redgauntlet-第30部分

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bout　itMy　head　never　settled　weel　since　I　lost　him；　and　if　I　say　another　word　about　it；　deil　a　bar　will　I　have　the　heart　to　play　the　night。Look　out；　my　gentle　chap；'　he　resumed　in　a　different　tone；　'ye　should　see　the　lights　at　Brokenburn　glen　by　this　time。'




LETTER　XII

THE　SAME　TO　THE　SAME

　　Tam　Luter　was　their　minstrel　meet；　　　　　Gude　Lord　as　he　could　lance；　　　He　play'd　sae　shrill；　and　sang　sae　sweet；　　　　　Till　Towsie　took　a　trance。　　　Auld　Lightfoot　there　he　did　forleet；　　　　　And　counterfeited　France；　　　He　used　himself　as　man　discreet；　　　　　And　up　took　Morrice　danse　sae　loud；　　　At　Christ's　Kirk　on　the　Green　that　day。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KING　JAMES　I。

I　continue　to　scribble　at　length；　though　the　subject　may　seem　somewhat　deficient　in　interest。　　Let　the　grace　of　the　narrative；　therefore；　and　the　concern　we　take　in　each　other's　matters；　make　amends　for　its　tenuity。　　We　fools　of　fancy　who　suffer　ourselves；　like　Malvolio；　to　be　cheated　with　our　own　visions；　have；　nevertheless；　this　advantage　over　the　wise　ones　of　the　earth；　that　we　have　our　whole　stock　of　enjoyments　under　our　own　command；　and　can　dish　for　ourselves　an　intellectual　banquet　with　most　moderate　assistance　from　external　objects。　　It　is；　to　be　sure；　something　like　the　feast　which　the　Barmecide　served　up　to　Alnaschar；　and　we　cannot　expect　to　get　fat　upon　such　diet。　　But　then；　neither　is　there　repletion　nor　nausea；　which　often　succeed　the　grosser　and　more　material　revel。　　On　the　whole；　I　still　pray；　with　the　Ode　to　Castle　Building

　　Give　me　thy　hope　which　sickens　not　the　heart；　　　　　Give　me　thy　wealth　which　has　no　wings　to　fly；　　　Give　me　the　bliss　thy　visions　can　impart：　　　　　Thy　friendship　give　me；　warm　in　poverty！

And　so；　despite　thy　solemn　smile　and　sapient　shake　of　the　head；　I　will　go　on　picking　such　interest　as　I　can　out　of　my　trivial　adventures；　even　though　that　interest　should　be　the　creation　of　my　own　fancy；　nor　will　I　cease　to　indict　on　thy　devoted　eyes　the　labour　of　perusing　the　scrolls　in　which　I　shall　record　my　narrative。

My　last　broke　off　as　we　were　on　the　point　of　descending　into　the　glen　at　Brokenburn；　by　the　dangerous　track　which　I　had　first　travelled　EN　CROUPE；　behind　a　furious　horseman；　and　was　now　again　to　brave　under　the　precarious　guidance　of　a　blind　man。

It　was　now　getting　dark；　but　this　was　no　inconvenience　to　my　guide；　who　moved　on；　as　formerly；　with　instinctive　security　of　step；　so　that　we　soon　reached　the　bottom；　and　I　could　see　lights　twinkling　in　the　cottage　which　had　been　my　place　of　refuge　on　a　former　occasion。　　It　was　not　thither；　however；　that　our　course　was　directed。　　We　left　the　habitation　of　the　laird　to　the　left；　and　turning　down　the　brook；　soon　approached　the　small　hamlet　which　had　been　erected　at　the　mouth　of　the　stream；　probably　on　account　of　the　convenience　which　it　afforded　as　a　harbour　to　the　fishing…boats。　　A　large；　low　cottage；　full　in　our　front；　seemed　highly　illuminated；　for　the　light　not　only　glanced　from　every　window　and　aperture　in　its　frail　walls；　but　was　even　visible　from　rents　and　fractures　in　the　roof；　composed　of　tarred　shingles；　repaired　in　part　by　thatch　and　divot。

While　these　appearances　engaged　my　attention；　that　of　my　companion　was　attracted　by　a　regular　succession　of　sounds；　like　a　bouncing　on　the　floor；　mixed　with　a　very　faint　noise　of　music；　which　Willie's　acute　organs　at　once　recognized　and　accounted　for；　while　to　me　it　was　almost　inaudible。　　The　old　man　struck　the　earth　with　his　staff　in　a　violent　passion。　　'The　whoreson　fisher　rabble！　　They　have　brought　another　violer　upon　my　walk！　　They　are　such　smuggling　blackguards；　that　they　must　run　in　their　very　music；　but　I'll　sort　them　waur　than　ony　gauger　in　the　country。　Stayharkit　's　no　a　fiddle　neitherit's　the　pipe　and　tabor　bastard；　Simon　of　Sowport；　frae　the　Nicol　Forest；　but　I'll　pipe　and　tabor　him！Let　me　hae　ance　my　left　hand　on　his　cravat；　and　ye　shall　see　what　my　right　will　do。　　Come　away；　chapcome　away；　gentle　chapnae　time　to　be　picking　and　waling　your　steps。'　　And　on　he　passed　with　long　and　determined　strides；　dragging　me　along　with　him。

I　was　not　quite　easy　in　his　company；　for；　now　that　his　minstrel　pride　was　hurt；　the　man　had　changed　from　the　quiet；　decorous；　I　might　almost　say　respectable　person；　which　he　seemed　while　he　told　his　tale；　into　the　appearance　of　a　fierce；　brawling；　dissolute　stroller。　　So　that　when　he　entered　the　large　hut；　where　a　great　number　of　fishers；　with　their　wives　and　daughters；　were　engaged　in　eating；　drinking；　and　dancing；　I　was　somewhat　afraid　that　the　impatient　violence　of　my　companion　might　procure　us　an　indifferent　reception。

But　the　universal　shout　of　welcome　with　which　Wandering　Willie　was　receivedthe　hearty　congratulationsthe　repeated　'Here's　t'　ye；　Willie！''Where　hae　ya　been；　ye　blind　deevil？'　　and　the　call　upon　him　to　pledge　themabove　all；　the　speed　with　which　the　obnoxious　pipe　and　tabor　were　put　to　silence；　gave　the　old　man　such　effectual　assurance　of　undiminished　popularity　and　importance；　as　at　once　put　his　jealousy　to　rest；　and　changed　his　tone　of　offended　dignity　into　one　better　fitted　to　receive　such　cordial　greetings。　　Young　men　and　women　crowded　round；　to　tell　how　much　they　were　afraid　some　mischance　had　detained　him；　and　how　two　or　three　young　fellows　had　set　out　in　quest　of　him。

'It　was　nae　mischance；　praised　be　Heaven；'　said　Willie；　'but　the　absence　of　the　lazy　loon　Rob　the　Rambler；　my　comrade；　that　didna　come　to　meet　me　on　the　Links；　but　I　hae　gotten　a　braw　consort　in　his　stead；　worth　a　dozen　of　him；　the　unhanged　blackguard。'

'And　wha　is't　tou's　gotten；　Wullie；　lad？'　　said　half　a　score　of　voices；　while　all　eyes　were　turned　on　your　humble　servant；　who　kept　the　best　countenance　he　could；　though　not　quite　easy　at　becoming　the　centre　to　which　all　eyes　were　pointed。

'I　ken　him　by　his　hemmed　cravat；'　said　one　fellow；　'it's　Gil　Hobson；　the　souple　tailor　frae　Burgh。　　Ye　are　welcome　to　Scotland；　ye　prick…the…clout　loon；'　he　said；　thrusting　forth　a　paw；　much　the　colour　of　a　badger's　back；　and　of　most　portentous　dimensions。

'Gil　Hobson？　　Gil　whoreson！'　　exclaimed　Wandering　Willie；　'it's　a　gentle　chap　that　I　judge　to　be　an　apprentice　wi'　auld　Joshua　Geddes；　to　the　quaker…trade。'

'What　trade　be's　that；　man？'　　said　he　of　the　badger…coloured　fist。

'Canting　and　lying；'said　Willie；　which　produced　a　thundering　laugh；　'but　I　am　teaching　the　callant　a　better　trade；　and　that　is；　feasting　and　fiddling。'

Willie's　conduct　in　thus　announcing　something　like　my　real　character；　was　contrary　to　compact；　and　yet　I　was　rather　glad　he　did　so；　for　the　consequence　of　putting　a　trick　upon　these　rude　and　ferocious　men；　might；　in　case　of　discovery；　have　been　dangerous　to　us　both；　and　I　was　at　the　same　time　delivered　from　the　painful　effort　to　support　a　fictitious　character。　　The　good　company；　except　perhaps　one　or　two　of　the　young　women　whose　looks　expressed　some　desire　for　better　acquaintance；　gave　themselves　no　further　trouble　about　me；　but；　while　the　seniors　resumed　their　places　near　an　immense　bowl　or　rather　reeking　cauldron　of　brandy…　punch；　the　younger　arranged　themselves　on　the　floor　and　called　loudly　on　Willie　to　strike　up。

With　a　brief　caution　to　me；　to　'mind　my　credit；　for　fishers　have　ears；　though　fish　have　none；'　Willie　led　off　in　capital　style；　and　I　followed；　certainly　not　so　as　to　disgrace　my　companion；　who；　every　now　and　then；　gave　me　a　nod　of　approbation。　　The　dances　were；　of　course；　the　Scottish　jigs；　and　reels；　and　'twasome　dances'；　with　a　strathspey　or　hornpipe　for　interlude；　and　the　want　of　grace　on　the　part　of　the　performers　was　amply　supplied　by　truth　of　ear；　vigour　and　decision　of　step；　and　the　agility　proper　to　the　northern　performers。　　My　own　spirits　rose　with　the　mirth　around　me；　and　with　old　Willie's　admirable　execution；　and　frequent　'weel　dune；　gentle　chap；　yet；'and；　to　confess　the　truth；　I　felt　a　great　deal　more　pleasure　in　this　rustic　revel；　than　I　have　done　at　the　more　formal　balls　and　concerts　in　your　famed　city；　to　which　I　have　sometimes　made　my　way。　　Perhaps　this　was　because　I　was　a　person　of　more　importance　to　the　presiding　matron　of　Brokenburn…foot；　than　I　had　the　means　of　rendering　myself　to　the　far…famed　Miss　Nickie　Murray；　the　patroness　of　your　Edinburgh　assemblies。　　The　person　I　mean　was　a　buxom　dame　of　about　thirty；　her　fingers　loaded　with　many　a　silver　ring；　and　three　or　four　of　gold；　her　ankles　liberally　displayed　from　under　her　numerous　blue；　white；　and　scarlet；　short　petticoats；　and　attired　in　hose　of　the　finest　and　whitest　lamb's…　wool；　which　arose　from　shoes　of　Spanish　cordwain；　fastened　with　silver　buckles。　　She　took　the　lead　in　my　favour；　and　declared；　'that　the　brave　young　gentleman　should　not　weary　himself　to　death　wi'　playing；　but　take　the　floor　for　a　dance　or　twa。'

'And　what's　to　come　of　me；　Dame　Martin？'　　said　Willie。

'Come　o'　thee？'　　said　the　dame；　'mishanter　on　the　auld　beard　o'　ye！　　ye　could　play　for　twenty　hours　on　end；　and　tire　out　the　haill　countryside　wi'　dancing　before　ye　laid　down　your　bow；　saving　for　a　by…drink　or　the　like　o'　that。'

'In　troth；　dame；'　answered　Willie；　'ye　are　no　sae　far　wrang；　sae　if　my　comrade　is　to　take　his　dance；　ye　maun　gie　me　my　drink；　and　then　bob　it　away　like　Madge　of　Middlebie。'

The　drink　was　soon　brought；　but　while　Willie　was　partaking　of　it；　a　party　entered　the　hut；　which　arrested　my　attention　at　once；　and　intercepted　the　intended　gallantry　with　which　I　had　proposed　to　present　my　hand　to　the　fresh…coloured；　well…made；　white…ankled　Thetis；　who　had　obtained　me　manumission　from　my　musical　task。

This　was　nothing　less　than　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　old　woman　whom　the　laird　had　termed　Mabel；　Cristal　Nixon；　his　male　attendant；　and　the　young　person　who　had　said　grace　to　us　when　I　supped　with　him。

This　young　personAlan；　thou　art　in　thy　way　a　bit　of　a　conjurer　this　young　person　whom　I　DID　NOT　describe；　and　whom　you；　for　that　very　reason；　suspected　was　not　an　indifferent　object　to　me　is；　I　am　sorry　to　say　it；　in　very　fact　not　so　much　so　as　in　prudence　she　ought。　　I　will　not　use　the　name　of　love　on　this　occasion；　for　I　have　applied　it　too　often　to　transient　whims　and　fancies　to　escape　your　satire；　should　I　venture　to　apply　it　now。　For　it　is　a　phrase；　I　must　confess；　which　I　have　useda　roman