chronicles of the canongate-第35章
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mouthor better； when thou wouldst pray with thy people； may the Evil One guide it； and give voice to blasphemies instead of blessings； until men shall fly in terror from thy presence； and the thunder of heaven be launched against thy head； and stop for ever thy cursing and accursed voice！ Begone； with this malison！ Elspat will never； never again bestow so many words upon living man。〃
She kept her word。 From that day the world was to her a wilderness； in which she remained without thought； care； or interest； absorbed in her own grief； indifferent to every thing else。
With her mode of life； or rather of existence； the reader is already as far acquainted as I have the power of making him。 Of her death； I can tell him nothing。 It is supposed to have happened several years after she had attracted the attention of my excellent friend Mrs。 Bethune Baliol。 Her benevolence； which was never satisfied with dropping a sentimental tear； when there was room for the operation of effective charity； induced her to make various attempts to alleviate the condition of this most wretched woman。 But all her exertions could only render Elspat's means of subsistence less precariousa circumstance which； though generally interesting even to the most wretched outcasts； seemed to her a matter of total indifference。 Every attempt to place any person in her hut to take charge of her miscarried； through the extreme resentment with which she regarded all intrusion on her solitude； or by the timidity of those who had been pitched upon to be inmates with the terrible Woman of the Tree。 At length； when Elspat became totally unable （in appearance at least） to turn herself on the wretched settle which served her for a couch； the humanity of Mr。 Tyrie's successor sent two women to attend upon the last moments of the solitary； which could not； it was judged； be far distant； and to avert the possibility that she might perish for want of assistance or food； before she sunk under the effects of extreme age or mortal malady。
It was on a November evening； that the two women appointed for this melancholy purpose arrived at the miserable cottage which we have already described。 Its wretched inmate lay stretched upon the bed； and seemed almost already a lifeless corpse； save for the wandering of the fierce dark eyes； which rolled in their sockets in a manner terrible to look upon； and seemed to watch with surprise and indignation the motions of the strangers； as persons whose presence was alike unexpected and unwelcome。 They were frightened at her looks； but； assured in each other's company； they kindled a fire； lighted a candle； prepared food； and made other arrangements for the discharge of the duty assigned them。
The assistants agreed they should watch the bedside of the sick person by turns； but； about midnight； overcome by fatigue； （for they had walked far that morning）； both of them fell fast asleep。 When they awoke； which was not till after the interval of some hours； the hut was empty； and the patient gone。 They rose in terror； and went to the door of the cottage； which was latched as it had been at night。 They looked out into the darkness； and called upon their charge by her name。 The night…raven screamed from the old oak…tree； the fox howled on the hill； the hoarse waterfall replied with its echoes； but there was no human answer。 The terrified women did not dare to make further search till morning should appear； for the sudden disappearance of a creature so frail as Elspat； together with the wild tenor of her history； intimidated them from stirring from the hut。 They remained； therefore； in dreadful terror； sometimes thinking they heard her voice without； and at other times； that sounds of a different description were mingled with the mournful sigh of the night… breeze； or the dashing of the cascade。 Sometimes； too； the latch rattled； as if some frail and impotent hand were in vain attempting to lift it； and ever and anon they expected the entrance of their terrible patient； animated by supernatural strength； and in the company； perhaps； of some being more dreadful than herself。 Morning came at length。 They sought brake； rock； and thicket in vain。 Two hours after daylight； the minister himself appeared； and； on the report of the watchers； caused the country to be alarmed； and a general and exact search to be made through the whole neighbourhood of the cottage and the oak…tree。 But it was all in vain。 Elspat MacTavish was never found； whether dead or alive； nor could there ever be traced the slightest circumstance to indicate her fate。
The neighbourhood was divided concerning the cause of her disappearance。 The credulous thought that the evil spirit； under whose influence she seemed to have acted； had carried her away in the body； and there are many who are still unwilling； at untimely hours； to pass the oak…tree； beneath which； as they allege； she may still be seen seated according to her wont。 Others less superstitious supposed； that had it been possible to search the gulf of the Corri Dhu； the profound deeps of the lake； or the whelming eddies of the river； the remains of Elspat MacTavish might have been discoveredas nothing was more natural； considering her state of body and mind； than that she should have fallen in by accident； or precipitated herself intentionally； into one or other of those places of sure destruction。 The clergyman entertained an opinion of his own。 He thought that； impatient of the watch which was placed over her； this unhappy woman's instinct had taught her； as it directs various domestic animals； to withdraw herself from the sight of her own race； that the death…struggle might take place in some secret den； where； in all probability； her mortal relics would never meet the eyes of mortals。 This species of instinctive feeling seemed to him of a tenor with the whole course of her unhappy life； and most likely to influence her when it drew to a conclusion。 � End of THE HIGHLAND WIDOW。
*
MR。 CROFTANGRY INTRODUCES ANOTHER TALE。
Together both on the high lawns appeared。 Under the opening eyelids of the morn They drove afield。 ELEGY ON LYCIDAS。
I have sometimes wondered why all the favourite occupations and pastimes of mankind go to the disturbance of that happy state of tranquillity； that OTIUM； as Horace terms it； which he says is the object of all men's prayers； whether preferred from sea or land； and that the undisturbed repose； of which we are so tenacious； when duty or necessity compels us to abandon it； is precisely what we long to exchange for a state of excitation； as soon as we may prolong it at our own pleasure。 Briefly； you have only to say to a man； 〃Remain at rest；〃 and you instantly inspire the love of labour。 The sportsman toils like his gamekeeper； the master of the pack takes as severe exercise as his whipper…in； the statesman or politician drudges more than the professional lawyer； and； to come to my own case； the volunteer author subjects himself to the risk of painful criticism； and the assured certainty of mental and manual labour； just as completely as his needy brother； whose necessities compel him to assume the pen。
These reflections have been suggested by an annunciation on the part of Janet； 〃that the little Gillie…whitefoot was come from the printing…office。〃
〃Gillie…blackfoot you should call him； Janet；〃 was my response； 〃for he is neither more nor less than an imp of the devil； come to torment me for COPY； for so the printers call a supply of manuscript for the press。〃
〃Now； Cot forgie your honour；〃 said Janet； 〃for it is no like your ainsell to give such names to a faitherless bairn。〃
〃I have got nothing else to give him； Janet； he must wait a little。〃
〃Then I have got some breakfast to give the bit gillie；〃 said Janet； 〃and he can wait by the fireside in the kitchen； till your honour's ready； and cood enough for the like of him； if he was to wait your honour's pleasure all day。〃
〃But； Janet；〃 said I to my little active superintendent； on her return to the parlour； after having made her hospitable arrangements； 〃I begin to find this writing our Chronicles is rather more tiresome than I expected； for here comes this little fellow to ask for manuscriptthat is； for something to print and I have got none to give him。〃
〃Your honour can be at nae loss。 I have seen you write fast and fast enough； and for subjects； you have the whole Highlands to write about； and I am sure you know a hundred tales better than that about Hamish MacTavish； for it was but about a young cateran and an auld carlin； when all's done； and if they had burned the rudas quean for a witch； I am thinking； may be they would not have tyned their coalsand her to gar her ne'er…do…weel son shoot a gentleman Cameron！ I am third cousin to the Camerons mysel'my blood warms to them。 And if you want to write about deserters； I am sure there were deserters enough on the top of Arthur's Seat； when the MacRaas broke out； and on that woeful day beside Leith Pierohonari！〃
Here Janet began to weep； and to wipe her eyes with her apron。 For my part； the idea I wanted was supplied； but I hesitated to make use of it。 Topics； like times； are apt to become common by frequent use。 It is only an ass like Justice Shallow； who would pitch upon the over…scutched tunes； which the carmen whistled； and try to pass them off as his FANCIES and his GOOD…NIGHTS。 Now； the Highlands； though formerly a rich mine for original matter； are； as my friend Mrs。 Bethune Baliol warned me； in some degree worn out by the incessant labour of modern romancers and novelists； who； finding in those remote regions primitive habits and manners； have vainly imagined that the public can never tire of them； and so kilted Highlanders are to be found as frequently； and nearly of as genuine descent； on the shelves of a circulating library； as at a Caledonian ball。 Much might have been made at an earlier time out of the history of a Highland regiment； and the singular revolution of ideas which must have taken place in the minds of those who composed it； when exchanging their native hills for the battle…fields of the Continent； and their simple； and sometimes indolent domestic habits for the regular exertions demanded by modern discipline。 But the market is forestalled。 There is Mrs。 Grant of Laggan； has drawn the manners； customs； and superstitions of the mountains in their natural unsophisticated state； ＇Letters from the Mountains； 3 vols。 Essays on the Superstitions of the HighlandersThe Highlanders； and other Poems； etc。＇ and my friend； General Stewart of Garth； ＇The gallant and amiable author of the History of the Highland Regiments； in whose glorious services his own share had been great； went out Governor of St Lucia in 1828； and died in that island on the 18th of December 1829；no man more regretted； or perhaps by a wider circle of friends and acquaintance。＇ in giving the real history of the Highland regiments； has rendered any attempt to fill up the sketch with fancy…colouring extremely rash and precarious。 Yet I； too； have still a lingering fancy to add a stone to the cairn； and without calling in imagination to aid the impressions of juvenile recollection； I may just attempt to embody one or two scenes illustrative
