of Brunswick, the House of Hapsburg, Papists, Prelatists and Turks, are cursed up hill and down dale, by these worthy51 survivors52 of the Auld53 Leaven54. Everybody except the authors, Haldane and Leslie, “has broken the everlasting55 Covenant.” The very Confession56 of Westminster is arraigned57 for its laxity. “The whole Civil and Judicial58 Law of God,” as given to the Jews (except the ritual, polygamy, divorce, slavery, and so forth), is to be maintained in the law of Scotland. Sins are acknowledged, and since the Covenant every political step — Cromwell’s Protectorate, the Restoration, the Revolution, the accession of the “Dukes of Hanover”— has been a sin. A Court of Elders is to be established to put in execution the Law of Moses. All offenders59 against the Kirk are to be “capitally punished.” Stage plays are to be suppressed by the successors of the famous convention at Lanark, Anno 1682. Toleration of all religions is “sinful,” and “contrary to the word of God.” Charles Edward and the Duke of Cumberland are cursed. “Also we reckon it a great vice60 in Charles, his foolish Pity and Lenity, in sparing these profane61, blasphemous62 Redcoats, that Providence63 delivered into his hand, when, by putting them to death, this poor land might have been eased of the heavy burden of these vermin of Hell.” The Auld Leaven swore terribly in Scotland. The atrocious cruelties of Cumberland after Culloden are stated with much frankness and power. The German soldiers are said to have carried off “a vast deal of Spoil and Plunder64 into Germany,” and the Redcoats had Plays and Diversions (cricket, probably) on the Inch of Perth, on a Sabbath. “The Hellish, Pagan, Juggler65 plays are set up and frequented with more impudence66 and audacity67 than ever.” Only the Jews, “our elder Brethren,” are exempted68 from the curses of Haldane and Leslie, who promise to recover for them the Holy Land. “The Massacre69 in Edinburgh” in 1736, by wicked Porteous, calls for vengeance70 upon the authors and abettors thereof. The army and navy are “the most wicked and flagitious in the Universe.” In fact, the True Blue Testimony is very active indeed, and could be delivered, thanks to hellish Toleration, with perfect safety, by Leslie and Haldane. The candour of their eloquence72 assuredly proves that Davie Deans is not overdrawn73; indeed, he is much less truculent74 than those who actually were testifying even after his decease.
In “The Heart of Mid-Lothian” Scott set himself to draw his own people at their best. He had a heroine to his hand in Helen Walker, “a character so distinguished75 for her undaunted love of virtue76,” who, unlike Jeanie Deans, “lived and died in poverty, if not want.” In 1831 he erected a pillar over her grave in the old Covenanting stronghold of Irongray. The inscription77 ends —
Respect the Grave of Poverty,
When combined with Love of Truth
And Dear Affection.
The sweetness, the courage, the spirit, the integrity of Jeanie Deans have made her, of all Scott’s characters, the dearest to her countrymen, and the name of Jeanie was given to many children, in pious78 memory of the blameless heroine. The foil to her, in the person of Effie, is not less admirable. Among Scott’s qualities was one rare among modern authors: he had an affectionate toleration for his characters. If we compare Effie with Hetty in “Adam Bede,” this charming and genial79 quality of Scott’s becomes especially striking. Hetty and Dinah are in very much the same situation and condition as Effie and Jeanie Deans. But Hetty is a frivolous80 little animal, in whom vanity and silliness do duty for passion: she has no heart: she is only a butterfly broken on the wheel of the world. Doubtless there are such women in plenty, yet we feel that her creator persecutes81 her, and has a kind of spite against her. This was impossible to Scott. Effie has heart, sincerity82, passion, loyalty83, despite her flightiness, and her readiness, when her chance comes, to play the fine lady. It was distasteful to Scott to create a character not human and sympathetic on one side or another. Thus his robber “of milder mood,” on Jeanie’s journey to England, is comparatively a good fellow, and the scoundrel Ratcliffe is not a scoundrel utterly84. “‘To make a Lang tale short, I canna undertake the job. It gangs against my conscience.’ ‘Your conscience, Rat?’ said Sharpitlaw, with a sneer85, which the reader will probably think very natural upon the occasion. ‘Ou ay, sir,’ answered Ratcliffe, calmly, ‘just my conscience; a body has a conscience, though it may be ill wunnin at it. I think mine’s as weel out o’ the gate as maist folk’s are; and yet it’s just like the noop of my elbow, it whiles gets a bit dirl on a corner.’” Scott insists on leaving his worst people in possession of something likeable, just as he cannot dismiss even Captain Craigengelt without assuring us that Bucklaw made a provision for his necessities. This is certainly a more humane86 way of writing fiction than that to which we are accustomed in an age of humanitarianism87. Nor does Scott’s art suffer from his kindliness88, and Effie in prison, with a heart to be broken, is not less pathetic than the heartless Hetty, in the same condemnation89.
As to her lover, Robertson, or Sir George Staunton, he certainly verges90 on the melodramatic. Perhaps we know too much about the real George Robertson, who was no heir to a title in disguise, but merely a “stabler in Bristol” accused “at the instance of Duncan Forbes, Esq. of Culloden, his Majesty’s advocate, for the crimes of Stouthrieff, Housebreaking, and Robbery.” Robertson “kept an inn in Bristo, at Edinburgh, where the Newcastle carrier commonly did put up,” and is believed to have been a married man. It is not very clear that the novel gains much by the elevation92 of the Bristo innkeeper to a baronetcy, except in so far as Effie’s appearance in the character of a great lady is entertaining and characteristic, and Jeanie’s conquest of her own envy is exemplary. The change in social rank calls for the tragic93 conclusion, about which almost every reader agrees with the criticism of Lady Louisa Stuart and her friends. Thus the novel “filled more pages” than Mr. Jedediah Cleishbotham had “opined,” and hence comes a languor94 which does not beset95 the story of “Old Mortality.” Scott’s own love of adventure and of stirring incidents at any cost is an excellent quality in a novelist, but it does, in this instance, cause him somewhat to dilute96 those immortal97 studies of Scotch character which are the strength of his genius. The reader feels a lack of reality in the conclusion, the fatal encounter of the father and the lost son, an incident as old as the legend of Odysseus. But this is more than atoned98 for by the admirable part of Madge Wildfire, flitting like a feu follet up and down among the douce Scotch, and the dour71 rioters. Madge Wildfire is no repetition of Meg Merrilies, though both are unrestrained natural things, rebels against the settled life, musical voices out of the past, singing forgotten songs of nameless minstrels. Nowhere but in Shakspeare can we find such a distraught woman as Madge Wildfire, so near akin91 to nature and to the moods of “the bonny lady Moon.” Only he who created Ophelia could have conceived or rivalled the scene where Madge accompanies the hunters of Staunton on the moonlit hill and sings her warnings to the fugitive99.
When the glede’s in the blue cloud,
The lavrock lies still;
When the hound’s in the green-wood,
There’s a bloodhound ranging Tinwald wood,
There’s harness glancing sheen;
There’s a maiden101 sits on Tinwald brae,
And she sings loud between.
O sleep ye sound, Sir James, she said,
When ye suld rise and ride?
There’s twenty men, wi’ bow and blade,
Are seeking where ye hide.
The madness of Madge Wildfire has its parallel in the wildness of Goethe’s Marguerite, both of them lamenting102 the lost child, which, to Madge’s fancy, is now dead, now living in a dream. But the gloom that hangs about Muschat’s Cairn, the ghastly vision of “crying up Ailie Muschat, and she and I will hae a grand bouking-washing, and bleach103 our claise in the beams of the bonny Lady Moon,” have a terror beyond the German, and are unexcelled by Webster or by Ford104. “But the moon, and the dew, and the night-wind, they are just like a caller kail-blade laid on my brow; and whiles I think the moon just shines on purpose to pleasure me, when naebody sees her but mysell.” Scott did not deal much in the facile pathos105 of the death-bed, but that of Madge Wildfire has a grace of poetry, and her latest song is the sweetest and wildest of his lyrics106, the most appropriate in its setting. When we think of the contrasts to her — the honest, dull good-nature of Dumbiedikes; the common-sense and humour of Mrs. Saddletree; the pragmatic pedantry107 of her husband; the Highland108 pride, courage, and absurdity of the Captain of Knockdander — when we consider all these so various and perfect creations, we need not wonder that Scott was “in high glee” over “The Heart of Mid-Lothian,” “felt himself very strong,” and thought that these would be “the best volumes that have appeared.” The difficulty, as usual, is to understand how, in all this strength, he permitted himself to be so careless over what is really by far the easiest part of the novelist’s task — the construction. But so it was; about “The Monastery” he said, “it was written with as much care as the rest, that is, with no care at all.” His genius flowed free in its own unconscious abundance: where conscious deliberate workmanship was needed, “the forthright109 craftsman’s hand,” there alone he was lax and irresponsible. In Shakspeare’s case we can often account for similar incongruities110 by the constraint111 of the old plot which he was using; but Scott was making his own plots, or letting them make themselves. “I never could lay down a plan, or, having laid it down, I never could adhere to it; the action of composition always diluted112 some passages and abridged113 or omitted others; and personages were rendered important or insignificant114, not according to their agency in the original conception of the plan, but according to the success or otherwise with which I was able to bring them out. I only tried to make that which I was actually writing diverting and interesting, leaving the rest to fate . . . When I chain my mind to ideas which are purely115 imaginative — for argument is a different thing — it seems to me that the sun leaves the landscape, that I think away the whole vivacity116 and spirit of my original conception, and that the results are cold, tame, and spiritless.”
In fact, Sir Walter was like the Magician who can raise spirits that, once raised, dominate him. Probably this must ever be the case, when an author’s characters are not puppets but real creations. They then have a will and a way of their own; a free-will which their creator cannot predetermine and correct. Something like this appears to have been Scott’s own theory of his lack of constructive117 power. No one was so assured of its absence, no one criticised it more severely118 than he did himself. The Edinburgh Review about this time counselled the “Author of Waverley” to attempt a drama, doubting only his powers of compression. Possibly work at a drama might have been of advantage to the genius of Scott. He was unskilled in selection and rejection119, which the drama especially demands. But he detested120 the idea of writing for actors, whom he regarded as ignorant, dull, and conceited121. “I shall not fine and renew a lease of popularity upon the theatre. To write for low, ill-informed, and conceited actors, whom you must please, for your success is necessarily at their mercy, I cannot away with,” he wrote to Southey. “Avowedly, I will never write for the stage; if I do, ‘call me horse,’” he remarks to Terry. He wanted “neither the profit nor the shame of it.” “I do not think that the character of the audience in London is such that one could have the least pleasure in pleasing them.” He liked helping122 Terry to “Terryfy” “The Heart of Mid-Lothian,” and his other novels, but he had no more desire than a senator of Rome would have had to see his name become famous by the Theatre. This confirmed repulsion in one so learned in the dramatic poets is a curious trait in Scott’s character. He could not accommodate his genius to the needs of the stage, and that crown which has most potently123 allured124 most men of genius he would have thrust away, had it been offered to him, with none of Caesar’s reluctance125. At the bottom of all this lay probably the secret conviction that his genius was his master, that it must take him where it would, on paths where he was compelled to follow. Terse126 and concentrated, of set purpose, he could not be. A notable instance of this inability occurs in the Introductory Chapter to “The Heart of Mid-Lothian,” which has probably frightened away many modern readers. The Advocate and the Writer to the Signet and the poor Client are persons quite uncalled for, and their little adventure at Gandercleugh is unreal. Oddly enough, part of their conversation is absolutely in the manner of Dickens.
“‘I think,’ said I, . . . ‘the metropolitan127 county may, in that case, be said to have a sad heart.’
“‘Right as my glove, Mr. Pattieson,’ added Mr. Hardie; ‘and a close heart, and a hard heart — Keep it up, Jack128.’
“‘And a wicked heart, and a poor heart,’ answered Halkit, doing his best.
“‘And yet it may be called in some sort a strong heart, and a high heart,’ rejoined the advocate. ‘You see I can put you both out of heart.’”
Fortunately we have no more of this easy writing, which makes such very melancholy129 reading.
The narrative130 of the Porteous mob, as given by the novelist, is not, it seems, entirely131 accurate. Like most artists, Sir Walter took the liberty of “composing” his picture. In his “Illustrations of the Author of Waverley” (1825) Mr. Robert Chambers132 records the changes in facts made by Scott. In the first place, Wilson did not attack his guard, and enable Robertson to escape, after the sermon, but as soon as the criminals took their seats in the pew. When fleeing out, Robertson tripped over “the plate,” set on a stand to receive alms and oblations, whereby he hurt himself, and was seen to stagger and fall in running down the stairs leading to the Cowgate. Mr. McQueen, Minister of the New Kirk, was coming up the stairs. He conceived it to be his duty to set Robertson on his feet again, “and covered his retreat as much as possible from the pursuit of the guard.” Robertson ran up the Horse Wynd, out at Potter Row Port, got into the King’s Park, and headed for the village of Duddingston, beside the loch on the south-east of Arthur’s Seat. He fainted after jumping a dyke133, but was picked up and given some refreshment134. He lay in hiding till he could escape to Holland.
The conspiracy135 to hang Porteous did not, in fact, develop in a few hours, after his failure to appear on the scaffold. The Queen’s pardon (or a reprieve) reached Edinburgh on Thursday, Sept. 2; the Riot occurred on the night of Sept. 7. The council had been informed that lynching was intended, thirty-six hours before the fatal evening, but pronounced the reports to be “caddies’ clatters136.” Their negligence137, of course, must have increased the indignation of the Queen. The riot, according to a very old man, consulted by Mr. Chambers, was headed by two butchers, named Cumming, “tall, strong, and exceedingly handsome men, who dressed in women’s clothes as a disguise.” The rope was tossed out of a window in a “small wares138 shop” by a woman, who received a piece of gold in exchange. This extravagance is one of the very few points which suggest that people of some wealth may have been concerned in the affair. Tradition, according to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, believed in noble leaders of the riot. It is certain that several witnesses of good birth and position testified very strongly against Porteous, at his trial.
According to Hogg, Scott’s “fame was now so firmly established that he cared not a fig139 for the opinion of his literary friends beforehand.” He was pleased, however, by the notice of “Ivanhoe,” “The Heart of Mid-Lothian,” and “The Bride of Lammermoor” in the Edinburgh Review of 1820, as he showed by quoting part of its remarks. The Reviewer frankly140 observed “that, when we began with one of these works, we were conscious that we never knew how to leave off. The Porteous mob is rather heavily described, and the whole part of George Robertson, or Staunton, is extravagant141 and displeasing142. The final catastrophe143 is needlessly improbable and startling.” The critic felt that he must be critical, but his praise of Effie and Jeanie Deans obviously comes from his heart. Jeanie’s character “is superior to anything we can recollect144 in the history of invention . . . a remarkable triumph over the greatest of all difficulties in the conduct of a fictitious145 narrative.” The critique ends with “an earnest wish that the Author would try his hand in the lore146 of Shakspeare”; but, wiser than the woers of Penelope, Scott refused to make that perilous147 adventure.
— ANDREW LANG.
An essay by Mr. George Ormond, based on manuscripts in the Edinburgh Record office (Scottish Review, July, 1892), adds little to what is known about the Porteous Riot. It is said that Porteous was let down alive, and hanged again, more than once, that his arm was broken by a Lochaber axe148, and that a torch was applied149 to the foot from which the shoe had fallen. A pamphlet of 1787 says that Robertson became a spy on smugglers in Holland, returned to London, procured150 a pardon through the Butcher Cumberland, and “at last died in misery151 in London.” It is plain that Colonel Moyle might have rescued Porteous, but he was naturally cautious about entering the city gates without a written warrant from the civil authorities.
TO THE BEST OF PATRONS,
A PLEASED AND INDULGENT READER
JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM
WISHES HEALTH, AND INCREASE, AND CONTENTMENT.
If ingratitude153 comprehendeth every vice, surely so foul155 a stain worst of all beseemeth him whose life has been devoted156 to instructing youth in virtue and in humane letters. Therefore have I chosen, in this prolegomenon, to unload my burden of thanks at thy feet, for the favour with which thou last kindly157 entertained the Tales of my Landlord. Certes, if thou hast chuckled158 over their factious159 and festivous descriptions, or hadst thy mind filled with pleasure at the strange and pleasant turns of fortune which they record, verily, I have also simpered when I beheld160 a second storey with attics161, that has arisen on the basis of my small domicile at Gandercleugh, the walls having been aforehand pronounced by Deacon Barrow to be capable of enduring such an elevation. Nor has it been without delectation that I have endued162 a new coat (snuff-brown, and with metal buttons), having all nether163 garments corresponding thereto. We do therefore lie, in respect of each other, under a reciprocation164 of benefits, whereof those received by me being the most solid (in respect that a new house and a new coat are better than a new tale and an old song), it is meet that my gratitude154 should be expressed with the louder voice and more preponderating165 vehemence166. And how should it be so expressed? — Certainly not in words only, but in act and deed. It is with this sole purpose, and disclaiming167 all intention of purchasing that pendicle or poffle of land called the Carlinescroft, lying adjacent to my garden, and measuring seven acres, three roods, and four perches168, that I have committed to the eyes of those who thought well of the former tomes, these four additional volumes of the Tales of my Landlord. Not the less, if Peter Prayfort be minded to sell the said poffle, it is at his own choice to say so; and, peradventure, he may meet with a purchaser: unless (gentle reader) the pleasing pourtraictures of Peter Pattieson, now given unto thee in particular, and unto the public in general, shall have lost their favour in thine eyes, whereof I am no way distrustful. And so much confidence do I repose169 in thy continued favour, that, should thy lawful170 occasions call thee to the town of Gandercleugh, a place frequented by most at one time or other in their lives, I will enrich thine eyes with a sight of those precious manuscripts whence thou hast derived171 so much delectation, thy nose with a snuff from my mull, and thy palate with a dram from my bottle of strong waters, called by the learned of Gandercleugh, the Dominie’s Dribble172 o’ Drink.
It is there, O highly esteemed173 and beloved reader, thou wilt174 be able to bear testimony, through the medium of thine own senses, against the children of vanity, who have sought to identify thy friend and servant with I know not what inditer of vain fables175; who hath cumbered the world with his devices, but shrunken from the responsibility thereof. Truly, this hath been well termed a generation hard of faith; since what can a man do to assert his property in a printed tome, saving to put his name in the title-page thereof, with his description, or designation, as the lawyers term it, and place of abode176? Of a surety I would have such sceptics consider how they themselves would brook to have their works ascribed to others, their names and professions imputed177 as forgeries178, and their very existence brought into question; even although, peradventure, it may be it is of little consequence to any but themselves, not only whether they are living or dead, but even whether they ever lived or no. Yet have my maligners carried their uncharitable censures179 still farther.
These cavillers have not only doubted mine identity, although thus plainly proved, but they have impeached180 my veracity181 and the authenticity182 of my historical narratives183! Verily, I can only say in answer, that I have been cautelous in quoting mine authorities. It is true, indeed, that if I had hearkened with only one ear, I might have rehearsed my tale with more acceptation from those who love to hear but half the truth. It is, it may hap50, not altogether to the discredit184 of our kindly nation of Scotland, that we are apt to take an interest, warm, yea partial, in the deeds and sentiments of our forefathers185. He whom his adversaries186 describe as a perjured187 Prelatist, is desirous that his predecessors188 should be held moderate in their power, and just in their execution of its privileges, when truly, the unimpassioned peruser189 of the annals of those times shall deem them sanguinary, violent, and tyrannical. Again, the representatives of the suffering Nonconformists desire that their ancestors, the Cameronians, shall be represented not simply as honest enthusiasts190, oppressed for conscience’ sake, but persons of fine breeding, and valiant191 heroes. Truly, the historian cannot gratify these predilections192. He must needs describe the cavaliers as proud and high-spirited, cruel, remorseless, and vindictive193; the suffering party as honourably194 tenacious195 of their opinions under persecution; their own tempers being, however, sullen196, fierce, and rude; their opinions absurd and extravagant; and their whole course of conduct that of persons whom hellebore would better have suited than prosecutions197 unto death for high-treason. Natheless, while such and so preposterous198 were the opinions on either side, there were, it cannot be doubted, men of virtue and worth on both, to entitle either party to claim merit from its martyrs199. It has been demanded of me, Jedediah Cleishbotham, by what right I am entitled to constitute myself an impartial judge of their discrepancies200 of opinions, seeing (as it is stated) that I must necessarily have descended201 from one or other of the contending parties, and be, of course, wedded202 for better or for worse, according to the reasonable practice of Scotland, to its dogmata, or opinions, and bound, as it were, by the tie matrimonial, or, to speak without metaphor203, ex jure sanguinis, to maintain them in preference to all others.
But, nothing denying the rationality of the rule, which calls on all now living to rule their political and religious opinions by those of their great-grandfathers, and inevitable204 as seems the one or the other horn of the dilemma205 betwixt which my adversaries conceive they have pinned me to the wall, I yet spy some means of refuge, and claim a privilege to write and speak of both parties with impartiality206. For, O ye powers of logic207! when the Prelatists and Presbyterians of old times went together by the ears in this unlucky country, my ancestor (venerated be his memory!) was one of the people called Quakers, and suffered severe handling from either side, even to the extenuation208 of his purse and the incarceration209 of his person.
Craving210 thy pardon, gentle Reader, for these few words concerning me and mine, I rest, as above expressed, thy sure and obligated friend,
J. C. GANDERCLEUGH, this 1st of April, 1818.
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constable
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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4
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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5
ousting
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| 驱逐( oust的现在分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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6
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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7
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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8
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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9
tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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10
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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11
loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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12
spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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13
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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14
gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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15
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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16
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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17
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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18
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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19
parenthesis
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| n.圆括号，插入语，插曲，间歇，停歇 | |
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20
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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21
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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22
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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23
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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24
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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25
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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26
covenanting
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| v.立约，立誓( covenant的现在分词 ) | |
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27
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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28
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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29
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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30
memoir
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| n.[pl.]回忆录，自传；记事录 | |
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31
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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32
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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33
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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34
pelt
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| v.投掷，剥皮，抨击，开火 | |
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35
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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36
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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37
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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38
censure
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|
| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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39
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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40
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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41
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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42
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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43
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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44
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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45
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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46
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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47
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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48
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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49
covenanted
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| v.立约，立誓( covenant的过去分词 ) | |
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50
hap
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| n.运气；v.偶然发生 | |
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51
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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52
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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53
auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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54
leaven
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| v.使发酵；n.酵母；影响 | |
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55
everlasting
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|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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56
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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57
arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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58
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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59
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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60
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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61
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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62
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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63
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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64
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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65
juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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66
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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67
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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68
exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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70
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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71
dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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72
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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73
overdrawn
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| 透支( overdraw的过去分词 )； (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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74
truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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75
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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76
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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77
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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78
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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79
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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80
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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81
persecutes
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的第三人称单数 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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82
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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83
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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84
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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85
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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86
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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87
humanitarianism
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| n.博爱主义；人道主义；基督凡人论 | |
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88
kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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89
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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90
verges
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| 边，边缘，界线( verge的名词复数 ) | |
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91
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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92
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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93
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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94
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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95
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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96
dilute
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| vt.稀释，冲淡；adj.稀释的，冲淡的 | |
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97
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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98
atoned
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的过去式和过去分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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99
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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100
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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101
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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102
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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103
bleach
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| vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂 | |
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104
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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105
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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106
lyrics
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| n.歌词 | |
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107
pedantry
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| n.迂腐，卖弄学问 | |
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108
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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109
forthright
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| adj.直率的，直截了当的 [同]frank | |
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110
incongruities
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| n.不协调( incongruity的名词复数 )；不一致；不适合；不协调的东西 | |
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111
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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112
diluted
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| 无力的，冲淡的 | |
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113
abridged
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| 削减的，删节的 | |
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114
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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115
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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116
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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117
constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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118
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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119
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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120
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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122
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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123
potently
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124
allured
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| 诱引，吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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126
terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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127
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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128
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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129
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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130
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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131
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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132
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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133
dyke
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| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
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134
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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135
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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136
clatters
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| 盘碟刀叉等相撞击时的声音( clatter的名词复数 ) | |
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137
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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138
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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139
fig
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| n.无花果(树) | |
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140
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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141
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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142
displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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143
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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144
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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145
fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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146
lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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147
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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148
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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149
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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150
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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151
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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152
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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153
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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154
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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155
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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156
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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157
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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158
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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159
factious
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| adj.好搞宗派活动的，派系的，好争论的 | |
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160
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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161
attics
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| n. 阁楼 | |
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162
endued
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| v.授予，赋予（特性、才能等）( endue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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163
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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164
reciprocation
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| n.互换 | |
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165
preponderating
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| v.超过，胜过( preponderate的现在分词 ) | |
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166
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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167
disclaiming
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| v.否认( disclaim的现在分词 ) | |
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168
perches
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| 栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼 | |
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169
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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170
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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171
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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172
dribble
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| v.点滴留下，流口水；n.口水 | |
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173
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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174
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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175
fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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176
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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177
imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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178
forgeries
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| 伪造( forgery的名词复数 )； 伪造的文件、签名等 | |
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179
censures
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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180
impeached
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| v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议 | |
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181
veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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182
authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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183
narratives
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| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
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184
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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185
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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186
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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187
perjured
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| adj.伪证的，犯伪证罪的v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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188
predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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189
peruser
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| 精细阅读者 | |
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190
enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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191
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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192
predilections
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| n.偏爱，偏好，嗜好( predilection的名词复数 ) | |
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193
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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194
honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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195
tenacious
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| adj.顽强的，固执的，记忆力强的，粘的 | |
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196
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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197
prosecutions
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| 起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事 | |
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198
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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199
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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200
discrepancies
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| n.差异，不符合（之处），不一致（之处）( discrepancy的名词复数 ) | |
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201
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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202
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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203
metaphor
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| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
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204
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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205
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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206
impartiality
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| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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207
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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208
extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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209
incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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210
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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