Yet though thou mayst be dragg’d in scorn
To yonder ignominious1 tree,
Thou shalt not want one faithful friend
To share the cruel fates’ decree.
Jemmy Dawson.
After spending the greater part of the morning in his devotions (for his benevolent2 neighbours had kindly3 insisted upon discharging his task of ordinary labour), David Deans entered the apartment when the breakfast meal was prepared. His eyes were involuntarily cast down, for he was afraid to look at Jeanie, uncertain as he was whether she might feel herself at liberty, with a good conscience, to attend the Court of Justiciary that day, to give the evidence which he understood that she possessed4, in order to her sister’s exculpation5. At length, after a minute of apprehensive6 hesitation7, he looked at her dress to discover whether it seemed to be in her contemplation to go abroad that morning. Her apparel was neat and plain, but such as conveyed no exact intimation of her intentions to go abroad. She had exchanged her usual garb8 for morning labour, for one something inferior to that with which, as her best, she was wont9 to dress herself for church, or any more rare occasion of going into society. Her sense taught her, that it was respectful to be decent in her apparel on such an occasion, while her feelings induced her to lay aside the use of the very few and simple personal ornaments10, which, on other occasions, she permitted herself to wear. So that there occurred nothing in her external appearance which could mark out to her father, with anything like certainty, her intentions on this occasion.
The preparations for their humble11 meal were that morning made in vain. The father and daughter sat, each assuming the appearance of eating, when the other’s eyes were turned to them, and desisting from the effort with disgust, when the affectionate imposture13 seemed no longer necessary.
At length these moments of constraint14 were removed. The sound of St. Giles’s heavy toll15 announced the hour previous to the commencement of the trial; Jeanie arose, and with a degree of composure for which she herself could not account, assumed her plaid, and made her other preparations for a distant walking. It was a strange contrast between the firmness of her demeanour, and the vacillation16 and cruel uncertainty17 of purpose indicated in all her father’s motions; and one unacquainted with both could scarcely have supposed that the former was, in her ordinary habits of life, a docile18, quiet, gentle, and even timid country maiden19, while her father, with a mind naturally proud and strong, and supported by religious opinions of a stern, stoical, and unyielding character, had in his time undergone and withstood the most severe hardships, and the most imminent20 peril21, without depression of spirit, or subjugation22 of his constancy. The secret of this difference was, that Jeanie’s mind had already anticipated the line of conduct which she must adopt, with all its natural and necessary consequences; while her father, ignorant of every other circumstance, tormented23 himself with imagining what the one sister might say or swear, or what effect her testimony24 might have upon the awful event of the trial.
He watched his daughter, with a faltering25 and indecisive look, until she looked back upon him, with a look of unutterable anguish26, as she was about to leave the apartment.
“My dear lassie,” said he, “I will.” His action, hastily and confusedly searching for his worsted mittans1 and staff, showed his purpose of accompanying her, though his tongue failed distinctly to announce it.
“Father,” said Jeanie, replying rather to his action than his words, “ye had better not.”
“In the strength of my God,” answered Deans, assuming firmness, “I will go forth27.”
And, taking his daughter’s arm under his, he began to walk from the door with a step so hasty, that she was almost unable to keep up with him. A trifling28 circumstance, but which marked the perturbed29 state of his mind, checked his course.
“Your bonnet30, father?” said Jeanie, who observed he had come out with his grey hairs uncovered. He turned back with a slight blush on his cheek, being ashamed to have been detected in an omission31 which indicated so much mental confusion, assumed his large blue Scottish bonnet, and with a step slower, but more composed, as if the circumstance, had obliged him to summon up his resolution, and collect his scattered32 ideas, again placed his daughter’s arm under his, and resumed the way to Edinburgh.
The courts of justice were then, and are still, held in what is called the Parliament Close, or, according to modern phrase, Parliament Square, and occupied the buildings intended for the accommodation of the Scottish Estates. This edifice33, though in an imperfect and corrupted34 style of architecture, had then a grave, decent, and, as it were, a judicial35 aspect, which was at least entitled to respect from its antiquity36. For which venerable front, I observed, on my last occasional visit to the metropolis37, that modern taste had substituted, at great apparent expense, a pile so utterly38 inconsistent with every monument of antiquity around, and in itself so clumsy at the same time and fantastic, that it may be likened to the decorations of Tom Errand the porter, in the Trip to the Jubilee39, when he appears bedizened with the tawdry finery of Beau Clincher. Sed transeat cum caeteris erroribus.
The small quadrangle, or Close, if we may presume still to give it that appropriate, though antiquated40 title, which at Lichfield, Salisbury, and elsewhere, is properly applied41 to designate the enclosure adjacent to a cathedral, already evinced tokens of the fatal scene which was that day to be acted. The soldiers of the City Guard were on their posts, now enduring, and now rudely repelling42 with the butts43 of their muskets44, the motley crew who thrust each other forward, to catch a glance at the unfortunate object of trial, as she should pass from the adjacent prison to the Court in which her fate was to be determined45. All must have occasionally observed, with disgust, the apathy46 with which the vulgar gaze on scenes of this nature, and how seldom, unless when their sympathies are called forth by some striking and extraordinary circumstance, the crowd evince any interest deeper than that of callous48, unthinking bustle49, and brutal50 curiosity. They laugh, jest, quarrel, and push each other to and fro, with the same unfeeling indifference51 as if they were assembled for some holiday sport, or to see an idle procession. Occasionally, however, this demeanour, so natural to the degraded populace of a large town, is exchanged for a temporary touch of human affections; and so it chanced on the present occasion.
When Deans and his daughter presented themselves in the Close, and endeavoured to make their way forward to the door of the Court-house, they became involved in the mob, and subject, of course, to their insolence52. As Deans repelled53 with some force the rude pushes which he received on all sides, his figure and antiquated dress caught the attention of the rabble54, who often show an intuitive sharpness in ascribing the proper character from external appearance —
“Ye’re welcome, whigs,
Frae Bothwell briggs,”
sung one fellow (for the mob of Edinburgh were at that time jacobitically disposed, probably because that was the line of sentiment most diametrically opposite to existing authority).
“Mess David Williamson,
Chosen of twenty,
Ran up the pu’pit stair,
And sang Killiecrankie,”
chanted a siren, whose profession might be guessed by her appearance. A tattered55 caidie, or errand-porter, whom David Deans had jostled in his attempt to extricate56 himself from the vicinity of these scorners, exclaimed in a strong north-country tone, “Ta deil ding out her Cameronian een — what gies her titles to dunch gentlemans about?”
“Make room for the ruling elder,” said yet another; “he comes to see a precious sister glorify57 God in the Grassmarket!”
“Whisht; shame’s in ye, sirs,” said the voice of a man very loudly, which, as quickly sinking, said in a low but distinct tone, “It’s her father and sister.”
All fell back to make way for the sufferers; and all, even the very rudest and most profligate58, were struck with shame and silence. In the space thus abandoned to them by the mob, Deans stood, holding his daughter by the hand, and said to her, with a countenance59 strongly and sternly expressive60 of his internal emotion, “Ye hear with your ears, and ye see with your eyes, where and to whom the backslidings and defections of professors are ascribed by the scoffers. Not to themselves alone, but to the kirk of which they are members, and to its blessed and invisible Head. Then, weel may we take wi’ patience our share and portion of this outspreading reproach.”
The man who had spoken, no other than our old friend, Dumbiedikes, whose mouth, like that of the prophet’s ass12, had been opened by the emergency of the case, now joined them, and, with his usual taciturnity, escorted them into the Court-house. No opposition62 was offered to their entrance either by the guards or doorkeepers; and it is even said that one of the latter refused a shilling of civility-money tendered him by the Laird of Dumbiedikes, who was of opinion that “siller wad make a’ easy.” But this last incident wants confirmation63.
Admitted within the precincts of the Court-house, they found the usual number of busy office-bearers, and idle loiterers, who attend on these scenes by choice, or from duty. Burghers gaped64 and stared; young lawyers sauntered, sneered65, and laughed, as in the pit of the theatre; while others apart sat on a bench retired66, and reasoned highly, inter47 apices juris, on the doctrines67 of constructive68 crime, and the true import of the statute69. The bench was prepared for the arrival of the judges. The jurors were in attendance. The crown-counsel, employed in looking over their briefs and notes of evidence, looked grave, and whispered with each other. They occupied one side of a large table placed beneath the bench; on the other sat the advocates, whom the humanity of the Scottish law (in this particular more liberal than that of the sister-country) not only permits, but enjoins70, to appear and assist with their advice and skill all persons under trial. Mr. Nichil Novit was seen actively71 instructing the counsel for the panel (so the prisoner is called in Scottish law-phraseology), busy, bustling72, and important. When they entered the Court-room, Deans asked the Laird, in a tremulous whisper, “Where will she sit?”
Dumbiedikes whispered Novit, who pointed73 to a vacant space at the bar, fronting the judges, and was about to conduct Deans towards it.
“No!” he said; “I cannot sit by her — I cannot own her — not as yet, at least — I will keep out of her sight, and turn mine own eyes elsewhere — better for us baith.”
Saddletree, whose repeated interference with the counsel had procured74 him one or two rebuffs, and a special request that he would concern himself with his own matters, now saw with pleasure an opportunity of playing the person of importance. He bustled75 up to the poor old man, and proceeded to exhibit his consequence, by securing, through his interest with the bar-keepers and macers, a seat for Deans, in a situation where he was hidden from the general eye by the projecting corner of the bench.
“It’s gude to have a friend at court,” he said, continuing his heartless harangues76 to the passive auditor77, who neither heard nor replied to them; “few folk but mysell could hae sorted ye out a seat like this — the Lords will be here incontinent, and proceed instanter to trial. They wunna fence the Court as they do at the Circuit — the High Court of Justiciary is aye fenced. — But, Lord’s sake, what’s this o’t — Jeanie, ye are a cited witness — Macer, this lass is a witness — she maun be enclosed — she maun on nae account be at large. — Mr. Novit, suldna Jeanie Deans be enclosed?”
Novit answered in the affirmative, and offered to conduct Jeanie to the apartment, where, according to the scrupulous78 practice of the Scottish Court, the witnesses remain in readiness to be called into Court to give evidence; and separated, at the same time, from all who might influence their testimony, or give them information concerning that which was passing upon the trial.
“Is this necessary?” said Jeanie, still reluctant to quit her father’s hand.
“A matter of absolute needcessity,” said Saddletree, “wha ever heard of witnesses no being enclosed?”
“It is really a matter of necessity,” said the younger counsellor, retained for her sister; and Jeanie reluctantly followed the macer of the Court to the place appointed.
“This, Mr. Deans,” said Saddletree, “is ca’d sequestering79 a witness; but it’s clean different (whilk maybe ye wadna fund out o’ yoursell) frae sequestering ane’s estate or effects, as in cases of bankruptcy80. I hae aften been sequestered81 as a witness, for the Sheriff is in the use whiles to cry me in to witness the declarations at precognitions, and so is Mr. Sharpitlaw; but I was ne’er like to be sequestered o’ land and gudes but ance, and that was lang syne82, afore I was married. But whisht, whisht! here’s the Court coming.”
As he spoke61, the five Lords of Justiciary, in their long robes of scarlet83, faced with white, and preceded by their mace-bearer, entered with the usual formalities, and took their places upon the bench of judgment84.
The audience rose to receive them; and the bustle occasioned by their entrance was hardly composed, when a great noise and confusion of persons struggling, and forcibly endeavouring to enter at the doors of the Court-room, and of the galleries, announced that the prisoner was about to be placed at the bar. This tumult85 takes place when the doors, at first only opened to those either having right to be present, or to the better and more qualified86 ranks, are at length laid open to all whose curiosity induces them to be present on the occasion. With inflamed87 countenances88 and dishevelled dresses, struggling with, and sometimes tumbling over each other, in rushed the rude multitude, while a few soldiers, forming, as it were, the centre of the tide, could scarce, with all their efforts, clear a passage for the prisoner to the place which she was to occupy. By the authority of the Court, and the exertions89 of its officers, the tumult among the spectators was at length appeased90, and the unhappy girl brought forward, and placed betwixt two sentinels with drawn91 bayonets, as a prisoner at the bar, where she was to abide92 her deliverance for good or evil, according to the issue of her trial.
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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3
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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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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exculpation
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| n.使无罪，辩解 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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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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11
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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13
imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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14
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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vacillation
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| n.动摇；忧柔寡断 | |
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17
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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19
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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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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21
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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22
subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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23
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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24
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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29
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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31
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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32
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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33
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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34
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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35
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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36
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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37
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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38
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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39
jubilee
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| n.周年纪念；欢乐 | |
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40
antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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41
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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42
repelling
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| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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56
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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glorify
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| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
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58
profligate
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| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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61
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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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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enjoins
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| v.命令( enjoin的第三人称单数 ) | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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harangues
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| n.高谈阔论的长篇演讲( harangue的名词复数 )v.高谈阔论( harangue的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77
auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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78
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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79
sequestering
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| v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的现在分词 )；扣押 | |
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80
bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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81
sequestered
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| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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82
syne
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| adv.自彼时至此时，曾经 | |
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83
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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84
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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85
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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86
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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87
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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89
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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90
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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91
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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92
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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