annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第34节
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Cayenne； 〃and will you not speak to me？〃 I turned round； and said
meekly； 〃Mr Cayenne； I have no objections to speak to you； but having
nothing particular to say； it did not seem necessary just now。〃
He looked at me like a gled； and in a minute exclaimed； 〃Mad； by
Jupiter！ as mad as a March hare！〃 He then entered into conversation with
me； and said； that he had noticed me an altered man； and was just so far on
his way to the manse； to enquire what had befallen me。 So； from less to
more； we entered into the marrow of my case； and I told him how I had
observed the estranged countenances of some of the heritors； at which he
swore an oath； that they were a parcel of the damn'dest boobies in the
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country； and told me how they had taken it into their heads that I was a
leveller。 〃But I know you better；〃 said Mr Cayenne； 〃and have stood up
for you as an honest conscientious man； though I don't much like your
humdrum preaching。 However； let that pass； I insist upon your dining with
me to…day； when some of these arrant fools are to be with us； and the
devil's in't if I don't make you friends with them。〃 I did not think Mr
Cayenne； however； very well qualified for peacemaker； but； nevertheless； I
consented to go； and having thus got an inkling of the cause of that cold
back…turning which had distressed me so much； I made such an effort to
remove the error that was entertained against me； that some of the heritors；
before we separated； shook me by the hands with the cordiality of renewed
friendship； and； as if to make amends for past neglect； there was no end to
their invitations to dinner which had the effect of putting me again on my
mettle； and removing the thick and muddy melancholious humour out of
my blood。
But what confirmed my cure was the coming home of my daughter
Janet from the Ayr boarding…school； where she had learnt to play on the
spinnet； and was become a conversible lassie； with a competent
knowledge； for a woman of geography and history； so that when her
mother was busy with the weariful booming wheel； she entertained me
sometimes with a tune； and sometimes with her tongue； which made the
winter nights fly cantily by。
Whether it was owing to the malady of my imagination throughout the
greatest part of this year； or that really nothing particular did happen to
interest me； I cannot say； but it is very remarkable that I have nothing
remarkable to recordfurther； than I was at the expense myself of getting
the manse rough…case； and the window cheeks painted； with roans put up；
rather than apply to the heritors； for they were always sorely fashed when
called upon for outlay。
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CHAPTER XXXIV YEAR 1793
On the first night of this year I dreamt a very remarkable dream； which；
when I now recall to mind at this distance of time； I cannot but think that
there was a case of prophecy in it。 I thought that I stood on the tower of
an old popish kirk； looking out at the window upon the kirkyard； where I
beheld ancient tombs； with effigies and coats…of…arms on the wall thereof；
and a great gate at the one side； and a door that led into a dark and dismal
vault at the other。 I thought all the dead that were lying in the common
graves； rose out of their coffins； at the same time； from the old and grand
monuments； with the effigies and coats…of…arms； came the great men； and
the kings of the earth with crowns on their heads； and globes and sceptres
in their hands。
I stood wondering what was to ensue； when presently I heard the noise
of drums and trumpets； and anon I beheld an army with banners entering
in at the gate； upon which the kings and the great men came also forth in
their power and array； and a dreadful battle was foughten； but the
multitude that had risen from the common graves； stood afar off； and were
but lookers…on。
The kings and their host were utterly discomfited。 They were driven
within the doors of their monuments； their coats…of…arms were broken off；
and their effigies cast down； and the victors triumphed over them with the
flourishes of trumpets and the waving of banners。 But while I looked；
the vision was changed； and I then beheld a wide and a dreary waste； and
afar off the steeples of a great city； and a tower in the midst； like the tower
of Babel； and on it I could discern； written in characters of fire； 〃Public
Opinion。〃 While I was pondering at the same； I heard a great shout； and
presently the conquerors made their appearance； coming over the desolate
moor。 They were going in great pride and might towards the city； but an
awful burning rose； afar as it were in the darkness； and the flames stood
like a tower of fire that reached unto the heavens。 And I saw a dreadful
hand and an arm stretched from out of the cloud； and in its hold was a
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besom made of the hail and the storm； and it swept the fugitives like dust；
and in their place I saw the churchyard； as it were； cleared and spread
around； the graves closed； and the ancient tombs； with their coats…of…arms
and their effigies of stone； all as they were in the beginning。 I then
awoke； and behold it was a dream。
This vision perplexed me for many days； and when the news came that
the King of France was beheaded by the hands of his people； I received； as
it were； a token in confirmation of the vision that had been disclosed to me
in my sleep； and I preached a discourse on the same； and against the
French Revolution； that was thought one of the greatest and soundest
sermons that I had ever delivered in my pulpit。
On the Monday following； Mr Cayenne； who had been some time
before appointed a justice of the peace； came over from Wheatrig House to
the Cross…Keys； where he sent for me and divers other respectable
inhabitants of the clachan； and told us that he was to have a sad business；
for a warrant was out to bring before him two democratical weaver lads；
on a suspicion of high treason。 Scarcely were the words uttered when
they were brought in； and he began to ask them how they dared to think of
dividing； with their liberty and equality of principles； his and every other
man's property in the country。 The men answered him in a calm manner；
and told him they sought no man's property； but only their own natural
rights； upon which he called them traitors and reformers。 They denied
they were traitors； but confessed they were reformers； and said they knew
not how that should be imputed to them as a fault； for that the greatest men
of all times had been reformers；〃Was not；〃 they said； 〃our Lord Jesus
Christ a reformer？〃〃And what the devil did he make of it？〃 cried Mr
Cayenne； bursting with passion； 〃Was he not crucified？〃
I thought； when I heard these words； that the pillars of the earth sank
beneath me； and that the roof of the house was carried away in a
whirlwind。 The drums of my ears crackit； blue starns danced before my
sight； and I was fain to leave the house and hie me home to the manse；
where I sat down in my study； like a stupified creature； awaiting what
would betide。 Nothing； however； was found against the weaver lads； but
I never from that day could look on Mr Cayenne as a Christian； though
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surely he was a true government…man。
Soon after this affair； there was a pleasant re…edification of a gospel…
spirit among the heritors； especially when they heard how I had handled
the regicides in France； and on the following Sunday； I had the
comfortable satisfaction to see many a gentleman in their pews； that had
not been for years
