The most remarkable proof of this peace-offering being quite acceptable was, that while the Antiquary was in full declamation, Juno, who held him in awe, according to the remarkable instinct by which dogs instantly discover those who like or dislike them, had peeped several times into the room, and encountering nothing very forbidding in his aspect, had at length presumed to introduce her full person; and finally, becoming bold by impunity, she actually ate up Mr.Oldbuck's toast, as, looking first at one then at another of his audience, he repeated, with self-complacency, ``Weave the warp and weave the woof,--You remember the passage in the Fatal Sisters, which, by the way, is not so fine as in the original--But, hey-day! my toast has vanished!--I see which way--Ah, thou type of womankind!
no wonder they take offence at thy generic appellation!''
--(So saying, he shook his fist at Juno, who scoured out of the parlour.)--``However, as Jupiter, according to Homer, could not rule Juno in heaven, and as Jack Muirhead, according to Hector M`Intyre, has been equally unsuccessful on earth, Isuppose she must have her own way.'' And this mild censure the brother and sister justly accounted a full pardon for Juno's offences, and sate down well pleased to the morning meal.
When breakfast was over, the Antiquary proposed to his nephew to go down with him to attend the funeral.The soldier pleaded the want of a mourning habit.
``O, that does not signify--your presence is all that is requisite.
I assure you, you will see something that will entertain--no, that's an improper phrase--but that will interest you, from the resemblances which I will point out betwixt popular customs on such occasions and those of the ancients.''
``Heaven forgive me!'' thought M`Intyre;--``I shall certainly misbehave, and lose all the credit I have so lately and accidentally gained.''
When they set out, schooled as he was by the warning and entreating looks of his sister, the soldier made his resolution strong to give no offence by evincing inattention or impatience.
But our best resolutions are frail, when opposed to our predominant inclinations.Our Antiquary,--to leave nothing unexplained, had commenced with the funeral rites of the ancient Scandinavians, when his nephew interrupted him, in a discussion upon the ``age of hills,'' to remark that a large sea-gull, which flitted around them, had come twice within shot.This error being acknowledged and pardoned, Oldbuck resumed his disquisition.
``These are circumstances you ought to attend to and be familiar with, my dear Hector; for, in the strange contingencies of the present war which agitates every corner of Europe, there is no knowing where you may be called upon to serve.If in Norway, for example, or Denmark, or any part of the ancient Scania, or Scandinavia, as we term it, what could be more convenient than to have at your fingers' ends the history and antiquities of that ancient country, the _officina gentium,_ the mother of modern Europe, the nursery of those heroes, Stern to inflict, and stubborn to endure, Who smiled in death?--How animating, for example, at the conclusion of a weary march, to find yourself in the vicinity of a Runic monument, and discover that you have pitched your tent beside the tomb of a hero!''
``I am afraid, sir, our mess would be better supplied if it chanced to be in the neighbourhood of a good poultry-yard.''
``Alas, that you should say so! No wonder the days of Cressy and Agincourt are no more, when respect for ancient valour has died away in the breasts of the British soldiery.''
``By no means, sir--by no manner of means.I dare say that Edward and Henry, and the rest of these heroes, thought of their dinner, however, before they thought of examining an old tombstone.But I assure you, we are by no means insensible to the memoir of our fathers' fame; I used often of an evening to get old Rory M`Alpin to sing us songs out of Ossian about the battles of Fingal and Lamon Mor, and Magnus and the Spirit of Muirartach.''
``And did you believe,'' asked the aroused Antiquary, ``did you absolutely believe that stuff of Macpherson's to be really ancient, you simple boy?''
``Believe it, sir?--how could I but believe it, when I have heard the songs sung from my infancy?''
``But not the same as Macpherson's English Ossian--you're not absurd enough to say that, I hope?'' said the Antiquary, his brow darkening with wrath.
But Hector stoutly abode the storm; like many a sturdy Celt, he imagined the honour of his country and native language connected with the authenticity of these popular poems, and would have fought knee-deep, or forfeited life and land, rather than have given up a line of them.He therefore undauntedly maintained, that Rory M`Alpin could repeat the whole book from one end to another;--and it was only upon cross-examination that he explained an assertion so general, by adding ``At least, if he was allowed whisky enough, he could repeat as long as anybody would hearken to him.''
``Ay, ay,'' said the Antiquary; ``and that, I suppose, was not very long.''
``Why, we had our duty, sir, to attend to, and could not sit listening all night to a piper.''
``But do you recollect, now,'' said Oldbuck, setting his teeth firmly together, and speaking without opening them, which was his custom when contradicted--``Do you recollect, now, any of these verses you thought so beautiful and interesting--being a capital judge, no doubt, of such things?''
``I don't pretend to much skill, uncle; but it's not very reasonable to be angry with me for admiring the antiquities of my own country more than those of the Harolds, Harfagers, and Hacos you are so fond of.''
``Why, these, sir--these mighty and unconquered Goths--_were_ your ancestors! The bare-breeched Celts whom they subdued, and suffered only to exist, like a fearful people, in the crevices of the rocks, were but their Mancipia and Serfs!''