chronicles of the canongate-第34章

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At　the　same　time　the　small　party；　which　we　before　mentioned；　bore　the　bier　of　the　ill…fated　Hamish　to　his　humble　grave；　in　a　corner　of　the　churchyard　of　Dunbarton；　usually　assigned　to　criminals。　Here；　among　the　dust　of　the　guilty；　lies　a　youth；　whose　name；　had　he　survived　the　ruin　of　the　fatal　events　by　which　he　was　hurried　into　crime；　might　have　adorned　the　annals　of　the　brave。

The　minister　of　Glenorquhy　left　Dunbarton　immediately　after　he　had　witnessed　the　last　scene　of　this　melancholy　catastrophe。　　His　reason　acquiesced　in　the　justice　of　the　sentence；　which　required　blood　for　blood；　and　he　acknowledged　that　the　vindictive　character　of　his　countrymen　required　to　be　powerfully　restrained　by　the　strong　curb　of　social　law。　　But　still　he　mourned　over　the　individual　victim。　　Who　may　arraign　the　bolt　of　Heaven　when　it　bursts　among　the　sons　of　the　forest？　　yet　who　can　refrain　from　mourning　when　it　selects　for　the　object　of　its　blighting　aim　the　fair　stem　of　a　young　oak；　that　promised　to　be　the　pride　of　the　dell　in　which　it　flourished？　　Musing　on　these　melancholy　events；　noon　found　him　engaged　in　the　mountain　passes；　by　which　he　was　to　return　to　his　still　distant　home。

Confident　in　his　knowledge　of　the　country；　the　clergyman　had　left　the　main　road；　to　seek　one　of　those　shorter　paths；　which　are　only　used　by　pedestrians；　or　by　men；　like　the　minister；　mounted　on　the　small；　but　sure…footed；　hardy；　and　sagacious　horses　of　the　country。　　The　place　which　he　now　traversed　was　in　itself　gloomy　and　desolate；　and　tradition　had　added　to　it　the　terror　of　superstition；　by　affirming　it　was　haunted　by　an　evil　spirit；　termed　CLOGHT…DEARGthat　is；　Redmantlewho　at　all　times；　but　especially　at　noon　and　at　midnight；　traversed　the　glen；　in　enmity　both　to　man　and　the　inferior　creation；　did　such　evil　as　her　power　was　permitted　to　extend　to；　and　afflicted　with　ghastly　terrors　those　whom　she　had　not　license　otherwise　to　hurt。

The　minister　of　Glenorquhy　had　set　his　face　in　opposition　to　many　of　these　superstitions；　which　he　justly　thought　were　derived　from　the　dark　ages　of　Popery；　perhaps　even　from　those　of　paganism；　and　unfit　to　be　entertained　or　believed　by　the　Christians　of　an　enlightened　age。　　Some　of　his　more　attached　parishioners　considered　him　as　too　rash　in　opposing　the　ancient　faith　of　their　fathers；　and　though　they　honoured　the　moral　intrepidity　of　their　pastor；　they　could　not　avoid　entertaining　and　expressing　fears　that　he　would　one　day　fall　a　victim　to　his　temerity；　and　be　torn　to　pieces　in　the　glen　of　the　Cloght…dearg；　or　some　of　those　other　haunted　wilds；　which　he　appeared　rather　to　have　a　pride　and　pleasure　in　traversing　alone；　on　the　days　and　hours　when　the　wicked　spirits　were　supposed　to　have　especial　power　over　man　and　beast。

These　legends　came　across　the　mind　of　the　clergyman；　and；　solitary　as　he　was；　a　melancholy　smile　shaded　his　cheek；　as　he　thought　of　the　inconsistency　of　human　nature；　and　reflected　how　many　brave　men；　whom　the　yell　of　the　pibroch　would　have　sent　headlong　against　fixed　bayonets；　as　the　wild　bull　rushes　on　his　enemy；　might　have　yet　feared　to　encounter　those　visionary　terrors；　which　he　himself；　a　man　of　peace；　and　in　ordinary　perils　no　way　remarkable　for　the　firmness　of　his　nerves；　was　now　risking　without　hesitation。

As　he　looked　around　the　scene　of　desolation；　he　could　not　but　acknowledge；　in　his　own　mind；　that　it　was　not　ill　chosen　for　the　haunt　of　those　spirits；　which　are　said　to　delight　in　solitude　and　desolation。　　The　glen　was　so　steep　and　narrow　that　there　was　but　just　room　for　the　meridian　sun　to　dart　a　few　scattered　rays　upon　the　gloomy　and　precarious　stream　which　stole　through　its　recesses；　for　the　most　part　in　silence；　but　occasionally　murmuring　sullenly　against　the　rocks　and　large　stones　which　seemed　determined　to　bar　its　further　progress。　　In　winter；　or　in　the　rainy　season；　this　small　stream　was　a　foaming　torrent　of　the　most　formidable　magnitude；　and　it　was　at　such　periods　that　it　had　torn　open　and　laid　bare　the　broad…faced　and　huge　fragments　of　rock　which；　at　the　season　of　which　we　speak；　hid　its　course　from　the　eye；　and　seemed　disposed　totally　to　interrupt　its　course。　〃Undoubtedly；〃　thought　the　clergyman；　〃this　mountain　rivulet；　suddenly　swelled　by　a　waterspout　or　thunderstorm；　has　often　been　the　cause　of　those　accidents　which；　happening　in　the　glen　called　by　her　name；　have　been　ascribed　to　the　agency　of　the　Cloght…　dearg。〃

Just　as　this　idea　crossed　his　mind；　he　heard　a　female　voice　exclaim；　in　a　wild　and　thrilling　accent；　〃Michael　Tyrie！　　Michael　Tyrie！〃　　He　looked　round　in　astonishment；　and　not　without　some　fear。　　It　seemed　for　an　instant；　as　if　the　evil　being；　whose　existence　he　had　disowned；　was　about　to　appear　for　the　punishment　of　his　incredulity。　　This　alarm　did　not　hold　him　more　than　an　instant；　nor　did　it　prevent　his　replying　in　a　firm　voice；　〃Who　calls？　　and　where　are　you？〃

〃One　who　journeys　in　wretchedness；　between　life　and　death；〃　answered　the　voice；　and　the　speaker；　a　tall　female；　appeared　from　among　the　fragments　of　rocks　which　had　concealed　her　from　view。

As　she　approached　more　closely；　her　mantle　of　bright　tartan；　in　which　the　red　colour　much　predominated；　her　stature；　the　long　stride　with　which　she　advanced；　and　the　writhen　features　and　wild　eyes　which　were　visible　from　under　her　curch；　would　have　made　her　no　inadequate　representative　of　the　spirit　which　gave　name　to　the　valley。　　But　Mr。　Tyrie　instantly　knew　her　as　the　Woman　of　the　Tree；　the　widow　of　MacTavish　Mhor；　the　now　childless　mother　of　Hamish　Bean。　　I　am　not　sure　whether　the　minister　would　not　have　endured　the　visitation　of　the　Cloght…dearg　herself；　rather　than　the　shock　of　Elspat's　presence；　considering　her　crime　and　her　misery。　　He　drew　up　his　horse　instinctively；　and　stood　endeavouring　to　collect　his　ideas；　while　a　few　paces　brought　her　up　to　his　horse's　head。

〃Michael　Tyrie；〃　said　she；　〃the　foolish　women　of　the　Clachan　＇The　village；　literally；　the　stones。＇　hold　thee　as　a　godbe　one　to　me；　and　say　that　my　son　lives。　　Say　this；　and　I　too　will　be　of　thy　worship；　I　will　bend　my　knees　on　the　seventh　day　in　thy　house　of　worship；　and　thy　God　shall　be　my　God。〃

〃Unhappy　woman；〃　replied　the　clergyman；　〃man　forms　not　pactions　with　his　Maker　as　with　a　creature　of　clay　like　himself。　　Thinkest　thou　to　chaffer　with　Him；　who　formed　the　earth；　and　spread　out　the　heavens；　or　that　thou　canst　offer　aught　of　homage　or　devotion　that　can　be　worth　acceptance　in　his　eyes？　　He　hath　asked　obedience；　not　sacrifice；　patience　under　the　trials　with　which　He　afflicts　us；　instead　of　vain　bribes；　such　as　man　offers　to　his　changeful　brother　of　clay；　that　he　may　be　moved　from　his　purpose。〃

〃Be　silent；　priest！〃　　answered　the　desperate　woman；　〃speak　not　to　me　the　words　of　thy　white　book。　　Elspat's　kindred　were　of　those　who　crossed　themselves　and　knelt　when　the　sacring　bell　was　rung；　and　she　knows　that　atonement　can　be　made　on　the　altar　for　deeds　done　in　the　field。　　Elspat　had　once　flocks　and　herds；　goats　upon　the　cliffs；　and　cattle　in　the　strath。　　She　wore　gold　around　her　neck　and　on　her　hairthick　twists；　as　those　worn　by　the　heroes　of　old。　　All　these　would　she　have　resigned　to　the　priestall　these；　and　if　he　wished　for　the　ornaments　of　a　gentle　lady；　or　the　sporran　of　a　high　chief；　though　they　had　been　great　as　Macallum　Mhor　himself；　MacTavish　Mhor　would　have　procured　them；　if　Elspat　had　promised　them。　　Elspat　is　now　poor；　and　has　nothing　to　give。　　But　the　Black　Abbot　of　Inchaffray　would　have　bidden　her　scourge　her　shoulders；　and　macerate　her　feet　by　pilgrimage；　and　he　would　have　granted　his　pardon　to　her　when　he　saw　that　her　blood　had　flowed；　and　that　her　flesh　had　been　torn。　　These　were　the　priests　who　had　indeed　power　even　with　the　most　powerful；　they　threatened　the　great　men　of　the　earth　with　the　word　of　their　mouth；　the　sentence　of　their　book；　the　blaze　of　their　torch；　the　sound　of　their　sacring　bell。　　The　mighty　bent　to　their　will；　and　unloosed　at　the　word　of　the　priests　those　whom　they　had　bound　in　their　wrath；　and　set　at　liberty；　unharmed；　him　whom　they　had　sentenced　to　death；　and　for　whose　blood　they　had　thirsted。　　These　were　a　powerful　race；　and　might　well　ask　the　poor　to　kneel；　since　their　power　could　humble　the　proud。　　But　you！against　whom　are　ye　strong；　but　against　women　who　have　been　guilty　of　folly；　and　men　who　never　wore　sword？　　The　priests　of　old　were　like　the　winter　torrent　which　fills　this　hollow　valley；　and　rolls　these　massive　rocks　against　each　other　as　easily　as　the　boy　plays　with　the　ball　which　he　casts　before　him。　　But　you！you　do　but　resemble　the　summer…stricken　stream；　which　is　turned　aside　by　the　rushes；　and　stemmed　by　a　bush　of　sedges。　　Woe　worth　you；　for　there　is　no　help　in　you！〃

The　clergyman　was　at　no　loss　to　conceive　that　Elspat　had　lost　the　Roman　Catholic　faith　without　gaining　any　other；　and　that　she　still　retained　a　vague　and　confused　idea　of　the　composition　with　the　priesthood；　by　confession；　alms；　and　penance；　and　of　their　extensive　power；　which；　according　to　her　notion；　was　adequate；　if　duly　propitiated；　even　to　effecting　her　son's　safety。　Compassionating　her　situation；　and　allowing　for　her　errors　and　ignorance；　he　answered　her　with　mildness。

〃Alas；　unhappy　woman！　　Would　to　God　I　could　convince　thee　as　easily　where　thou　oughtest　to　seek；　and　art　sure　to　find；　consolation；　as　I　can　assure　you　with　a　single　word；　that　were　Rome　and　all　her　priesthood　once　more　in　the　plenitude　of　their　power；　they　could　not；　for　largesse　or　penance；　afford　to　thy　misery　an　atom　of　aid　or　comfortElspat　MacTavish；　I　grieve　to　tell　you　the　news。〃

〃I　know　them　without　thy　speech；〃　said　the　unhappy　woman。　　〃My　son　is　doomed　to　die。〃

〃Elspat；〃　resumed　the　clergyman；　〃he　WAS　doomed；　and　the　sentence　has　been　executed。〃

The　hapless　mother　threw　her　eyes　up　to　heaven；　and　uttered　a　shriek　so　unlike　the　voice　of　a　human　being；　that　the　eagle　which　soared　in　middle　air　answered　it　as　she　would　have　done　the　call　of　her　mate。

〃It　is　impossible！〃　　she　exclaimed〃it　is　impossible！　　Men　do　not　condemn　and　kill　on　the　same　day！　　Thou　art　deceiving　me。　The　people　call　thee　holyhast　thou　the　heart　to　tell　a　mother　she　has　murdered　her　only　child？〃

〃God　knows；〃　said　the　priest；　the　tears　falling　fast　from　his　eyes；　〃that　were　it　in　my　power；　I　would　gladly　tell　better　tidings。　　But　these　which　I　bear　are　as　certain　as　they　are　fatal。　　My　own　ears　heard　the　death…shot；　my　own　eyes　beheld　thy　son's　deaththy　son's　funeral。　　My　tongue　bears　witness　to　what　my　ears　heard　and　my　eyes　saw。〃

The　wretched　female　clasped　her　bands　close　together；　and　held　them　up　towards　heaven　like　a　sibyl　announcing　war　and　desolation；　while；　in　impotent　yet　frightful　rage；　she　poured　forth　a　tide　of　the　deepest　imprecations。　　〃Base　Saxon　churl！〃　she　exclaimed〃vile　hypocritical　juggler！　　May　the　eyes　that　looked　tamely　on　the　death　of　my　fair…haired　boy　be　melted　in　their　sockets　with　ceaseless　tears；　shed　for　those　that　are　nearest　and　most　dear　to　thee！　　May　the　ears　that　heard　his　death…knell　be　dead　hereafter　to　all　other　sounds　save　the　screech　of　the　raven；　and　the　hissing　of　the　adder！　　May　the　tongue　that　tells　me　of　his　death　and　of　my　own　crime；　be　withered　in　thy　mouthor　better；　when　thou　wouldst　pray　with　thy　people；　may　the　Evil　One　guide　it；　and