the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第3节
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cottage which he built was extremely small； but the walls； as well as those
of a little garden that surrounded it； were constructed with an ambitious
degree of solidity； being composed of layers of large stones and turf； and
some of the corner stones were so weighty； as to puzzle the spectators how
such a person as the architect could possibly have raised them。 In fact；
David received from passengers； or those who came attracted by curiosity；
a good deal of assistance； and as no one knew how much aid had been
given by others； the wonder of each individual remained undiminished。
The proprietor of the ground； the late Sir James Naesmith； baronet；
chanced to pass this singular dwelling； which； having been placed there
without right or leave asked or given； formed an exact parallel with
Falstaff's simile of a 〃fair house built on another's ground；〃 so that poor
David might have lost his edifice by mistaking the property where he had
erected it。 Of course； the proprietor entertained no idea of exacting such
a forfeiture； but readily sanctioned the harmless encroachment。
The personal description of Elshender of Mucklestane…Moor has been
generally allowed to be a tolerably exact and unexaggerated portrait of
David of Manor Water。 He was not quite three feet and a half high； since
he could stand upright in the door of his mansion； which was just that
height。 The following particulars concerning his figure and temper occur
in the SCOTS MAGAZINE for 1817； and are now understood to have
been communicated by the ingenious Mr。 Robert Chambers of Edinburgh；
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who has recorded with much spirit the traditions of the Good Town； and；
in other publications； largely and agreeably added to the stock of our
popular antiquities。 He is the countryman of David Ritchie； and had the
best access to collect anecdotes of him。
〃His skull；〃 says this authority； 〃which was of an oblong and rather
unusual shape； was said to be of such strength； that he could strike it with
ease through the panel of a door； or the end of a barrel。 His laugh is said
to have been quite horrible； and his screech…owl voice； shrill； uncouth； and
dissonant； corresponded well with his other peculiarities。
〃There was nothing very uncommon about his dress。 He usually
wore an old slouched hat when he went abroad； and when at home； a sort
of cowl or night…cap。 He never wore shoes； being unable to adapt them
to his mis…shapen finlike feet； but always had both feet and legs quite
concealed； and wrapt up with pieces of cloth。 He always walked with a
sort of pole or pike…staff； considerably taller than himself。 His habits
were； in many respects； singular； and indicated a mind congenial to its
uncouth tabernacle。 A jealous； misanthropical； and irritable temper； was
his prominent characteristic。 The sense of his deformity haunted him like
a phantom。 And the insults and scorn to which this exposed him； had
poisoned his heart with fierce and bitter feelings； which； from other points
in his character； do not appear to have been more largely infused into his
original temperament than that of his fellow…men。
〃He detested children； on account of their propensity to insult and
persecute him。 To strangers he was generally reserved； crabbed； and
surly； and though he by no means refused assistance or charity； he seldom
either expressed or exhibited much gratitude。 Even towards persons who
had been his greatest benefactors； and who possessed the greatest share of
his good… will； he frequently displayed much caprice and jealousy。 A
lady who had known him from his infancy； and who has furnished us in
the most obliging manner with some particulars respecting him； says； that
although Davie showed as much respect and attachment to her father's
family； as it was in his nature to show to any； yet they were always obliged
to be very cautious in their deportment towards him。 One day； having
gone to visit him with another lady； he took them through his garden； and
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was showing them； with much pride and good…humour； all his rich and
tastefully assorted borders； when they happened to stop near a plot of
cabbages which had been somewhat injured by the caterpillars。 Davie；
observing one of the ladies smile； instantly assumed his savage； scowling
aspect； rushed among the cabbages； and dashed them to pieces with his
KENT； exclaiming； 'I hate the worms； for they mock me！'
〃Another lady； likewise a friend and old acquaintance of his； very
unintentionally gave David mortal offence on a similar occasion。
Throwing back his jealous glance as he was ushering her into his garden；
he fancied he observed her spit； and exclaimed； with great ferocity； 'Am I a
toad； woman！ that ye spit at methat ye spit at me？' and without
listening to any answer or excuse； drove her out of his garden with
imprecations and insult。 When irritated by persons for whom he
entertained little respect； his misanthropy displayed itself in words； and
sometimes in actions； of still greater rudeness； and he used on such
occasions the most unusual and singularly savage imprecations and
threats。〃 ＇SCOTS MAGAZINE； vol。 lxxx。 p。207。＇
Nature maintains a certain balance of good and evil in all her works；
and there is no state perhaps so utterly desolate； which does not possess
some source of gratification peculiar to itself； This poor man； whose
misanthropy was founded in a sense on his own preternatural deformity；
had yet his own particular enjoyments。 Driven into solitude； he became
an admirer of the beauties of nature。 His garden； which he sedulously
cultivated； and from a piece of wild moorland made a very productive spot；
was his pride and his delight； but he was also an admirer of more natural
beauty： the soft sweep of the green hill； the bubbling of a clear fountain；
or the complexities of a wild thicket； were scenes on which he often gazed
for hours； and； as he said； with inexpressible delight。 It was perhaps for
this reason that he was fond of Shenstone's pastorals； and some parts of
PARADISE LOST。 The author has heard his most unmusical voice
repeat the celebrated description of Paradise； which he seemed fully to
appreciate。 His other studies were of a different cast； chiefly polemical。
He never went to the parish church； and was therefore suspected of
entertaining heterodox opinions； though his objection was probably to the
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concourse of spectators； to whom he must have exposed his unseemly
deformity。 He spoke of a future state with intense feeling； and even with
tears。 He expressed disgust at the idea； of his remains being mixed with
the common rubbish； as he called it； of the churchyard； and selected with
his usual taste a beautiful and wild spot in the glen where he had his
hermitage； in which to take his last repose。 He changed his mind；
however； and was finally interred in the common burial… ground of Manor
parish。
The author has invested Wise Elshie with some qualities which made
him appear； in the eyes of the vulgar； a man possessed of supernatural
power。 Common fame paid David Ritchie a similar compliment； for
some of the poor and ignorant； as well as all the children； in the
neighbourhood； held him to be what is called uncanny。 He himself did
not altogether discourage the idea； it enlarged his very
