第2章

Dickwasmuchdisposedtotakethesword，buthisboldspiritwasquailedbythesupernaturalterrorsofthehall，andhethoughttounsheaththeswordfirst，mightbeconstruedintodefiance，andgiveoffencetothepowersoftheMountain。Hetookthebuglewithatremblinghand，andafeeblenote，butloudenoughtoproduceaterribleanswer。Thunderrolledinstunningpealsthroughtheimmensehall；horsesandmenstartedtolife；the，steedssnorted，stamped，grindedtheirbits，andtossedonhightheirheads-thewarriorssprungtotheirfeet，clashedtheirarmour，andbrandishedtheirswords。Dick’sterrorwasextremeatseeingthewholearmy，whichhadbeensolatelysilentasthegrave，inuproar，andabouttorushonhim。Hedroppedthehorn，andmadeafeebleattempttoseizetheenchantedsword；butatthesamemomentavoicepronouncedaloudthemysteriouswords：-

Woetothecoward，thateverhewasborn，Whodidnotdrawtheswordbeforeheblewthehorn！’’

Atthesametimeawhirlwindofirresistiblefuryhowledthroughthelonghall，boretheunfortunatehorse-jockeyclearoutofthemouthofthecavern，andprecipitatedhimoverasteep，bankofloosestones，wheretheshepherdsfoundhimthenextmorning，withjustbreathsufficienttotellhisfearfultale，afterconcludingwhichheexpired。

Thislegend，withseveralvariations，isfoundinmanypartsofScotlandandEngland-thesceneissometimeslaidinsomefavouriteglenoftheHighlands，sometimesinthedeepcoal-minesofNorthumberlandandCumberland，whichrunsofarbeneaththeocean。ItisalsotobefoundinReginaldScott’sbookonWitchcraft，whichwaswritteninthesixteenthcentury。Itwouldbeinvaintoaskwhatwastheoriginalofthetradition。

Thechoicebetweenthehornandswordmay，perhaps，includeasamoral，thatitisfool-hardytoawakendangerbeforewehavearmsinourhandstoresistit。

Althoughadmittingofmuchpoeticalornament，itisclearthatthislegendwouldhaveformedbutanunhappyfoundationforaprosestory，andmusthavedegeneratedintoamerefairytale。Dr。JohnLeydenhasbeautifullyintroducedthetraditioninhisScenesofInfancy：-

MysteriousRhymer，doomedbyfate’sdecree，StilltorevisitEildon’sfatedtree；

Whereofttheswain，atdawnofHallow-day，HearsthyfleetbarbwithwildimpatienceneighSaywhoishe，withsummonslongandhigh，Shallbidthecharmedsleepofagesfly，RollthelongsoundthroughEildon’scavernsvast，Whileeachdarkwarriorkindlesattheblast？

Thehorn，thefalchiongraspwithmightyhand，AndpealproudArthur’smarchfromFairy-land？

ScenesofInfancy，_PartI。_-

Inthesamecabinetwiththeprecedingfragment，thefollowingoccurredamongother_disjectamembra。_Itseemstobeanattemptatataleofadifferentdescriptionfromthelast，butwasalmostinstantlyabandoned。

Theintroductionpointsoutthetimeofthecompositiontohavebeenabouttheendoftheeighteenthcentury。

Fillabumper，’’saidtheKnight；theladiesmayspareusalittlelonger-FillabumpertotheArchdukeCharles。’’

Thecompanydidduehonourtothetoastoftheirlandlord。

ThesuccessoftheArchduke，’’saidthemuddyVicar，willtendtofurtherournegotiationatParis；andif’’

Pardontheinterruption，Doctor，’’quothathinemaciatedfigure，withsomewhatofaforeignaccent；butwhyshouldyouconnectthoseeventsunlesstohopethatthebraveryandvictoriesofouralliesmaysupersedethenecessityofadegradingtreaty？’’

Webegintofeel，Monsieurl’Abb，’’answeredtheVicar，withsomeasperity，thatacontinentalwarenteredintoforthedefenceofanallywhowasunwillingtodefendhimself，andfortherestorationofaroyalfamily，nobility，andpriesthood，whotamelyabandonedtheirownrights，isaburdentoomuchevenfortheresourcesofthiscountry。’’

AndwasthewarthenonthepartofGreatBritain，’’rejoinedtheAbb，agratuitousexertionofgenerosity？Wastherenofearofthewide-wastingspiritofinnovationwhichhadgoneabroad？Didnotthelaitytremblefortheirproperty，theclergyfortheirreligion，andeveryloyalheartfortheconstitution？Wasitnotthoughtnecessarytodestroythebuildingwhichwasonfire，eretheconflagrationspreadaroundthevicinity？’’

Yet，ifupontrial，’’saidtheDoctor，thewallswerefoundtoresistourutmostefforts，Iseenogreatprudenceinperseveringinourlabouramidthesmoulderingruins。’’

What，Doctor，’’saidtheBaronet，mustIcalltoyourrecollectionyourownsermononthelategeneralfast？-didyounotencourageustohopethattheLordofHostswouldgoforthwithourarmies，andthatourenemies，whoblasphemedhim，shouldbeputtoshame？’’

Itmaypleaseakindfathertochastenevenhisbelovedchildren，’’

answeredtheVicar。

Ithink，’’saidagentlemannearthefootofthetable，thattheCovenantersmadesomeapologyofthesamekindforthefailureoftheirpropheciesatthebattleofDumbar，whentheirmutinouspreacherscompelledtheprudentLesleytogodownagainstthePhilistinesinGilgal。’’

TheVicarfixedascrutinizingandnotaverycomplacenteyeuponthisintruder。Hewasayoungmanofmeanstature，andratherareservedappearance。

Earlyandseverestudyhadquenchedinhisfeaturesthegaietypeculiartohisage，andimpresseduponthemaprematurecastofthoughtfulness。

Hiseyehad，however，retaineditsfire，andhisgestureitsanimation。

Hadheremainedsilent，hewouldhavebeenlongunnoticed；butwhenhespoke，therewassomethinginhismannerwhicharrestedattention。

Whoisthisyoungman？’’saidtheVicarinalowvoice，tohisneighbour。

AScotchmancalledMaxwell，onavisittoSirHenry，’’wastheanswer。

Ithoughtso，fromhisaccentandhismanners，’’saidtheVicar。

Itmaybehereobserved，thattheNorthernEnglishretainrathermoreoftheancienthereditaryaversiontotheirneighboursthantheircountrymenoftheSouth。Theinterferenceofotherdisputants，eachofwhomurgedhisopinionwithallthevehemenceofwineandpolitics，renderedthesummonstothedrawing-roomagreeabletothemoresoberpartofthecompany。

Thecompanydispersedbydegrees，andatlengththeVicarandtheyoungScotchmanaloneremained，besidestheBaronet，hislady，daughters，andmyself。Theclergymanhadnot，itwouldseem，forgottheobservationwhichrankedhimwiththefalseprophetsofDunbar，forheaddressedMr。

Maxwelluponthefirstopportunity。

Hem！Ithink，sir，youmentionedsomethingaboutthecivilwarsoflastcentury？Youmustbedeeplyskilledinthem，indeed，ifyoucandrawanyparallelbetwixtthoseandthepresentevildays-dayswhichI

amreadytomaintainarethemostgloomythateverdarkenedtheprospectsofBritain。’’

Godforbid，Doctor，thatIshoulddrawacomparisonbetweenthepresenttimesandthoseyoumention。Iamtoosensibleoftheadvantagesweenjoyoverourancestors。Factionandambitionhaveintroduceddivisionamongus；butwearestillfreefromtheguiltofcivilbloodshed，andfromalltheevilswhichflowfromit。Ourfoes，sir，arenotthoseofourownhousehold；andwhilewecontinueunitedandfirm，fromtheattacksofaforeignenemy，howeverartful，orhoweverinveterate，wehave，Ihope，littletodread。’’

Haveyoufoundanythingcurious，Mr。Maxwell，amongthedustypapers？’’saidSirHenry，whoseemedtodreadarevivalofpoliticaldiscussion。

MyinvestigationamongstthemledtoreflectionswhichIhavejustnowhinted，’’saidMaxwell；andIthinktheyareprettystronglyexemplifiedbyastorywhichIhavebeenendeavouringtoarrangefromsomeofyourfamilymanuscripts。’’

Youarewelcometomakewhatuseofthemyouplease，’’saidSirHenry；theyhavebeenundisturbedforinanyaday，andIhaveoftenwishedforsomepersonaswellskilledasyouintheseoldpot-hooks，totellmetheirmeaning。’’

ThoseIjustmentioned，’’answeredMaxwell，relatetoapieceofprivatehistory，savouringnotalittleofthemarvellous，andintimatelyconnectedwithyourfamily：ifitisagreeable，Icanreadtoyoutheanecdotes，inthemodernshapeintowhichIhavebeenendeavouringtothrowthem，andyoucanthenjudgeofthevalueoftheoriginals。’’

Therewassomethinginthisproposalagreeabletoallparties。SirHenryhadfamilypride，whichpreparedhimtotakeaninterestinwhateverrelatedtohisancestors。Theladieshaddippeddeeplyintothefashionablereadingofthepresentday。LadyRatcliffandherfairdaughtershadclimbedeverypass，viewedeverypine-shroudedruin，heardeverygroan，andliftedeverytrap-door，incompanywiththenotedheroineofUdolpho。Theyhadbeenheard，however，toobserve，thatthefamousincidentoftheBlackVeilsingularlyresembledtheancientapologueoftheMountaininLabour，sothattheywereunquestionablycritics，aswellasadmirers。Besidesallthis，theyhadvalorouslymountedencroupebehindtheghostlyhorsemanofPrague，throughallhisseventranslators，andfollowedthefootstepsofMoorthroughtheforestofBohemia。Moreover，itwasevenhinted(butthiswasagreatermysterythanalltherest)，thatacertainperformance，calledthe_Monk，_inthreeneatvolumes，hadbeenseen，byapryingeye，intheright-handdraweroftheIndiancabinetofLadyRatcliff’sdressingroom。Thuspredisposedforwondersandsigns，LadyRatcliffandhernymphsdrewtheirchairsroundalargeblazingwood-fire，andarrangedthemselvestolistentothetale。TothatfireIalsoapproached，movedthereuntopartlybytheinclemencyoftheseason，andpartlythatmydeafness，whichyouknow，cousin，IacquiredduringmycampaignunderPrinceCharlesEdward，mightbenoobstacletothegratificationofmycuriosity，whichwasawakenedbywhathadanyreferencetothefateofsuchfaithfulfollowersofroyalty，asyouwellknowthehouseofRatcliffhaveeverbeen。Tothiswood-firetheVicarlikewisedrewnear，andreclinedhimselfconvenientlyinhischair，seeminglydisposedtotestifyhisdisrespectforthenarrationandnarratorbyfallingasleepassoonasheconvenientlycould。BythesideofMaxwell(bytheway，IcannotlearnthatheisintheleastrelatedtotheNithsdalefamily)

wasplacedasmalltableandacoupleoflights，bytheassistanceofwhichhereadasfollows：-

=JournalofJanVonEulen。=

Onthe6thNovember1645，I，JanVonEulen，merchantinRotterdam，embarkedwithmyonlydaughteronboardofthegoodvesselVryheidofAmsterdam，inordertopassintotheunhappyanddisturbedkingdomofEngland。7thNovember-abriskgale-daughtersea-sick-myselfunabletocompletethecalculationwhichIhavebegun，oftheinheritanceleftbyJaneLansacheofCarlisle，mylatedearwife’ssister，thecollectionofwhichistheobjectofmyvoyage。8thNovember-windstillstormyandadverse-ahorriddisasternearlyhappened-mydearchildwashedoverboardasthevessellurchedtoleeward-Memorandum，torewardtheyoungsailorwhosavedher，outofthefirstmonieswhichIcanrecoverfromtheinheritanceofherauntLansache。9thNovember-calm-P。M。lightbreezesfromN。N。W。Italkedwiththecaptainabouttheinheritanceofmysister-in-law，JaneLansache-Hesaysheknowstheprincipalsubject，whichwillnotexceed1000invalue。_N。B。_HeisacousintoafamilyofPetersons，whichwasthenameofthehusbandofmysister-in-law；sothereisroomtohopeitmaybeworthmorethanhereports。10thNovember，10A。M-

MayGodpardonalloursins！-AnEnglishfrigate，bearingtheParliamentflag，hasappearedintheoffing，andgiveschase-11A。M。Shenearsuseverymoment，andthecaptainofourvesselpreparestoclearforaction-

MayGodagainhavemercyuponus！’’

Here，’’saidMaxwell，thejournalwithwhichIhaveopenedthenarrationendssomewhatabruptly。’’

Iamgladofit，’’saidLadyRatcliff。

But，Mr。Maxwell，’’saidyoungFrank，SirHenry’sgrandchild，shallwenothearhowthebattleended？’’

Idonotknow，cousin，whetherIhavenotformerlymadeyouacquaintedwiththeabilitiesofFrankRatcliff。ThereisnotabattlefoughtbetweenthetroopsofthePrinceandoftheGovernment，duringtheyears17456，ofwhichheisnotabletogiveanaccount。Itistrue，Ihavetakenparticularpainstofixtheeventsofthisimportantperioduponhismemorybyfrequentrepetition。

No，mydear，’’saidMaxwell，inanswertoyoungFrankRatcliff-No，mydear，Icannottellyoutheexactparticularsoftheengagement，butitsconsequencesappearfromthefollowingletter，despatchedbyGarboneteVonEulen，daughterofourjournalist，toarelationinEngland，fromwhomsheimploredassistance。Aftersomegeneralaccountofthepurposeofthevoyage，andoftheengagement，hernarrativeproceedsthus：-

Thenoiseofthecannonhadhardlyceased，beforethesoundsofalanguagetomebuthalfknown，andtheconfusiononboardourvessel，informedmethatthecaptorshadboardedus，andtakenpossessionofourvessel。Iwentondeck，wherethefirstspectaclethatmetmyeyeswasayoungman，mateofourvessel，who，thoughdisfiguredandcoveredwithblood，wasloadedwithirons，andwhomtheywereforcingoverthesideofthevesselintoaboat。Thetwoprincipalpersonsamongourenemiesappearedtobeamanofatallthinfigure，withahigh-crownedhatandlongneckband，andshort-croppedheadofhair，accompaniedbyabluffopen-lookingelderlymaninanavaluniform。`Yarely！yarely！pullaway，myhearts！’saidthelatter，andtheboatbearingtheunluckyyoungmansooncarriedhimonboardthefrigate。Perhapsyouwillblamemeformentioningthiscircumstance；butconsider，mydearcousin，thismansavedmylife，andhisfate，evenwhenmyownandmyfather’swereinthebalance，couldnotbutaffectmenearly。

`Inthenameofhimwhoisjealous，eventoslaying，’saidthefirst’’-