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！
began to perceive that the dismissal of the school； and my own
release from torment； depended upon this selfsame rope。 I
therefore； in a fit of desperation； pulled it once or twice； and
then left off； naturally supposing that I had done quite enough。
The boys who sat next the door no sooner heard the bell； than；
rising from their seats； they moved out at the door。 The bell；
however； had no sooner ceased to jingle； than they stopped short；
and； turning round； stared at the master； as much as to say； 'What
are we to do now？' This was too much for the patience of the man
of method； which my previous stupidity had already nearly
exhausted。 Dashing forward into the middle of the room； he struck
me violently on the shoulders with his ferule； and； snatching the
rope out of my hand； exclaimed； with a stentorian voice； and
genuine Yorkshire accent； 'Prodigy of ignorance！ dost not even know
how to ring a bell？ Must I myself instruct thee？' He then
commenced pulling at the bell with such violence that long before
half the school was dismissed the rope broke； and the rest of the
boys had to depart without their accustomed music。
But I must not linger here； though I could say much about the
school and the pedagogue highly amusing and diverting； which；
however； I suppress； in order to make way for matters of yet
greater interest。 On we went； northward； northward！ and； as we
advanced； I saw that the country was becoming widely different from
those parts of merry England in which we had previously travelled。
It was wilder； and less cultivated； and more broken with hills and
hillocks。 The people； too； of these regions appeared to partake of
something of the character of their country。 They were coarsely
dressed； tall and sturdy of frame； their voices were deep and
guttural； and the half of the dialect which they spoke was
unintelligible to my ears。
I often wondered where we could be going； for I was at this time
about as ignorant of geography as I was of most other things。
However； I held my peace； asked no questions； and patiently awaited
the issue。
Northward； northward； still！ And it came to pass that； one
morning； I found myself extended on the bank of a river。 It was a
beautiful morning of early spring； small white clouds were floating
in the heaven； occasionally veiling the countenance of the sun；
whose light； as they retired； would again burst forth； coursing
like a race…horse over the scene … and a goodly scene it was！
Before me； across the water； on an eminence； stood a white old
city； surrounded with lofty walls； above which rose the tops of
tall houses； with here and there a church or steeple。 To my right
hand was a long and massive bridge； with many arches； and of
antique architecture； which traversed the river。 The river was a
noble one； the broadest that I had hitherto seen。 Its waters； of a
greenish tinge； poured with impetuosity beneath the narrow arches
to meet the sea； close at hand； as the boom of the billows breaking
distinctly upon a beach declared。 There were songs upon the river
from the fisher…barks； and occasionally a chorus； plaintive and
wild； such as I had never heard before； the words of which I did
not understand； but which； at the present time； down the long
avenue of years； seem in memory's ear to sound like 'Horam； coram；
dago。' Several robust fellows were near me； some knee…deep in
water； employed in hauling the seine upon the strand。 Huge fish
were struggling amidst the meshes … princely salmon； … their
brilliant mail of blue and silver flashing in the morning beam； so
goodly and gay a scene； in truth； had never greeted my boyish eye。
And； as I gazed upon the prospect； my bosom began to heave； and my
tears to trickle。 Was it the beauty of the scene which gave rise
to these emotions？ Possibly； for though a poor ignorant child … a
half…wild creature … I was not insensible to the loveliness of
nature； and took pleasure in the happiness and handiworks of my
fellow…creatures。 Yet； perhaps； in something more deep and
mysterious the feelings which then pervaded me might originate。
Who can lie down on Elvir Hill without experiencing something of
the sorcery of the place？ Flee from Elvir Hill； young swain； or
the maids of Elle will have power over you； and you will go elf…
wild！ … so say the Danes。 I had unconsciously laid myself down
upon haunted ground； and I am willing to imagine that what I then
experienced was rather connected with the world of spirits and
dreams than with what I actually saw and heard around me。 Surely
the elves and genii of the place were conversing； by some
inscrutable means； with the principle of intelligence lurking
within the poor uncultivated clod！ Perhaps to that ethereal
principle the wonders of the past； as connected with that stream；
the glories of the present； and even the history of the future；
were at that moment being revealed！ Of how many feats of chivalry
had those old walls been witness； when hostile kings contended for
their possession！ … how many an army from the south and from the
north had trod that old bridge！ … what red and noble blood had
crimsoned those rushing waters！…what strains had been sung； ay；
were yet being sung； on its banks！ … some soft as Doric reed； some
fierce and sharp as those of Norwegian Skaldaglam； some as replete
with wild and wizard force as Finland's runes； singing of
Kalevala's moors； and the deeds of Woinomoinen！ Honour to thee；
thou island stream！ Onward may thou ever roll； fresh and green；
rejoicing in thy bright past； thy glorious present； and in vivid
hope of a triumphant future！ Flow on； beautiful one！ … which of
the world's streams canst thou envy； with thy beauty and renown？
Stately is the Danube； rolling in its might through lands romantic
with the wild exploits of Turk； Polak； and Magyar！ Lovely is the
Rhine！ on its shelvy banks grows the racy grape； and strange old
keeps of robber…knights of yore are reflected in its waters； from
picturesque crags and airy headlands！ … yet neither the stately
Danube nor the beauteous Rhine； with all their fame； though
abundant； needst thou envy； thou pure island stream！ … and far less
yon turbid river of old； not modern renown； gurgling beneath the
walls of what was once proud Rome； towering Rome； Jupiter's town；
but now vile Rome； crumbling Rome； Batuscha's town； far less needst
thou envy the turbid Tiber of bygone fame； creeping sadly to the
sea； surcharged with the abominations of modern Rome … how unlike
to thee； thou pure island stream！
And； as I lay on the bank and wept； there drew nigh to me a man in
the habiliments of a fisher。 He was bare…legged； of a weather…
beaten countenance； and of stature approaching to the gigantic。
'What is the callant greeting for？' said he； as he stopped and
surveyed me。 'Has onybody wrought ye ony harm？'
'Not that I know of；' I replied； rather guessing at than
understanding his question； 'I was crying because I could not help
it！ I say； old one； what is the name of this river？'
'Hout！ I now see what you was greeting at … at your ain ignorance；
nae doubt … 'tis very great！ Weel； I will na fash you with
reproaches； but even enlighten ye； since you seem a decent man's
bairn； and you speir a civil question。 Yon river is called the
Tweed； and yonder； over the brig； is Scotland。 Did ye never hear
of the Tweed； my bonny man？'
'No；' said I； as I rose from the grass； and proceeded to cross the
bridge to the town at which we had arrived the preceding night； 'I
never heard of it； but now I have seen it； I shall not soon forget
it！'
CHAPTER VII
The Castle … A father's inquiries … Scotch language … A
determination … Bui hin Digri … Good Scotchman … Difference of
races … Ne'er a haggis … Pugnacious people … Wha are ye； man？ … The
Nor Loch … Gestures wild … The bicker … New Town champion … Wild…
looking figure … Headlong。
IT was not long before we found ourselves at Edinburgh； or rather
in the Castle； into which the regiment marched with drums beating；
colours flying； and a long train of baggage…waggons behind。 The
Castle was； as I suppose it is now； a garrison for soldiers。 Two
other regiments were already there； the one an Irish； if I remember
right； the other a small Highland corps。
It is hardly necessary to say much about this Castle； which
everybody has seen； on which account； doubtless； nobody has ever
yet thought fit to describe it … at least that I am aware。 Be this
as it may； I have no intention of describing it； and shall content
myself with observing that we took up our abode in that immense
building； or caserne； of modern erection； which occupies the entire
eastern side of the bold rock on which the Castle stands。 A
gallant caserne it was