chronicles of the canongate-第13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！


ust　raised　by　your　chariots。〃

Your　current　and　customary　mail…coach　passenger；　too；　gets　abominably　selfish；　schemes　successfully　for　the　best　seat；　the　freshest　egg；　the　right　cut　of　the　sirloin。　　The　mode　of　travelling　is　death　to　all　the　courtesies　and　kindnesses　of　life；　and　goes　a　great　way　to　demoralize　the　character；　and　cause　it　to　retrograde　to　barbarism。　　You　allow　us　excellent　dinners；　but　only　twenty　minutes　to　eat　them。　　And　what　is　the　consequence？　Bashful　beauty　sits　on　the　one　side　of　us；　timid　childhood　on　the　other；　respectable；　yet　somewhat　feeble；　old　age　is　placed　on　our　front；　and　all　require　those　acts　of　politeness　which　ought　to　put　every　degree　upon　a　level　at　the　convivial　board。　　But　have　we　timewe　the　strong　and　active　of　the　partyto　perform　the　duties　of　the　table　to　the　more　retired　and　bashful；　to　whom　these　little　attentions　are　due？　　The　lady　should　be　pressed　to　her　chicken；　the　old　man　helped　to　his　favourite　and　tender　slice；　the　child　to　his　tart。　　But　not　a　fraction　of　a　minute　have　we　to　bestow　on　any　other　person　than　ourselves；　and　the　PRUT…PRUTTUT…TUT　of　the　guard's　discordant　note　summons　us　to　the　coach；　the　weaker　party　having　gone　without　their　dinner；　and　the　able…bodied　and　active　threatened　with　indigestion；　from　having　swallowed　victuals　like　a　Lei'stershire　clown　bolting　bacon。

On　the　memorable　occasion　I　am　speaking　of　I　lost　my　breakfast；　sheerly　from　obeying　the　commands　of　a　respectable…looking　old　lady；　who　once　required　me　to　ring　the　bell；　and　another　time　to　help　the　tea…kettle。　　I　have　some　reason　to　think　she　was　literally　an　OLD…STAGER；　who　laughed　in　her　sleeve　at　my　complaisance；　so　that　I　have　sworn　in　my　secret　soul　revenge　upon　her　sex；　and　all　such　errant　damsels　of　whatever　age　and　degree　whom　I　may　encounter　in　my　travels。　　I　mean　all　this　without　the　least　ill…will　to　my　friend　the　contractor；　who；　I　think；　has　approached　as　near　as　any　one　is　like　to　do　towards　accomplishing　the　modest　wish　cf　the　Amatus　and　Amata　of　the　Peri　Bathous；

　　〃Ye　gods；　annihilate　but　time　and　space；　　　　And　make　two　lovers　happy。〃

I　intend　to　give　Mr。　P。　his　full　revenge　when　I　come　to　discuss　the　more　recent　enormity　of　steamboats；　meanwhile；　I　shall　only　say　of　both　these　modes　of　conveyance；　that

　　〃There　is　no　living　with　them　or　without　them。〃

I　am；　perhaps；　more　critical　on　themail…coach　on　this　particular　occasion；　that　I　did　not　meet　all　the　respect　from　the　worshipful　company　in　his　Majesty's　carriage　that　I　think　I　was　entitled　to。　　I　must　say　it　for　myself　that　I　bear；　in　my　own　opinion　at　least；　not　a　vulgar　point　about　me。　　My　face　has　seen　service；　but　there　is　still　a　good　set　of　teeth；　an　aquiline　nose；　and　a　quick；　grey　eye；　set　a　little　too　deep　under　the　eyebrow；　and　a　cue　of　the　kind　once　called　military　may　serve　to　show　that　my　civil　occupations　have　been　sometimes　mixed　with　those　of　war。　　Nevertheless；　two　idle　young　fellows　in　the　vehicle；　or　rather　on　the　top　of　it；　were　so　much　amused　with　the　deliberation　which　I　used　in　ascending　to　the　same　place　of　eminence；　that　I　thought　I　should　have　been　obliged　to　pull　them　up　a　little。　　And　I　was　in　no　good…humour　at　an　unsuppressed　laugh　following　my　descent　when　set　down　at　the　angle；　where　a　cross　road；　striking　off　from　the　main　one；　led　me　towards　Glentanner；　from　which　I　was　still　nearly　five　miles　distant。

It　was　an　old…fashioned　road；　which；　preferring　ascents　to　sloughs；　was　led　in　a　straight　line　over　height　and　hollow；　through　moor　and　dale。　　Every　object　around　me；　as　I　passed　them　in　succession；　reminded　me　of　old　days；　and　at　the　same　time　formed　the　strongest　contrast　with　them　possible。　　Unattended；　on　foot；　with　a　small　bundle　in　my　hand；　deemed　scarce　sufficient　good　company　for　the　two　shabby…genteels　with　whom　I　had　been　lately　perched　on　the　top　of　a　mail…coach；　I　did　not　seem　to　be　the　same　person　with　the　young　prodigal；　who　lived　with　the　noblest　and　gayest　in　the　land；　and　who；　thirty　years　before；　would；　in　the　same　country；　have；　been　on　the　back　of　a　horse　that　had　been　victor　for　a　plate；　or　smoking　aloof　in　his　travelling　chaise…and…four。　　My　sentiments　were　not　less　changed　than　my　condition。　　I　could　quite　well　remember　that　my　ruling　sensation　in　the　days　of　heady　youth　was　a　mere　schoolboy's　eagerness　to　get　farthest　forward　in　the　race　in　which　I　had　engaged；　to　drink　as　many　bottles　as　；　to　be　thought　as　good　a　judge　of　a　horse　as　；　to　have　the　knowing　cut　of　's　jacket。　These　were　thy　gods；　O　Israel！

Now　I　was　a　mere　looker…on；　seldom　an　unmoved；　and　sometimes　an　angry　spectator；　but　still　a　spectator　only；　of　the　pursuits　of　mankind。　　I　felt　how　little　my　opinion　was　valued　by　those　engaged　in　the　busy　turmoil；　yet　I　exercised　it　with　the　profusion　of　an　old　lawyer　retired　from　his　profession；　who　thrusts　himself　into　his　neighbour's　affairs；　and　gives　advice　where　it　is　not　wanted；　merely　under　pretence　of　loving　the　crack　of　the　whip。

I　came　amid　these　reflections　to　the　brow　of　a　hill；　from　which　I　expected　to　see　Glentanner；　a　modest…looking　yet　comfortable　house；　its　walls　covered　with　the　most　productive　fruit…trees　in　that　part　of　the　country；　and　screened　from　the　most　stormy　quarters　of　the　horizon　by　a　deep　and　ancient　wood；　which　overhung　the　neighbouring　hill。　　The　house　was　gone；　a　great　part　of　the　wood　was　felled；　and　instead　of　the　gentlemanlike　mansion；　shrouded　and　embosomed　among　its　old　hereditary　trees；　stood　Castle　Treddles；　a　huge　lumping　four…square　pile　of　freestone；　as　bare　as　my　nail；　except　for　a　paltry　edging　of　decayed　and　lingering　exotics；　with　an　impoverished　lawn　stretched　before　it；　which；　instead　of　boasting　deep　green　tapestry；　enamelled　with　daisies　and　with　crowsfoot　and　cowslips；　showed　an　extent　of　nakedness；　raked；　indeed；　and　levelled；　but　where　the　sown　grasses　had　failed　with　drought；　and　the　earth；　retaining　its　natural　complexion；　seemed　nearly　as　brown　and　bare　as　when　it　was　newly　dug　up。

The　house　was　a　large　fabric；　which　pretended　to　its　name　of　Castle　only　from　the　front　windows　being　finished　in　acute　Gothic　arches　（being；　by　the　way；　the　very　reverse　of　the　castellated　style）；　and　each　angle　graced　with　a　turret　about　the　size　of　a　pepper…box。　　In　every　other　respect　it　resembled　a　large　town…　house；　which；　like　a　fat　burgess；　had　taken　a　walk　to　the　country　on　a　holiday；　and　climbed　to　the　top　of　all　eminence　to　look　around　it。　　The　bright　red　colour　of　the　freestone；　the　size　of　the　building；　the　formality　of　its　shape；　and　awkwardness　of　its　position；　harmonized　as　ill　with　the　sweeping　Clyde　in　front；　and　the　bubbling　brook　which　danced　down　on　the　right；　as　the　fat　civic　form；　with　bushy　wig；　gold…headed　cane；　maroon…coloured　coat；　and　mottled　silk　stockings；　would　have　accorded　with　the　wild　and　magnificent　scenery　of　Corehouse　Linn。

I　went　up　to　the　house。　　It　was　in　that　state　of　desertion　which　is　perhaps　the　most　unpleasant　to　look　on；　for　the　place　was　going　to　decay　without　having　been　inhabited。　　There　were　about　the　mansion；　though　deserted；　none　of　the　slow　mouldering　touches　of　time；　which　communicate　to　buildings；　as　to　the　human　frame；　a　sort　of　reverence；　while　depriving　them　of　beauty　and　of　strength。　　The　disconcerted　schemes　of　the　Laird　of　Castle　Treddles　had　resembled　fruit　that　becomes　decayed　without　ever　having　ripened。　　Some　windows　broken；　others　patched；　others　blocked　up　with　deals；　gave　a　disconsolate　air　to　all　around；　and　seemed　to　say；　〃There　Vanity　had　purposed　to　fix　her　seat；　but　was　anticipated　by　Poverty。〃

To　the　inside；　after　many　a　vain　summons；　I　was　at　length　admitted　by　an　old　labourer。　　The　house　contained　every　contrivance　for　luxury　and　accommodation。　　The　kitchens　were　a　model；　and　there　were　hot　closets　on　the　office　staircase；　that　the　dishes　might　not　cool；　as　our　Scottish　phrase　goes；　between　the　kitchen　and　the　hall。　　But　instead　of　the　genial　smell　of　good　cheer；　these　temples　of　Comus　emitted　the　damp　odour　of　sepulchral　vaults；　and　the　large　cabinets　of　cast…iron　looked　like　the　cages　of　some　feudal　Bastille。　　The　eating　room　and　drawing…room；　with　an　interior　boudoir；　were　magnificent　apartments；　the　ceiling　was　fretted　and　adorned　with　stucco…work；　which　already　was　broken　in　many　places；　and　looked　in　others　damp　and　mouldering；　the　wood　panelling　was　shrunk　and　warped；　and　cracked；　the　doors；　which　had　not　been　hung　for　more　than　two　years；　were；　nevertheless；　already　swinging　loose　from　their　hinges。　　Desolation；　in　short；　was　where　enjoyment　had　never　been；　and　the　want　of　all　the　usual　means　to　preserve　was　fast　performing　the　work　of　decay。

The　story　was　a　common　one；　and　told　in　a　few　words。　　Mr。　Treddles；　senior；　who　bought　the　estate；　was　a　cautious；　money…　making　person。　　His　son；　still　embarked　in　commercial　speculations；　desired　at　the　same　time　to　enjoy　his　opulence　and　to　increase　it。　　He　incurred　great　expenses；　amongst　which　this　edifice　was　to　benumbered。　　To　support　these　he　speculated　boldly；　and　unfortunately；　and　thus　the　whole　history　is　told；　which　may　serve　for　more　places　than　Glentanner。

Strange　and　various　feelings　ran　through　my　bosom　as　I　loitered　in　these　deserted　apartments；　scarce　hearing　what　my　guide　said　to　me　about　the　size　and　destination　of　each　room。　　The　first　sentiment；　I　am　ashamed　to　say；　was　one　of　gratified　spite。　　My　patrician　pride　was　pleased　that　the　mechanic；　who　had　not　thought　the　house　of　the　Croftangrys　sufficiently　good　for　him；　had　now　experienced　a　fall　in　his　turn。　　My　next　thought　was　as　mean；　though　not　so　malicious。　　〃I　have　had　the　better　of　this　fellow；〃　thought　I。　　〃If　I　lost　the　estate；　I　at　least　spent　the　price；　and　Mr。　Treddles　has　lost　his　among　paltry　commercial　engagements。〃

〃Wretch！〃　　said　the　secret　voice　within；　〃darest　thou　exult　in　thy　shame？　　Recollect　how　thy　youth　and　fortune　was　wasted　in　those　years；　and　triumph　not　in　the　enjoyment　of　an　existence　which　levelled　thee　with　the　beasts　that　perish。　　Bethink　thee　how　this　poor　man's　vanity　gave　at　least　bread　to　the　labourer；　peasant；　and　citizen；　and　his　profuse　expenditure；　like　water　spilt　on　the　ground；　refreshed　the　lowly　herbs　and　plants　where　it　fell。　　But　thou！　　Whom　hast　thou　enriched　during　thy　career　of　extravagance；　save　those　brokers　of　the　devilvintners；　panders；　gamblers；　and　horse…jockeys？〃　　The　anguish　produced　by　this　self…　reproof　was　so　strong　that　I　put　my　hand　suddenly　to　my　forehead；　and　was　obliged　to　allege　a　sudden　megrim　to　my　attendant；　in　apology　for　the　action；　and　a　slight　groan　with　which　it　was　accompanied。

I　then　made　an　effort　to　turn　my　thoughts　into　a　more　philosophical　current；　and　muttered　half　aloud；　as　a　charm　to　lull　any　more　painful　thoughts　to　rest；

　　〃NUNC　AGER　UMBRENI　SUB　NOMINE；　NUPER　OFELLI　　　　DICTUS　ERIT　NULLI　PROPRIUS；　SED　CEDIT　IN　USUM　　　　NUNC　MIHI；　NUNC　ALII。　　　QUOCIRCA　VIVITE　FORTES；　　　　FORTIAQUE　ADVERSIS　OPPONITE　PECTORA　REBUS。〃

＇Horace　Sat。II　Lib。2。　　The　meaning　will　be　best　conveyed　to　the　English　reader　in　Pope's　imitation：

　　〃What's　property；　dear　Swift？　　You　see　it　alter　　　　From　you　to　me；　from　me　to　Peter　Walter；　　　　Or　in　a　mortgage　prove　a　lawyer's　share；　　　　Or　in　a　jointure　vanish　from　the　heir。

　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*