guy mannering-第11节

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！


wards　attempted　the　following　paraphrase　of　what；　from　a　few　intelligible　phrases；　he　concluded　to　be　its　purport。

Twist　ye；　twine　ye！　even　so　Mingle　shades　of　joy　and　woe；　Hope；　and　fear；　and　peace；　and　strife；　In　the　thread　of　human　life。

While　the　mystic　twist　is　spinning；　And　the　infant's　life　beginning；　Dimly　seen　through　twilight　bending；　Lo；　what　varied　shapes　attending！

Passions　wild；　and　Follies　vain；　Pleasures　soon　exchanged　for　pain　Doubt；　and　Jealousy　and　Fear；　In　the　magic　dance　appear。

Now　they　wax；　and　now　they　dwindle；　Whirling　with　the　whirling　spindle。　　Twist　ye；　twine　ye！　even　so　Mingle　human　bliss　and　woe。

Ere　our　translator；　or　rather　our　free　imitator；　had　arranged　these　stanzas　in　his　head；　and　while　he　was　yet　hammering　out　a　rhyme　for　dwindle；　the　task　of　the　sibyl　was　accomplished；　or　her　wool　was　expended。　She　took　the　spindle；　now　charged　with　her　labours；　and；　undoing　the　thread　gradually；　measured　it；　by　casting　it　over　her　elbow；　and　bringing　each　loop　round　between　her　forefinger　and　thumb。　When　she　had　measured　it　out；　she　muttered　to　herself〃A　hank；　but　not　a　haill　anethe　full　years　o'　three　scare　and　ten；　but　thrice　broken；　and　thrice　to　oop　（ie。　to　unite）；　he'll　be　a　lucky　lad　an　he　win　through　wi't。〃

Our　hero　was　about　to　speak　to　the　prophetess；　when　a　voice；　hoarse　as　the　waves　with　which　it　mingled；　halloo'd　twice；　and　with　increasing　impatience〃Meg；　Meg　Merrilies！Gipsyhagtousand　deyvils！〃

〃I　am　coming；　I　am　coming；　Captain；〃　answered　Meg；　and　in　a　moment　or　two　the　impatient　commander　whom　she　addressed　made　his　appearance　from　the　broken　part　of　the　ruins。

He　was　apparently　a　seafaring　man；　rather　under　the　middle　size；　and　with　a　countenance　bronzed　by　a　thousand　conflicts　with　the　north…east　wind。　His　frame　was　prodigiously　muscular；　strong；　and　thick…set；　so　that　it　seemed　as　if　a　man　of　much　greater　height　would　have　been　an　inadequate　match　in　any　close　personal　conflict。　He　was　hard…favoured；　and；　which　was　worse；　his　face　bore　nothing　of　the　insouciance；　the　careless　frolicsome　jollity　and　vacant　curiosity　of　a　sailor　on　shore。　These　qualities；　perhaps；　as　much　as　any　others；　contribute　to　the　high　popularity　of　our　seamen；　and　the　general　good　inclination　which　our　society　expresses　towards　them。　Their　gallantry；　courage；　and　hardihood；　are　qualities　which　excite　reverence；　and　perhaps　rather　humble　pacific　landsmen　in　their　presence；　and　neither　respect；　nor　a　sense　of　humiliation；　are　feelings　easily　combined　with　a　familiar　fondness　towards　those　who　inspire。　them。　But　the　boyish　frolics；　the　exulting　high　spirits；　the　unreflecting　mirth　of　a　sailor；　when　enjoying　himself　on　shore；　temper　the　more　formidable　points　of　his　character。　There　was　nothing　like　these　in　this　man's　face；　on　the　contrary；　a　surly　and　even　savage　scowl　appeared　to　darken　features　which　would　have　been　harsh　and　unpleasant　under　any　expression　or　modification。　〃Where　are　you；　Mother　Deyvilson？〃　he　said；　with　somewhat　of　a　foreign　accent；　though　speaking　perfectly　good　English。　〃Donner　and　blitzen！　we　have　been　staying　this　half…hour。　Come；　bless　the　good　ship　and　the　voyage；　and　be　cursed　to　ye　for　a　hag　of　Satan！〃

At　this　moment　he　noticed　Mannering；　who；　from　the　position　which　he　had　taken　to　watch　Meg　Merrilies's　incantations；　had　the　appearance　of　some　one　who　was　concealing　himself；　being　half　hidden　by　the　buttress　behind　which　he　stood。　The　Captain；　for　such　he　styled　himself；　made　a　sudden　and　startled　pause；　and　thrust　his　right　hand　into　his　bosom；　between　his　jacket　and　waistcoat；　as　if　to　draw　some　weapon。　〃What　cheer；　brother？you　seem　on　the　outlookeh？〃

Ere　Mannering；　somewhat　struck　by　the　man's　gesture　and　insolent　tone　of　voice；　had　made　any　answer；　the　gipsy　emerged　from　her　vault　and　joined　the　stranger。　He　questioned　her　in　an　undertone；　looking　at　Mannering〃A　shark　alongside；　eh？〃

She　answered　in　the　same　tone　of　under…dialogue；　using　the　cant　language　of　her　tribe〃Cut　ben　Whids；　and　stow　thema　gentry　cove　of　the　ken。〃　＇*　Meaning　a　Stop　your　uncivil　tonguethat　is　a　gentleman　from　the　house　below。＇

The　fellow's　cloudy　visage　cleared　up。　〃The　top　of　the　morning　to　you；　sir；　I　find　you　are　a　visitor　of　my　friend　Mr。　BertramI　beg　pardon；　but　I　took　you　for　another　sort　of　a　person。〃

Mannering　replied；　〃And　you；　sir；　I　presume；　are　the　master　of　that　vessel　in　the　bay？〃

〃Ay；　ay；　sir；　I　am　Captain　Dirk　Hatteraick；　of　the　Yungfrauw　Hagenslaapen；　well　known　on　this　coast；　I　am　not　ashamed　of　my　name；　nor　of　my　vessel；no；　nor　of　my　cargo　neither；　for　that　matter。〃

〃I　dare　say　you　have　no　reason；　sir。〃

〃Tousand　donnerno；　I'm　all　in　the　way　of　fair　tradejust　loaded　yonder　at　Douglas；　in　the　Isle　of　Manneat　cogniacreal　hyson　and　souchongMechlin　lace；　if　you　want　anyRight　cogniacWe　bumped　ashore　a　hundred　kegs　last　night。〃

〃Really；　sir；　I　am　only　a　traveller；　and　have　no　sort　of　occasion　for　anything　of　the　kind　at　present。〃

〃Why；　then；　good…morning　to　you；　for　business　must　be　minded　unless　ye'll　go　aboard　and　take　schnaps？　＇*A　dram　of　liquor。＇you　shall　have　a　pouch…full　of　tea　ashore。Dirk　Hatteraick　knows　how　to　be　civil。〃

There　was　a　mixture　of　impudence；　hardihood；　and　suspicious　fear　about　this　man；　which　was　inexpressibly　disgusting。　His　manners　were　those　of　a　ruffian；　conscious　of　the　suspicion　attending　his　character；　yet　aiming　to　bear　it　down　by　the　affectation　of　a　careless　and　hardy　familiarity。　Mannering　briefly　rejected　his　proffered　civilities；　and　after　a　surly　good…morning；　Hatteraick　retired　with　the　gipsy　to　that　part　of　the　ruins　from　which　he　had　first　made　his　appearance。　A　very　narrow　staircase　here　went　down　to　the　beach；　intended　probably　for　the　convenience　of　the　garrison　during　a　siege。　By　this　stair；　the　couple；　equally　amiable　in　appearance；　and　respectable　by　profession；　descended　to　the　seaside。　The　soi…disant　captain　embarked　in　a　small　boat　with　two　men　who　appeared　to　wait　for　him；　and　the　gipsy　remained　on　the　shore；　reciting　or　singing；　and　gesticulating　with　great　vehemence。



CHAPTER　V。

　　You　have　fed　upon　my　seignories；　Dispark'd　my　parks；　and　　　fell'd　my　forest　woods；　From　mine　own　windows　torn　my　　　household　coat；　Razed　out　my　impress；　leaving　me　no　sign；　　　Save　men's　opinions　and　my　living　blood；　To　show　the　world　　　I　am　a　gentleman。

　　　　Richard　II。

WHEN　the　boat　which　carried　the　worthy　captain　on　board　his　vessel　had　accomplished　that　task；　the　sails　began　to　ascend；　and　the　ship　was　got　under　way。　She　fired　three　guns　as　a　salute　to　the　house　of　Ellangowan；　and　then　shot　away　rapidly　before　the　wind；　which　blew　off　shore；　under　all　the　sail　she　could　crowd。

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　the　Laird；　who　had　sought　Mannering　for　some　time；　and　now　joined　him；　〃there　they　gothere　go　the　free…tradersthere　go　Captain　Dirk　Hatteraick；　and　the　Yungfrauw　Hagenslaapen；　half　Manks；　half　Dutchman；　half　devil！　run　out　the　bowsprit；　up　mainsail；　top　and　top…gallant　sails；　royals；　and　sky…scrapers；　and　away；follow　who　can！　That　fellow；　Mr。　Mannering；　is　the　terror　of　all　the　excise　and　custom…house　cruisers；　they　can　make　nothing　of　him；　he　drubs　them；　or　he　distances　them；and；　speaking　of　excise；　I　come　to　bring　you　to　breakfast；　and　you　shall　have　some　tea；　that〃

Mannering；　by　this　time；　was　aware　that　one　thought　linked　strangely　on　to　another　in　the　concatenation　of　worthy　Mr。　Bertram's　ideas；

　　　　　　　　　Like　orient　pearls　at　random　strung；

and；　therefore；　before　the　current　of　his　associations　had　drifted　farther　from　the　point　he　had　left；　he　brought　him　back　by　some　inquiry　about　Dirk　Hatteraick。

〃Oh；　he's　aagude　sort　of　blackguard　fellow　eneughnaebody　cares　to　trouble　himsmuggler；　when　his　guns　are　in　ballastprivateer；　or　pirate　faith；　when　he　gets　them　mounted。　He　has　done　more　mischief　to　the　revenue　folk　than　ony　rogue　that　ever　came　out　of　Ramsay。〃

〃But；　my　good　sir；　such　being　his　character；　I　wonder　he　has　any　protection　and　encouragement　on　this　coast。〃　〃Why；　Mr。　Mannering；　people　must　have　brandy　and　tea；　and　there's　none　in　the　country　but　what　comes　this　wayand　then　there's　short　accounts；　and　maybe　a　keg　or　two；　or　a　dozen　pounds　left　at　your　stable　door；　instead　of　a　d…d　lang　account　at　Christmas　from　Duncan　Robb；　the　grocer　at　Kippletringan；　who　has　aye　a　sum　tomake　up；　and　either　wants　ready　money；　or　a　short…dated　bill。　Now；　Hatteraick　will　take　wood；　or　he'll　take　bark；　or　he'll　take　barley；　or　he'll　take　just　what's　convenient　at　the　time。　I'll　tell　you　a　gude　story　about　that。　There　was　ance　a　lairdthat's　Macfie　of　Gudgeonford；he　had　a　great　number　of　kain　hensthat's　hens　that　the　tenant　pays　to　the　landlordlike　a　sort　of　rent　in　kindthey　aye　feed　mine　very　ill；　Luckie　Finniston　sent　up　three　that　were　a　shame　to　be　seen　only　last　week；　and　yet　she　has　twelve　bows　＇*　Bolls　（a　large　measure　of　grain）＇　sowing　of　victual；　indeed　her　goodman；　Duncan　Finnistonthat's　him　that's　gone（we　must　all　die；　Mr。　Mannering；　that's　ower　true）and　speaking　of　that；　let　us　live　in　the　meanwhile；　for　here's　breakfast　on　the　table；　and　the　Dominie　ready　to　say　the　grace。〃

The　Dominie　did　accordingly　pronounce　a　benediction；　that　exceeded　in　length　any　speech　which　Mannering　had　yet　heard　him　utte