the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第1章
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THE BLACK DWARF
THE BLACK DWARF
Walter Scott； Bart。
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THE BLACK DWARF
I。 TALES OF MY LANDLORD
COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM；
SCHOOLMASTER AND PARISH…CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH。
INTRODUCTION。
As I may； without vanity； presume that the name and official
description prefixed to this Proem will secure it； from the sedate and
reflecting part of mankind； to whom only I would be understood to
address myself； such attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of youth；
and the careful performer of my Sabbath duties； I will forbear to hold up a
candle to the daylight； or to point out to the judicious those
recommendations of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate
from the perusal of the title…page。 Nevertheless； I am not unaware； that；
as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels； there may be those who will
whisper； that albeit my learning and good principles cannot （lauded be the
heavens） be denied by any one； yet that my situation at Gandercleugh hath
been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning than to the
enlargement of my views of the ways and works of the present generation。
To the which objection； if； peradventure； any such shall be started； my
answer shall be threefold：
First； Gandercleugh is； as it were； the central partthe navel （SI FAS
SIT DICERE） of this our native realm of Scotland； so that men； from
every corner thereof； when travelling on their concernments of business；
either towards our metropolis of law； by which I mean Edinburgh； or
towards our metropolis and mart of gain； whereby I insinuate Glasgow； are
frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place of rest
for the night。 And it must be acknowledged by the most sceptical； that I；
who have sat in the leathern armchair； on the left…hand side of the fire； in
the common room of the Wallace Inn； winter and summer； for every
evening in my life； during forty years bypast （the Christian Sabbaths only
excepted）； must have seen more of the manners and customs of various
tribes and people； than if I had sought them out by my own painful travel
and bodily labour。 Even so doth the tollman at the well…frequented turn…
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pike on the Wellbraehead； sitting at his ease in his own dwelling； gather
more receipt of custom； than if； moving forth upon the road； he were to
require a contribution from each person whom he chanced to meet in his
journey； when； according to the vulgar adage； he might possibly be greeted
with more kicks than halfpence。
But； secondly； supposing it again urged； that Ithacus； the most wise of
the Greeks； acquired his renown； as the Roman poet hath assured us； by
visiting states and men； I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this
objection； that； DE FACTO； I have seen states and men also； for I have
visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow； the former twice； and
the latter three times； in the course of my earthly pilgrimage。 And；
moreover； I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly （meaning； as an
auditor； in the galleries thereof）； and have heard as much goodly speaking
on the law of patronage； as； with the fructification thereof in mine own
understanding； hath made me be considered as an oracle upon that
doctrine ever since my safe and happy return to Gandercleugh。
Againand thirdly； If it be nevertheless pretended that my information
and knowledge of mankind； however extensive； and however painfully
acquired； by constant domestic enquiry； and by foreign travel； is； natheless；
incompetent to the task of recording the pleasant narratives of my
Landlord； I will let these critics know； to their own eternal shame and
confusion as well as to the abashment and discomfiture of all who shall
rashly take up a song against me； that I am NOT the writer； redacter； or
compiler； of the Tales of my Landlord； nor am I； in one single iota；
answerable for their contents； more or less。 And now； ye generation of
critics； who raise yourselves up as if it were brazen serpents； to hiss with
your tongues； and to smite with your stings； bow yourselves down to your
native dust； and acknowledge that yours have been the thoughts of
ignorance； and the words of vain foolishness。 Lo！ ye are caught in your
own snare； and your own pit hath yawned for you。 Turn； then； aside from
the task that is too heavy for you； destroy not your teeth by gnawing a file；
waste not your strength by spurning against a castle wall； nor spend your
breath in contending in swiftness with a fleet steed； and let those weigh
the Tales of my Landlord； who shall bring with them the scales of candour
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cleansed from the rust of prejudice by the hands of intelligent modesty。
For these alone they were compiled； as will appear from a brief narrative
which my zeal for truth compelled me to make supplementary to the
present Proem。
It is well known that my Landlord was a pleasing and a facetious man；
acceptable unto all the parish of Gandercleugh； excepting only the Laird；
the Exciseman； and those for whom he refused to draw liquor upon trust。
Their causes of dislike I will touch separately； adding my own refutation
thereof。
His honour； the Laird； accused our Landlord； deceased； of having
encouraged； in various times and places； the destruction of hares； rabbits；
fowls black and grey； partridges； moor…pouts； roe…deer； and other birds and
quadrupeds； at unlawful seasons； and contrary to the laws of this realm；
which have secured； in their wisdom； the slaughter of such animals for the
great of the earth； whom I have remarked to take an uncommon （though to
me； an unintelligible） pleasure therein。 Now； in humble deference to his
honour； and in justifiable defence of my friend deceased； I reply to this
charge； that howsoever the form of such animals might appear to be
similar to those so protected by the law； yet it was a mere DECEPTIO
VISUS； for what resembled hares were； in fact； HILL…KIDS； and those
partaking of the appearance of moor… fowl； were truly WOOD PIGEONS
and consumed and eaten EO NOMINE； and not otherwise。
Again； the Exciseman pretended； that my deceased Landlord did
encourage that species of manufacture called distillation； without having
an especial permission from the Great； technically called a license； for
doing so。 Now； I stand up to confront this falsehood； and in defiance of
him； his gauging…stick； and pen and inkhorn； I tell him； that I never saw； or
tasted； a glass of unlawful aqua vitae in the house of my Landlord； nay；
that； on the contrary； we needed not such devices； in respect of a pleasing
and somewhat seductive liquor； which was vended and consumed at the
Wallace Inn； under the name of MOUNTAIN DEW。 If there is a penalty
against manufacturing such a liquor； let him show me the statute； and
when he does； I'll tell him if I will obey it or no。
Concerning those who came to my Landlord for liquor； and went
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thirsty away； for lack of present coin； or future credit； I cannot but say it
has grieved my bowels as if the case had been mine own。 Nevertheless；
my Landlord considered the necessities of a thirsty soul； and would permit
them； in extreme need； and when their soul was impoverished for lack of
moisture； to drink to the full value of their watches and wearing apparel；
exclusively of their inferior habiliments； which he was uniformly
inexorable in obliging them to retain； for the credit of the house。 As to
mine own part； I may well say； that he never refused me that modicum of
refreshment with which I am wont to recruit nature after the fatigues of
my school。 It is true； I taught his five sons English and Latin； writing；
book…keeping； with a tincture of mathematics； and that I instructed his
daughter in psalmody。 Nor do I remember me of any fee or
HONORARIUM received from him on account of these my labours；
except the compotations aforesaid。 Nevertheless this compensation
suited my humour well； since it is a hard sentence to bid a dry throat wait
till quarter…day。
But； truly； were I to speak my simple conceit and belief； I think my
Landlord was chiefly moved to waive in my behalf the usual requisition of
a symbol； or reckoning； from the pleasure he was wont to take in my
conversation； which； though solid and edifying in the main； was； like a
well…built palace； decorated with facetious narratives and devices； tending
much to the enhancement and ornament thereof。 And so pleased was my
Landlord of the Wallace in his replies during such colloquies； that there
was no district in Scotland； yea； and no peculiar； and； as it were；
distinctive custom therein practised； but was discussed betwixt us；
insomuch； that those who stood by were wont to say； it was worth a bottle
of ale to hear us communicate with each other。 And not a few travellers；
from distant parts； as well as from the remote districts of our kingdom；
were wont to mingle in the conversation； and to tell news that had been
gathered in foreign lands； or preserved from oblivion in this our own。
No
