the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第26章
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without taking away their arms； for the Whigs are very likely to draw to a
head under such a sprightly young fellow as that。〃
〃For shame； Sir Frederick！〃 exclaimed Mareschal； 〃do you think that
Ellieslaw could； in honour； consent to any violence being offered to
Earnscliff； when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter？
or； if he were to be of your opinion； do you think that I； and the rest of
these gentlemen； would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such a
transaction？ No； no； fair play and auld Scotland for ever！ When the
sword is drawn； I will be as ready to use it as any man； but while it is in
the sheath； let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours。〃
Soon after this colloquy they reached the castle； when Ellieslaw； who
had been arrived a few minutes before； met them in the court… yard。
〃How is Miss Vere？ and have you learned the cause of her being
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carried off？〃 asked Mareschal hastily。
〃She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued； and I cannot expect
much light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited；〃
replied her father。 〃She and I were not the less obliged to you； Mareschal；
and to my other friends； for their kind enquiries。 But I must suppress the
father's feelings for a while to give myself up to those of the patriot。 You
know this is the day fixed for our final decisiontime pressesour friends
are arriving； and I have opened house； not only for the gentry； but for the
under spur…leathers whom we must necessarily employ。 We have；
therefore； little time to prepare to meet them。Look over these lists；
Marchie （an abbreviation by which Mareschal…Wells was known among
his friends）。 Do you； Sir Frederick； read these letters from Lothian and
the westall is ripe for the sickle； and we have but to summon out the
reapers。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Mareschal； 〃the more mischief the better
sport。〃
Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted。
〃Walk aside with me； my good friend；〃 said Ellieslaw to the sombre
baronet； 〃I have something for your private ear； with which I know you
will be gratified。〃
They walked into the house； leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standing
together in the court。
〃And so；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃the gentlemen of your political persuasion
think the downfall of this government so certain； that they disdain even to
throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party？〃
〃Faith； Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 answered Mareschal； 〃the actions and
sentiments YOUR friends may require to be veiled； but I am better pleased
that ours can go barefaced。〃
〃And is it possible；〃 continued Ratcliffe； 〃that you； who；
notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper （I beg pardon；
Mr。 Mareschal； I am a plain man）that you； who； notwithstanding these
constitutional defects； possess natural good sense and acquired
information； should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in such
desperate proceedings？ How does your head feel when you are engaged
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in these dangerous conferences？〃
〃Not quite so secure on my shoulders；〃 answered Mareschal； 〃as if I
were talking of hunting and hawking。 I am not of so indifferent a mould
as my cousin Ellieslaw； who speaks treason as if it were a child's nursery
rhymes； and loses and recovers that sweet girl； his daughter； with a good
deal less emotion on both occasions； than would have affected me had I
lost and recovered a greyhound puppy。 My temper is not quite so
inflexible； nor my hate against government so inveterate； as to blind me to
the full danger of the attempt。〃
〃Then why involve yourself in it？〃 said Ratcliffe。
〃Why； I love this poor exiled king with all my heart； and my father
was an old Killiecrankie man； and I long to see some amends on the
Unionist courtiers； that have bought and sold old Scotland； whose crown
has been so long independent。〃
〃And for the sake of these shadows；〃 said his monitor； 〃you are going
to involve your country in war and yourself in trouble？〃
〃I involve？ No！but； trouble for trouble； I had rather it came to…
morrow than a month hence。 COME； I know it will； and； as your country
folks say； better soon than syneit will never find me youngerand as for
hanging； as Sir John Falstaff says； I can become a gallows as well as
another。 You know the end of the old ballad；
〃Sae dauntonly； sae wantonly； Sae rantingly gaed he； He play'd
a spring； and danced a round； Beneath the gallows tree。〃
〃Mr。 Mareschal； I am sorry for you；〃 said his grave adviser。
〃I am obliged to you； Mr。 Ratcliffe； but I would not have you judge of
our enterprise by my way of vindicating it； there are wiser heads than
mine at the work。〃
〃Wiser heads than yours may lie as low；〃 said Ratcliffe； in a warning
tone。
〃Perhaps so； but no lighter heart shall； and； to prevent it being made
heavier by your remonstrances； I will bid you adieu； Mr。 Ratcliffe； till
dinner…time； when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiled
my appetite。〃
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CHAPTER XIII。
To face the garment of rebellion With some fine colour； that may
please the eye Of fickle changelings； and poor discontents； Which
gape and rub the elbow at the news Of hurlyburly innovation。HENRY
THE FOURTH； PART II。
There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for the
entertainment on this important day； when not only the gentlemen of note
in the neighbourhood； attached to the Jacobite interest； were expected to
rendezvous； but also many subordinate malecontents； whom difficulty of
circumstances； love of change； resentment against England； or any of the
numerous causes which inflamed men's passions at the time； rendered apt
to join in perilous enterprise。 The men of rank and substance were not
many in number； for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof； and most
of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterian persuasion；
and therefore； however displeased with the Union； unwilling to engage in
a Jacobite conspiracy。 But there were some gentlemen of property； who；
either from early principle； from religious motives； or sharing the
ambitious views of Ellieslaw； had given countenance to his scheme； and
there were； also； some fiery young men； like Mareschal； desirous of
signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous enterprise； by which
they hoped to vindicate the independence of their country。 The other
members of the party were persons of inferior rank and desperate fortunes；
who were now ready to rise in that part of the country； as they did
afterwards in the year 1715； under Forster and Derwentwater； when a
troop； commanded by a Border gentleman； named Douglas； consisted
almost entirely of freebooters； among whom the notorious Luck…in…a…bag；
as he was called； held a distinguished command。 We think it necessary to
mention these particulars； applicable solely to the province in which our
scene lies； because； unquestionably； the Jacobite party； in the other parts of
the kingdom； consisted of much more formidable； as well as much more
respectable； materials。
One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle；
which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundred
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years before； stretching； that is； in gloomy length； along the whole side of
the castle； vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone； the groins of which
sprung from projecting figures； that； carved into all the wild forms which
the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect could devise； grinned；
frowned； and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below。 Long narrow
windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides； filled up with stained
glass； through which the sun emitted a dusky and discoloured light。 A
banner； which tradition averred to have been taken from the English at the
battle of Sark； waved over the chair in which Ellieslaw presided； as if to
inflame the courage of the guests； by reminding them of ancient victories
over their neighbours。 He himself； a portly figure； dressed on this occasion
with uncommon care； and with features； which； though of a stern and
sinister expression； might well be termed handsome； looked the old feudal
baron extremely well。 Sir Frederick Langley was placed on his right
hand； and Mr。 Mareschal of Mareschal…Wells on his left。 Some
gentlemen of consideration； with their sons； brothers； and nephews； were
seated at the upper end of the table； and among these Mr。 Ratcliffe had his
place。 Beneath the salt… cellar （a massive piece of plate which occupied
the midst of the table） sate the SINE NOMINE TURBA； men whose
vanity was gratified by holding even this subordinate space at the social
board； while the distinction observed in ranking them was a salve to the
pride of their superiors。 That the lower house was not very select must
be admitted； since Willie of Westburnflat was one of the party。 The
unabashed audacity of this fellow； in daring to present himself in the house
of a gentleman； to whom he had just offered so flagrant an insult； can only
be accounted for by supposing him conscious that his share in carrying of
