the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
surly； and though he by no means refused assistance or charity； he seldom
either expressed or exhibited much gratitude。 Even towards persons who
had been his greatest benefactors； and who possessed the greatest share of
his good… will； he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy。 A
lady who had known him from his infancy； and who has furnished us in
the most obliging manner with some particulars respecting him； says； that
although Davie showed as much respect and attachment to her father's
family； as it was in his nature to show to any； yet they were always obliged
to be very cautious in their deportment towards him。 One day； having
gone to visit him with another lady； he took them through his garden； and
9
… Page 10…
THE BLACK DWARF
was showing them； with much pride and good…humour； all his rich and
tastefully assorted borders； when they happened to stop near a plot of
cabbages which had been somewhat injured by the caterpillars。 Davie；
observing one of the ladies smile； instantly assumed his savage； scowling
aspect； rushed among the cabbages； and dashed them to pieces with his
KENT； exclaiming； 'I hate the worms； for they mock me！'
〃Another lady； likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his； very
unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion。
Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden；
he fancied he observed her spit； and exclaimed； with great ferocity； 'Am I a
toad； woman！ that ye spit at methat ye spit at me？' and without
listening to any answer or excuse； drove her out of his garden with
imprecations and insult。 When irritated by persons for whom he
entertained little respect； his misanthropy displayed itself in words； and
sometimes in actions； of still greater rudeness； and he used on such
occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and
threats。〃 ＇SCOTS MAGAZINE； vol。 lxxx。 p。207。＇
Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works；
and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate； which does not possess
some source of gratification peculiar to itself； This poor man； whose
misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity；
had yet his own particular enjoyments。 Driven into solitude； he became
an admirer of the beauties of nature。 His garden； which he sedulously
cultivated； and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot；
was his pride and his delight； but he was also an admirer of more natural
beauty： the soft sweep of the green hill； the bubbling of a clear fountain；
or the complexities of a wild thicket； were scenes on which he often gazed
for hours； and； as he said； with inexpressible delight。 It was perhaps for
this reason that he was fond of Shenstone's pastorals； and some parts of
PARADISE LOST。 The author has heard his most unmusical voice
repeat the celebrated description of Paradise； which he seemed fully to
appreciate。 His other studies were of a different cast； chiefly polemical。
He never went to the parish church； and was therefore suspected of
entertaining heterodox opinions； though his objection was probably to the
10
… Page 11…
THE BLACK DWARF
concourse of spectators； to whom he must have exposed his unseemly
deformity。 He spoke of a future state with intense feeling； and even with
tears。 He expressed disgust at the idea； of his remains being mixed with
the common rubbish； as he called it； of the churchyard； and selected with
his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his
hermitage； in which to take his last repose。 He changed his mind；
however； and was finally interred in the common burial… ground of Manor
parish。
The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made
him appear； in the eyes of the vulgar； a man possessed of supernatural
power。 Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment； for
some of the poor and ignorant； as well as all the children； in the
neighbourhood； held him to be what is called uncanny。 He himself did
not altogether discourage the idea； it enlarged his very limited circle of
power； and in so far gratified his conceit； and it soothed his misanthropy；
by increasing his means of giving terror or pain。 But even in a rude
Scottish glen thirty years back； the fear of sorcery was very much out of
date。
David Ritchie affected to frequent solitary scenes； especially such as
were supposed to be haunted； and valued himself upon his courage in
doing so。 To be sure he had little chance of meeting anything more ugly
than himself。 At heart； he was superstitious； and planted many rowans
（mountain ashes） around his hut； as a certain defence against necromancy。
For the same reason； doubtless； he desired to have rowan…trees set above
his grave。
We have stated that David Ritchie loved objects of natural beauty。
His only living favourites were a dog and a cat； to which he was
particularly attached； and his bees； which he treated with great care。 He
took a sister； latterly； to live in a hut adjacent to his own； but he did not
permit her to enter it。 She was weak in intellect； but not deformed in
person； simple； or rather silly； but not； like her brother； sullen or bizarre。
David was never affectionate to her； it was not in his nature； but he
endured her。 He maintained himself and her by the sale of the product of
their garden and bee…hives； and； latterly； they had a small allowance from
11
… Page 12…
THE BLACK DWARF
the parish。 Indeed； in the simple and patriarchal state in which the
country then was； persons in the situation of David and his sister were sure
to be supported。 They had only to apply to the next gentleman or
respectable farmer； and were sure to find them equally ready and willing
to supply their very moderate wants。 David often received gratuities
from strangers； which he never asked； never refused； and never seemed to
consider as an obligation。 He had a right； indeed； to regard himself as
one of Nature's paupers； to whom she gave a title to be maintained by his
kind； even by that deformity which closed against him all ordinary ways
of supporting himself by his own labour。 Besides； a bag was suspended
in the mill for David Ritchie's benefit； and those who were carrying home
a melder of meal； seldom failed to add a GOWPEN ＇Handful＇ to the alms…
bag of the deformed cripple。 In short； David had no occasion for money；
save to purchase snuff； his only luxury； in which he indulged himself
liberally。 When he died； in the beginning of the present century； he was
found to have hoarded about twenty pounds； a habit very consistent with
his disposition； for wealth is power； and power was what David Ritchie
desired to possess； as a compensation for his exclusion from human
society。
His sister survived till the publication of the tale to which this brief
notice forms the introduction； and the author is sorry to learn that a sort of
〃local sympathy；〃 and the curiosity then expressed concerning the Author
of WAVERLEY and the subjects of his Novels； exposed the poor woman
to enquiries which gave her pain。 When pressed about her brother's
peculiarities； she asked； in her turn； why they would not permit the dead to
rest？ To others； who pressed for some account of her parents； she
answered in the same tone of feeling。
The author saw this poor； and； it may be said； unhappy man； in autumn
1797 being then； as he has the happiness still to remain； connected by ties
of intimate friendship with the family of the venerable Dr。 Adam
Fergusson； the philosopher and historian； who then resided at the mansion…
house of Halyards； in the vale of Manor； about a mile from Ritchie's
hermitage； the author was upon a visit at Halyards； which lasted for
several days； and was made acquainted with this singular anchorite； whom
12
… Page 13…
THE BLACK DWARF
Dr。 Fergusson considered as an extraordinary character； and whom he
assisted in various ways； particularly by the occasional loan of books。
Though the taste of the philosopher and the poor peasant did not； it may be
supposed； always correspond； ＇I remember David was particularly anxious
to see a book； which he called； I think； LETTERS TO ELECT LADIES；
and which； he said； was the best composition he had ever read； but Dr。
Fergusson's library did not supply the volume。＇ Dr。 Fergusson
considered him as a man of a powerful capacity and original ideas； but
whose mind was thrown off its just bias by a predominant degree of self…
love and self… opinion； galled by the sense of ridicule and contempt； and
avenging itself upon society； in idea at least； by a gloomy misanthropy。
David Ritchie； besides the utter obscurity of his life while in existence；
had been dead for many years； when it occurred to the author that such a
character might be made a powerful agent in fictitious narrative。 He；
accordingly； sketched that of Elshie of the Mucklestane…Moor。 The story
was intended to be longer； and the catastrophe more artificially brought
