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！
admission of new manures； and which had run to waste with Gilbert in
subversive politics and heretical religions； bore useful fruit in many
ingenious mechanical improvements。 In boyhood； from his addiction to
strange devices of sticks and string； he had been counted the most
56
… Page 57…
Weir of Hermiston
eccentric of the family。 But that was all by now； and he was a partner of
his firm； and looked to die a bailie。 He too had married； and was rearing a
plentiful family in the smoke and din of Glasgow； he was wealthy； and
could have bought out his brother； the cock…laird； six times over； it was
whispered； and when he slipped away to Cauldstaneslap for a well…earned
holiday； which he did as often as he was able； he astonished the
neighbours with his broadcloth； his beaver hat； and the ample plies of his
neckcloth。 Though an eminently solid man at bottom； after the pattern of
Hob； he had contracted a certain Glasgow briskness and APLOMB which
set him off。 All the other Elliotts were as lean as a rake； but Clement was
laying on fat； and he panted sorely when he must get into his boots。 Dand
said； chuckling： 〃Ay； Clem has the elements of a corporation。〃 〃A provost
and corporation；〃 returned Clem。 And his readiness was much admired。
The fourth brother； Dand； was a shepherd to his trade； and by starts；
when he could bring his mind to it； excelled in the business。 Nobody could
train a dog like Dandie； nobody； through the peril of great storms in the
winter time； could do more gallantly。 But if his dexterity were exquisite；
his diligence was but fitful； and he served his brother for bed and board；
and a trifle of pocket…money when he asked for it。 He loved money well
enough； knew very well how to spend it； and could make a shrewd bargain
when he liked。 But he preferred a vague knowledge that he was well to
windward to any counted coins in the pocket； he felt himself richer so。
Hob would expostulate： 〃I'm an amature herd。〃 Dand would reply； 〃I'll
keep your sheep to you when I'm so minded； but I'll keep my liberty too。
Thir's no man can coandescend on what I'm worth。〃 Clein would expound
to him the miraculous results of compound interest； and recommend
investments。 〃Ay； man？〃 Dand would say； 〃and do you think； if I took
Hob's siller； that I wouldna drink it or wear it on the lassies？ And； anyway；
my kingdom is no of this world。 Either I'm a poet or else I'm nothing。〃
Clem would remind him of old age。 〃I'll die young； like； Robbie Burns；〃
he would say stoutly。 No question but he had a certain accomplishment in
minor verse。 His 〃Hermiston Burn；〃 with its pretty refrain …
〃I love to gang thinking whaur ye gang linking； Hermiston burn； in
the howe；〃
57
… Page 58…
Weir of Hermiston
his 〃Auld； auld Elliotts； clay…cauld Elliotts； dour； bauld Elliotts of
auld；〃 and his really fascinating piece about the Praying Weaver's Stone；
had gained him in the neighbourhood the reputation； still possible in
Scotland； of a local bard； and； though not printed himself； he was
recognised by others who were and who had become famous。 Walter Scott
owed to Dandie the text of the 〃Raid of Wearie〃 in the MINSTRELSY；
and made him welcome at his house； and appreciated his talents； such as
they were； with all his usual generosity。 The Ettrick Shepherd was his
sworn crony； they would meet； drink to excess； roar out their lyrics in each
other's faces； and quarrel and make it up again till bedtime。 And besides
these recognitions； almost to be called official； Dandie was made welcome
for the sake of his gift through the farmhouses of several contiguous dales；
and was thus exposed to manifold temptations which he rather sought than
fled。 He had figured on the stool of repentance； for once fulfilling to the
letter the tradition of his hero and model。 His humorous verses to Mr。
Torrance on that occasion … 〃Kenspeckle here my lane I stand〃 …
unfortunately too indelicate for further citation； ran through the country
like a fiery cross … they were recited； quoted； paraphrased； and laughed
over as far away as Dumfries on the one hand and Dunbar on the other。
These four brothers were united by a close bond； the bond of that
mutual admiration … or rather mutual hero…worship … which is so strong
among the members of secluded families who have much ability and little
culture。 Even the extremes admired each other。 Hob； who had as much
poetry as the tongs； professed to find pleasure in Dand's verses； Clem；
who had no more religion than Claverhouse； nourished a heartfelt； at least
an open…mouthed； admiration of Gib's prayers； and Dandie followed with
relish the rise of Clem's fortunes。 Indulgence followed hard on the heels of
admiration。 The laird； Clem； and Dand； who were Tories and patriots of
the hottest quality； excused to themselves； with a certain bashfulness； the
radical and revolutionary heresies of Gib。 By another division of the
family； the laird； Clem； and Gib； who were men exactly virtuous；
swallowed the dose of Dand's irregularities as a kind of clog or drawback
in the mysterious providence of God affixed to bards； and distinctly
probative of poetical genius。 To appreciate the simplicity of their mutual
58
… Page 59…
Weir of Hermiston
admiration it was necessary to hear Clem； arrived upon one of his visits；
and dealing in a spirit of continuous irony with the affairs and
personalities of that great city of Glasgow where he lived and transacted
business。 The various personages； ministers of the church； municipal
officers； mercantile big…wigs； whom he had occasion to introduce； were all
alike denigrated； all served but as reflectors to cast back a flattering side…
light on the house of Cauldstaneslap。 The Provost； for whom Clem by
exception entertained a measure of respect； he would liken to Hob。 〃He
minds me o' the laird there；〃 he would say。 〃He has some of Hob's grand；
whunstane sense； and the same way with him of steiking his mouth when
he's no very pleased。〃 And Hob； all unconscious； would draw down his
upper lip and produce； as if for comparison； the formidable grimace
referred to。 The unsatisfactory incumbent of St。 Enoch's Kirk was thus
briefly dismissed： 〃If he had but twa fingers o' Gib's； he would waken
them up。〃 And Gib； honest man！ would look down and secretly smile。
Clem was a spy whom they had sent out into the world of men。 He had
come back with the good news that there was nobody to compare with the
Four Black Brothers； no position that they would not adorn； no official
that it would not be well they should replace； no interest of mankind；
secular or spiritual； which would not immediately bloom under their
supervision。 The excuse of their folly is in two words： scarce the breadth
of a hair divided them from the peasantry。 The measure of their sense is
this： that these symposia of rustic vanity were kept entirely within the
family； like some secret ancestral practice。 To the world their serious faces
were never deformed by the suspicion of any simper of self…contentment。
Yet it was known。 〃They hae a guid pride o' themsel's！〃 was the word in
the country…side。
Lastly； in a Border story； there should be added their 〃two…names。〃
Hob was The Laird。 〃Roy ne puis； prince ne daigne〃； he was the laird of
Cauldstaneslap … say fifty acres … IPSISSIMUS。 Clement was Mr。 Elliott；
as upon his door…plate； the earlier Dafty having been discarded as no
longer applicable； and indeed only a reminder of misjudgment and the
imbecility of the public； and the youngest； in honour of his perpetual
wanderings； was