guy mannering-第97部分

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〃I　have　ever　understood；〃　he　says；　speaking　of　the　Yetholm　gipsies；　〃that　they　are　extremely　superstitiouscarefully　noticing　the　formation　of　the　clouds；　the　flight　of　particular　birds；　and　the　soughing　of　the　winds；　before　attempting　any　enterprise。　They　have　been　known　for　several　successive　days　to　turn　back　with　their　loaded　carts；　asses；　and　children；　on　meeting　with　persons　whom　they　considered　of　unlucky　aspect；　nor　do　they　ever　proceed　on　their　summer　peregrinations　without　some　propitious　omen　of　their　fortunate　return。

〃They　also　burn　the　clothes　of　their　dead；　not　so　much　from　any　apprehension　of　infection　being　communicated　by　them；　as　the　conviction　that　the　very　circumstance　of　wearing　them　would　shorten　the　days　of　their　living。　They　likewise　carefully　watch　the　corpse　by　night　and　day　till　the　time　of　interment；　and　conceive　that　'the　deil　tinkles　at　the　lykewake'　of　those　who　felt　in　their　dead…thraw　the　agonies　and　terrors　of　remorse。〃

These　notions　are　not　peculiar　to　the　gipsies；　but　having　been　once　generally　entertained　among　the　Scottish　common　people；　are　now　only　found　among　those　who　are　the　most　rude　in　their　habits；　and　most　devoid　of　instruction。　The　popular　idea；　that　the　protracted　struggle　between　life　and　death　is　painfully　prolonged　by　keeping　the　door　of　the　apartment　shut；　was　received　as　certain　by　the　superstitious　eld　of　Scotland。　But　neither　was　it　to　be　thrown　wide　open。　To　leave　the　door　ajar；　was　the　plan　adopted　by　the　old　crones　who　understood　the　mysteries　of　deathbeds　and　lykewakes。　In　that　case；　there　was　room　for　the　imprisoned　spirit　to　escape；　and　yet　an　obstacle；　we　have　been　assured；　was　offered　to　the　entrance　of　any　frightful　form　which　might　otherwise　intrude　itself。　The　threshold　of　a　habitation　was　in　some　sort　a　sacred　limit；　and　the　subject　of　much　superstition。　A　bride；　even　to　this　day；　is　always　lifted　over　it；　a　rule　derived　apparently　from　the　Romans。


Note　VI。TAPPIT　HEN。

The　Tappit　Hen　contained　three　quarts　of　claret

Weel　she　loed　a　Hawick　gill；　And　leugh　to　see　a　Tappit　Hen。

I　have　seen　one　of　these　formidable　stoups　at　Provost　Haswell's；　at　Jedburgh；　in　the　days　of　yore。　It　was　a　pewter　measure；　the　claret　being　in　ancient　days　served　from　the　tap；　and　had　the　figure　of　a　hen　upon　the　lid。　In　later　times；　the　name　was　given　to　a　glass　bottle　of　the　same　dimensions。　These　are　rare　apparitions　among　the　degenerate　topers　of　modern　days。

Note　VII。CONVIVIAL　HABITS　OF　THE　SCOTTISH　BAR。

The　account　given　by　Mr。　Pleydell；　of　his　sitting　down　in　the　midst　of　a　revel　to　draw　an　appeal　case；　was　taken　from　a　story　told　me　by　an　aged　gentleman；　of　the　elder　President　Dundas　of　Arniston　（father　of　the　younger　President；　and　of　Lord　Melville）。　It　had　been　thought　very　desirable；　while　that　distinguished　lawyer　was　King's　counsel；　that　his　assistance　should　be　obtained　in　drawing　an　appeal　case；　which；　as　occasion　for　such　writings　then　rarely　occurred；　was　held　to　be　matter　of　great　nicety。　The　solicitor　employed　for　the　appellant；　attended　by　my　informant　acting　as　his　clerk；　went　to　the　Lord　Advocate's　chambers　in　the　Fishmarket　Close；　as　I　think。　It　was　Saturday　at　noon；　the　Court　was　just　dismissed；　the　Lord　Advocate　had　changed　his　dress　and　booted　himself；　and　his　servant　and　horses　were　at　the　foot　of　the　close　to　carry　him　to　Arniston。　It　was　scarcely　possible　to　get　him　to　listen　to　a　word　respecting　business。　The　wily　agent；　however；　on　pretence　of　asking　one　or　two　questions；　which　would　not　detain　him　half　an　hour；　drew　his　Lordship；　who　was　no　less　an　eminent　bon　vivant　than　a　lawyer　of　unequalled　talent；　to　take　a　whet　at　a　celebrated　tavern；　when　the　learned　counsel　became　gradually　'Involved　in　a　spirited　discussion　of　the　law　points　of　the　case。　At　length　it　occurred　to　him；　that　he　might　as　well　ride　to　Arniston　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。　The　horses　were　directed　to　he　put　in　the　stable；　but　not　to　be　unsaddled。　Dinner　was　ordered；　the　law　was　laid　aside　for　a　time；　and　the　bottle　circulated　very　freely。　At　nine　o'clock　at　night；　after　he　bad　been　honouring　Bacchus　for　so　many　hours；　the　Lord　Advocate　ordered　his　horses　to　be　unsaddled；paper；　pen；　and　ink　were　broughthe　began　to　dictate　the　appeal　caseand　continued　at　his　task　till　four　o'clock　the　next　morning。　By　next　day's　post；　the　solicitor　sent　the　case　to　London；　a　chef…d'oeuvre　of　its　kind；　and　in　which；　my　informant　assured　me；　it　was　not　necessary　on　revisal　to　correct　five　words。　I　am　not；　therefore；　conscious　of　having　overstepped　accuracy　in　describing　the　manner　in　which　Scottish　lawyers　of　the　old　time　occasionally　united　the　worship　of　Bacchus　with　that　of　Themis。　My　informant　was　Alexander　Keith；　Esq。；　grandfather　to　my　friend；　the　present　Sir　Alexander　Keith　of　Ravelstone；　and　apprentice　at　the　time　to　the　writer　who　conducted　the　cause。


Note　VIII。LORD　MONBODDO；

The　Burnet；　whose　taste　for　the　evening　meal　of　the　ancients　is　quoted　by　Mr。　Pleydell；　was　the　celebrated　metaphysician　and　excellent　man；　Lord　Monboddo；　whose　coenae　will　not　be　soon　forgotten　by　those　who　have　shared　his　classic　hospitality。　As　a　Scottish　judge；　he　took　the　designation　of　his　family　estate。　His　philosophy；　as　is　well　known；　was　of　a　fanciful　and　somewhat　fantastic　character；　but　his　learning　was　deep；　and　he　was　possessed　of　a　singular　power　of　eloquence；　which　reminded　the　hearer　of　the　os　rotundum　of　the　Grove　；or　Academe。　Enthusiastically　partial　to　classical　habits；　his　entertainments　were　always　given　in　the　evening；　when　there　was　a　circulation　of　excellent　Bordeaux；　in　flasks　garlanded　with　roses；　which　were　also　strewed　on　the　table　after　the　manner　of　Horace。　The；　best　society；　whether　in　respect　of　rank　or　literary　distinction；　was　always　to　be　found　in　St。　John's　Street；　Canongate。　The　conversation　of　the　excellent　old　man；　his　high；　gentleman…like；　chivalrous　spirit；　the　learning　and　wit　with　which　he　defended　his　fanciful　paradoxes；　the　kind　and　liberal　spirit　of　his　hospitality；　must　render　these　noctes　coenaeque　dear　to　all　who；　like　the　author　（though　then　young）；　had　the　honour　of　sitting　at　his　board。

Note　IX。LAWYERS'　SLEEPLESS　NIGHTS。

It　is　probably　true；　as　observed　by　Counsellor　Pleydell；　that　a　lawyer's　anxiety　about　his　case；　supposing　him　to　have　been　some　time　in　practice；　will　seldom　disturb　his　rest　or　digestion。　Clients　will；　however；　sometimes　fondly　entertain　a　different　opinion。　I　was　told　by　an　excellent　judge；　now　no　more；　of　a　country　gentleman；　who；　addressing　his　leading　counsel；　my　informer；　then　an　advocate　in　great　practice；　on　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　the　case　was　to　be　pleaded；　said；　with　singular　bonhomie；　〃Weel；　my　lord　（the　counsel　was　Lord　Advocate）；　〃the　awful　day　is　come　at　last。　I　have　nae　been　able　to　sleep　a　wink　for　thinking　of　itnor；　I　dare　say　your　Lordship　either。〃



ADDITIONAL　NOTE

GALWEGIAN　LOCALITIES　AND　PERSONAGES　WHICH　HAVE　BEEN　SUPPOSED　TO　BE　ALLUDED　TO　IN　THE　NOVEL。

An　old　English　proverb　says；　that　more　know　Torn　Fool　than　Tom　Fool　knows；　and　the　influence　of　the　adage　seems　to　extend　to　works　composed　under　the　influence　of　an　idle　or　foolish　planet。　Many　corresponding　circumstances　are　detected　by　readers；　of　which　the　author　did　not　suspect　the　existence。　He　must；　however；　regard　it　as　a　great　compliment；　that　in　detailing　incidents　purely　imaginary；　he　has　been　so　fortunate　in　approximating　reality；　as　to　remind　his　readers　of　actual　occurrences。　It　is　therefore　with　pleasure　he　notices　some　pieces　of　local　history　and　tradition；　which　have　been　supposed　to　coincide　with　the　fictitious　persons。　incidents；　and　scenery　of　Guy　Mannering。

The　prototype　of　Dirk　Hatteraick　is　considered　as　having　been　a　Dutch　skipper　called　Yawkins。　This　man　was　well　known　on　the　coast　of　Galloway　and　Dumfriesshire；　as　sole　proprietor　and　master　of　a　Buckkar；　or　smuggling　lugger；　called　the　Black　Prince。　Being　distinguished　by　his　nautical　skill　and　intrepidity；　his　vessel　was　frequently　freighted；　and　his　own　services　employed；　by　French；　Dutch；　Manx；　and　Scottish　smuggling　companies。

A　person　well　known　by　the　name　of　Buckkar…tea；　from　having　been　a　noted　smuggler　of　that　article；　and　also　by　that　of　Bogle…Bush；　the　place　of　his　residence；　assured　my　kind　informant；　Mr。　Train；　that　he　had　frequently　seen　upwards　of　two　hundred　Lingtow…men　assemble　at　one　time；　and　go　off　into　the　interior　of　the　country；　fully　laden　with　contraband　goods。

In　those　halcyon　days　of　the　free　trade；　the　fixed　price　for　carrying　a　box　of　tea；　or　bale　of　tobacco；　from　the　coast　of　Galloway　to　Edinburgh；　was　fifteen　shillings；　and　a　man　with　horses　carried　four　such　packages。　The　trade　was　entirely　destroyed　by　Mr。　Pitt's　celebrated　commutation　law；　which；　by　reducing　the　duties　upon　excisable　articles；　enabled　lawful　dealer　to　compete　with　the　smuggler。　The　statute　was　called　in　Galloway　and　Dumfriesshire；　by　those　who　had　thriven　upon　the　contraband　trade；　〃the　burning　and　starving　act。〃

Sure　of　such　active　assistance　on　shore；　Yawkins　demeaned　himself　so　boldly；　that　his　mere　name　was　a　terror　to　the　officers　of　the　revenue。　He　availed　himself　of　the　fears　which　presence　inspired　on　one　particular　night；　when；　happening　to　be　ashore　with　a　considerable　quantity　of　goods　in　his　sole　custody；　a　strong　party　of　excisemen　came　down　on　him。　Far　from　shunning　the　attack；　Yawkins　sprung　forward；　shouting；　〃Come　on；　my　lads；　Yawkins　is　before　you。〃　The　revenue　officers　were　intimidated；　and　relinquished　their　prize；　though　defended　only　by　the　courage　and　address　of　a　single　man。　On　his　proper　element；　Yawkins　was　equally　successful。　one　occasion；　he　was　landing　his　cargo　at　the　Manxman's　lake；　near　Kirkcudbright；　when　two　revenue　cutters　（the　Pigmy　and　the　Dwarf）　hove　in　sight　at　once　on　different　tacks；　the　coming　round　by　the　Isles　of　Fleet；　the　other　between　the　point　of　Rueberry　and　the　Muckle　Ron。　The　dauntless　free…trader　instantly　weighed　anchor；　and　bore　down　right　between　the　luggers；　so　close　that　he　tossed　his　hat　on　the　deck　of　the　one　and　his　wig　on　that　of　the　other；　hoisted　a　cask　to　his　maintop；　to　show　his　occupation；　and　bore　away　under　an　extraordinary　pressure　of　canvas；　without　receiving　injury。　To　account　for　these