第 43 节
作者:
曾氏六合网 更新:2021-02-27 01:39 字数:9321
f apology from Cameron of Lochiel; whose men had committed some depredation upon a farm called Moines; occupied by one of the Grants。 Lochiel assures Grant that; however the mistake had happened; his instructions were precise; that the party should foray the province of Moray (a Lowland district); where; as he coolly observes; 'all men take their prey。'〃
177。 Good faith。 In good faith; bona fide; as often in old writers。
192。 Bower。 See on i。 217 above。
195。 This rebel Chieftain; etc。 The MS。 reads:
〃This dark Sir Roderick | and his band;〃 This savage Chieftain |
and below:
〃From copse to copse the signal flew。 Instant; through copse and crags; arose;〃
and in 205 〃shoots〃 for sends。
208。 And every tuft; etc。 The MS。 reads:
〃And each lone tuft of broom gives life To plaided warrior armed for strife。 That whistle manned the lonely glen With full five hundred armed men;〃
and below (214):
〃All silent; too; they stood; and still; Watching their leader's beck and will; While forward step and weapon show They long to rush upon the foe; Like the loose crag whose tottering mass Hung threatening o'er the hollow pass。〃
219。 Verge。 See on iv。 83 above。
230。 Manned himself。 Cf。 Addison's 〃manned his soul;〃 quoted by Wb。
238。 The stern joy; etc。 Cf。 iv。 155 above。
239。 Foeman。 The reading of the 1st ed。 and that of 1821; 〃foeman〃 in many recent eds。
246。 Their mother Earth; etc。 Alluding to the old myths of the earth…born Giants and of Cadmus。
252。 Glinted。 Flashed; a Scottish word。 Jamieson defines glint 〃to glance; gleam; or pass suddenly like a flash of lightning。〃
253。 Glaive。 See on iv。 274 above。 The jack was 〃a horseman's defensive upper garment; quilted and covered with strong leather〃 (Nares)。 It was sometimes also strengthened with iron rings; plates; or bosses。 Cf。 Lyly; Euphues: 〃jackes quilted; and covered over with leather; fustian; or canvas; over thick plates of yron that are sowed to the same。〃 Scott; in the Eve of St。 John; speaks of 〃his plate…jack。〃 For spear the 1st ed。 has 〃lance。〃
267。 One valiant hand。 The MS。 has 〃one brave man's hand。〃
268。 Lay。 Were staked。
270。 I only meant; etc。 Scott says: 〃This incident; like some other passages in the poem; illustrative of the character of the ancient Gael; is not imaginary; but borrowed from fact。 The Highlanders; with the inconsistency of most nations in the same state; were alternately capable of great exertions of generosity and of cruel revenge and perfidy。 The following story I can only quote from tradition; but with such an assurance from those by whom it was communicated as permits me little doubt of its authenticity。 Early in the last century; John Gunn; a noted Cateran; or Highland robber; infested Inverness…shire; and levied black…mail up to the walls of the provincial capital。 A garrison was then maintained in the castle of that town; and their pay (country banks being unknown) was usually transmitted in specie under the guard of a small escort。 It chanced that the officer who commanded this little party was unexpectedly obliged to halt; about thirty miles from Inverness; at a miserable inn。 About nightfall; a stranger in the Highland dress; and of very prepossessing appearance; entered the same house。 Separate accommodations being impossible; the Englishman offered the newly…arrived guest a part of his supper; which was accepted with reluctance。 By the conversation he found his new acquaintance knew well all the passes of the country; which induced him eagerly to request his company on the ensuing morning。 He neither disguised his business and charge; nor his apprehensions of that celebrated freebooter; John Gunn。 The Highlander hesitated a moment; and then frankly consented to be his guide。 Forth they set in the morning; and in travelling through a solitary and dreary glen; the discourse again turned on John Gunn。 'Would you like to see him?' said the guide; and without waiting an answer to this alarming question; he whistled; and the English officer; with his small party; were surrounded by a body of Highlanders; whose numbers put resistance out of question; and who were all well armed。 'Stranger;' resumed the guide; 'I am that very John Gunn by whom you feared to be intercepted; and not without cause; for I came to the inn last night with the express purpose of learning your route; that I and my followers might ease you of your charge by the road。 But I am incapable of betraying the trust you reposed in me; and having convinced you that you were in my power; I can only dismiss you unplundered and uninjured。' He then gave the officer directions for his journey; and disappeared with his party as suddenly as they had presented themselves。〃
277。 Flood。 Flow; used for the sake of the rhyme; like drew just below。 Wont = wonted。
286。 And still; etc。 The MS。 reads:
〃And still; from copse and heather bush; Fancy saw spear and broadsword ruch。〃
298。 Three mighty lakes。 Katrine; Achray; and Vennachar。 Scott says: 〃The torrent which discharges itself from Loch Vennachar; the lowest and eastmost of the three lakes which form the scenery adjoining to the Trosachs; sweeps through a flat and extensive moor; called Bochastle。 Upon a small eminence called the Dun of Bochastle; and indeed on the plain itself; are some intrenchments which have been thought Roman。 There is adjacent to Callander a sweet villa; the residence of Captain Fairfoul; entitled the Roman Camp。〃
301。 Mouldering。 The MS。 has 〃martial。〃
309。 This murderous Chief; etc。 Cf。 106 above。
315。 All vantageless; etc。 Scott says: 〃The duellists of former times did not always stand upon those punctilios respecting equality of arms; which are not judged essential to fair combat。 It is true that in formal combats in the lists the parties were; by the judges of the field; put as nearly as possible in the same circumstances。 But in private duel it was often otherwise。 In that desperate combat which was fought between Quelus; a minion of Henry III。 of France; and Antraguet; with two seconds on each side; from which only two persons escaped alive; Quelus complained that his antagonist had over him the advantage of a poniard which he used in parrying; while his left hand; which he was forced to employ for the same purpose; was cruelly mangled。 When he charged Antraguet with this odds; 'Thou hast done wrong;' answered he; 'to forget thy dagger at home。 We are here to fight; and not to settle punctilios of arms。' In a similar duel; however; a young brother of the house of Aubayne; in Angoulesme; behaved more generously on the like occasion; and at once threw away his dagger when his enemy challenged it as an undue advantage。 But at this time hardly anything can be conceived more horridly brutal and savage than the mode in which private quarrels were conducted in France。 Those who were most jealous of the point of honor; and acquired the title of Ruffines; did not scruple to take advantage of strength; numbers; surprise; and arms; to accomplish their revenge。〃
329。 By prophet bred; etc。 See iii。 91 fol。 above; and for the expression cf。 iv。 124。
347。 Dark lightning; etc。 The MS。 has 〃In lightning flashed the Chief's dark eye;〃 which might serve as a comment on Dark lightning。
349。 Kern。 See on iv。 73 above。
351。 He yields not; etc。 The MS。 has 〃He stoops not; he; to James nor Fate。〃
356。 Carpet knight。 Cf。 Shakespeare; T。 N。 iii。 4。 257: 〃He is knight; dubbed with unhatched rapier and on carpet consideration。〃
364。 Ruth。 Pity; obsolete; though we still have ruthless。 Cf。 Spenser; F。 Q。 i。 1。 50:
〃to stirre up gentle ruth Both for her noble blood; and for her tender youth;〃
Milton; Lycidas; 163: 〃Look homeward; Angel; now; and melt with ruth;〃 etc。
380。 His targe。 Scott says: 〃A round target of light wood; covered with strong leather and studded with brass or iron; was a necessary part of a Highlander's equipment。 In charging regular troops they received the thrust of the bayonet in this buckler; twisted it aside; and used the broadsword against the encumbered soldier。 In the civil war of 1745 most of the front rank of the clans were thus armed; and Captain Grose (Military Antiquities; vol。 i。 p。 164) informs us that in 1747 the privates of the 42d regiment; then in Flanders; were for the most part permitted to carry targets。 A person thus armed had a considerable advantage in private fray。 Among verses between Swift and Sheridan; lately published by Dr。 Barrett; there is an account of such an encounter; in which the circumstances; and consequently the relative superiority of the combatants; are precisely the reverse of those in the text:
'A Highlander once fought a Frenchman at Margate; The weapons; a rapier; a backsword; and target; Brisk Monsieur advanced as fast as he could; But all his fine pushes were caught in the wood; And Sawny; with backsword; did slash him and nick him; While t'other; enraged that he could not once prick him; Cried; 〃Sirrah; you rascal; you son