第2章

Fromendtoend,singlyorinpairsortrios,thegownsandwigsgobackandforward。Throughahumoftalkandfootfalls,thepipingtonesofaMacerannounceafreshcauseandcalluponthenamesofthoseconcerned。

Intelligentmenhavebeenwalkingheredailyfortenortwentyyearswithoutaragofbusinessorashillingofreward。Inprocessoftime,theymayperhapsbemadetheSheriff-SubstituteandFountainofJusticeatLerwickorTobermory。Thereisnothingrequired,youwouldsay,butalittlepatienceandatasteforexerciseandbadair。

Tobreathedustandbombazine,tofeedthemindoncacklinggossip,tohearthreepartsofacaseanddrinkaglassofsherry,tolongwithindescribablelongingsforthehourwhenamanmayslipoutofhistravestyanddevotehimselftogolffortherestoftheafternoon,andtodothisdaybydayandyearafteryear,mayseemsosmallathingtotheinexperienced!Butthosewhohavemadetheexperimentareofadifferentwayofthinking,andcountitthemostarduousformofidleness。

Moreswingdoorsopenintopigeon-holeswherejudgesoftheFirstAppealsitsingly,andhallsofaudiencewherethesupremeLordssitbythreeorfour。Here,youmayseeScott’splacewithinthebar,wherehewrotemanyapageofWaverleynovelstothedroneofjudicialproceeding。Youwillhearagooddealofshrewdness,and,astheirLordshipsdonotaltogetherdisdainpleasantry,afairproportionofdryfun。ThebroadestofbroadScotchisnowbanishedfromthebench;butthecourtsstillretainacertainnationalflavour。Wehaveasolemnenjoyablewayoflingeringonacase。Wetreatlawasafineart,andrelishanddigestagooddistinction。Thereisnohurry:pointafterpointmustberightlyexaminedandreducedtoprinciple;judgeafterjudgemustutterforthhisOBITERDICTAtodelightedbrethren。

Besidesthecourts,thereareinstalledunderthesameroofnolessthanthreelibraries:twoofnomeanorder;confusedandsemi-subterranean,fullofstairsandgalleries;whereyoumayseethemoststudious-lookingwigsfishingoutnovelsbylanthornlight,intheveryplacewheretheoldPrivyCounciltorturedCovenanters。

AstheParliamentHouseisbuiltuponaslope,althoughitpresentsonlyonestorytothenorth,itmeasureshalf-a-dozenatleastuponthesouth;andrangeafterrangeofvaultsextendbelowthelibraries。Fewplacesaremorecharacteristicofthishillycapital。Youdescendonestonestairafteranother,andwander,bytheflickerofamatch,inalabyrinthofstonecellars。

Now,youpassbelowtheOuterHallandhearoverhead,briskbutghostly,theinterminablepatteringoflegalfeet。Now,youcomeuponastrongdoorwithawicket:ontheothersidearethecellsofthepoliceofficeandthetrap-stairthatgivesadmittancetothedockintheJusticiaryCourt。Manyafootthathasgoneuptherelightlyenough,hasbeendead-heavyinthedescent。Manyaman’slifehasbeenarguedawayfromhimduringlonghoursinthecourtabove。Butjustnowthattragicstageisemptyandsilentlikeachurchonaweek-day,withthebenchallsheetedupandnothingmovingbutthesunbeamsonthewall。Alittlefartherandyoustrikeuponaroom,notemptyliketherest,butcrowdedwithPRODUCTIONSfrombygonecriminalcases:agrimlumber:

lethalweapons,poisonedorgansinajar,adoorwithashot-holethroughthepanel,behindwhichamanfelldead。IcannotfancywhytheyshouldpreservethemunlessitwereagainsttheJudgmentDay。Atlength,asyoucontinuetodescend,youseeapeepofyellowgaslightandhearajostling,whisperingnoiseahead;

nextmomentyouturnacorner,andthere,inawhitewashedpassage,isamachinerybeltindustriouslyturningonitswheels。Youwouldthinktheenginehadgrownthereofitsownaccord,likeacellarfungus,andwouldsoonspinitselfoutandfillthevaultsfromendtoendwithitsmysteriouslabours。Intruth,itisonlysomegearofthesteamventilator;andyouwillfindtheengineersathand,andmaystepoutoftheirdoorintothesunlight。Forallthiswhile,youhavenotbeendescendingtowardstheearth’scentre,butonlytothebottomofthehillandthefoundationsoftheParliamentHouse;lowdown,tobesure,butstillundertheopenheavenandinafieldofgrass。ThedaylightshinesgarishlyonthebackwindowsoftheIrishquarter;onbrokenshutters,wrygables,oldpalsiedhousesonthebrinkofruin,acrumblinghumanpig-styfitforhumanpigs。Therearefewsignsoflife,besidesascantywashingorafaceatawindow:thedwellersareabroad,buttheywillreturnatnightandstaggertotheirpallets。

CHAPTERIV。

LEGENDS。

THEcharacterofaplaceisoftenmostperfectlyexpressedinitsassociations。Aneventstrikesrootandgrowsintoalegend,whenithashappenedamongstcongenialsurroundings。Uglyactions,aboveallinuglyplaces,havethetrueromanticquality,andbecomeanundyingpropertyoftheirscene。ToamanlikeScott,thedifferentappearancesofnatureseemedeachtocontainitsownlegendreadymade,whichitwashistocallforth:insuchorsuchaplace,onlysuchorsucheventsoughtwithproprietytohappen;andinthisspirithemadetheLADYOFTHELAKEforBenVenue,theHEARTOF

MIDLOTHIANforEdinburgh,andthePIRATE,soindifferentlywrittenbutsoromanticallyconceived,forthedesolateislandsandroaringtidewaysoftheNorth。

Thecommonrunofmankindhave,fromgenerationtogeneration,aninstinctalmostasdelicateasthatofScott;butwherehecreatednewthings,theyonlyforgetwhatisunsuitableamongtheold;andbysurvivalofthefittest,abodyoftraditionbecomesaworkofart。So,inthelowdensandhigh-flyinggarretsofEdinburgh,peoplemaygobackupondarkpassagesinthetown’sadventures,andchilltheirmarrowwithwinter’stalesaboutthefire:talesthataresingularlyappositeandcharacteristic,notonlyoftheoldlife,butoftheveryconstitutionofbuiltnatureinthatpart,andsingularlywellqualifiedtoaddhorrortohorror,whenthewindpipesaroundthetallLANDS,andhootsadownarchedpassages,andthefar-spreadwildernessofcitylampskeepsquaveringandflaringinthegusts。

Here,itisthetaleofBegbiethebank-porter,strickentotheheartatablowandleftinhisbloodwithinasteportwoofthecrowdedHighStreet。There,peoplehushtheirvoicesoverBurkeandHare;overdrugsandviolatedgraves,andtheresurrection-mensmotheringtheirvictimswiththeirknees。Here,again,thefameofDeaconBrodieiskeptpiouslyfresh。AgreatmaninhisdaywastheDeacon;wellseeningoodsociety,craftywithhishandsasacabinet-maker,andonewhocouldsingasongwithtaste。ManyacitizenwasproudtowelcometheDeacontosupper,anddismissedhimwithregretatatimeoushour,whowouldhavebeenvastlydisconcertedhadheknownhowsoon,andinwhatguise,hisvisitorreturned。ManystoriesaretoldofthisredoubtableEdinburghburglar,buttheoneIhaveinmymindmostvividlygivesthekeyofalltherest。AfriendofBrodie’s,nestedsomewaytowardsheaveninoneofthesegreatLANDS,hadtoldhimofaprojectedvisittothecountry,andafterwards,detainedbysomeaffairs,putitoffandstayedthenightintown。Thegoodmanhadlainsometimeawake;itwasfaroninthesmallhoursbytheTronbell;whensuddenlytherecameacreak,ajar,afaintlight。Softlyheclamberedoutofbedanduptoafalsewindowwhichlookeduponanotherroom,andthere,bytheglimmerofathieves’lantern,washisgoodfriendtheDeaconinamask。Itischaracteristicofthetownandthetown’smannersthatthislittleepisodeshouldhavebeenquietlytidedover,andquiteagoodtimeelapsedbeforeagreatrobbery,anescape,aBowStreetrunner,acock-fight,anapprehensioninacupboardinAmsterdam,andalaststepintotheairoffhisowngreatly-improvedgallowsdrop,broughtthecareerofDeaconWilliamBrodietoanend。Butstill,bythemind’seye,hemaybeseen,amanharassedbelowamountainofduplicity,slinkingfromamagistrate’ssupper-roomtoathieves’ken,andpickeeringamongtheclosesbytheflickerofadarklamp。

OrwheretheDeaconisoutoffavour,perhapssomememorylingersofthegreatplagues,andoffatalhousesstillunsafetoenterwithinthememoryofman。Forintimeofpestilencethedisciplinehadbeensharpandsudden,andwhatwenowcall’stampingoutcontagion’wascarriedonwithdeadlyrigour。Theofficials,intheirgownsofgrey,withawhiteSt。Andrew’scrossonbackandbreast,andawhiteclothcarriedbeforethemonastaff,perambulatedthecity,addingtheterrorofman’sjusticetothefearofGod’svisitation。ThedeadtheyburiedontheBoroughMuir;thelivingwhohadconcealedthesicknessweredrowned,iftheywerewomen,intheQuarryHoles,andiftheyweremen,werehangedandgibbetedattheirowndoors;andwherevertheevilhadpassed,furniturewasdestroyedandhousesclosed。Andthemostbogeyishpartofthestoryisaboutsuchhouses。

Twogenerationsbacktheystillstooddarkandempty;

peopleavoidedthemastheypassedby;theboldestschoolboyonlyshoutedthroughthekeyholeandmadeoff;

forwithin,itwassupposed,theplaguelayambushedlikeabasilisk,readytoflowforthandspreadblainandpustulethroughthecity。Whataterriblenext-doorneighbourforsuperstitiouscitizens!Aratscamperingwithinwouldsendashudderthroughthestoutestheart。

Here,ifyoulike,wasasanitaryparable,addressedbyouruncleanlyforefatherstotheirownneglect。

AndthenwehaveMajorWeir;foralthoughevenhishouseisnowdemolished,oldEdinburghcannotclearherselfofhisunholymemory。Heandhissisterlivedtogetherinanodourofsourpiety。Shewasamarvellousspinster;hehadararegiftofsupplication,andwasknownamongdevoutadmirersbythenameofAngelicalThomas。’Hewasatall,blackman,andordinarilylookeddowntotheground;agrimcountenance,andabignose。

Hisgarbwasstillacloak,andsomewhatdark,andheneverwentwithouthisstaff。’HowitcameaboutthatAngelicalThomaswasburnedincompanywithhisstaff,andhissisteringentlermannerhanged,andwhetherthesetwoweresimplyreligiousmaniacsofthemorefuriousorder,orhadrealaswellasimaginarysinsupontheirold-worldshoulders,arepointshappilybeyondthereachofourintention。Atleast,itissuitableenoughthatoutofthissuperstitiouscitysomesuchexampleshouldhavebeenputforth:theoutcomeandfineflowerofdarkandvehementreligion。Andatleastthefactsstruckthepublicfancyandbroughtfortharemarkablefamilyofmyths。ItwouldappearthattheMajor’sstaffwentuponhiserrands,andevenranbeforehimwithalanternondarknights。Giganticfemales,’stentoriouslylaughingandgapingwithteheesoflaughter’atunseasonablehoursofnightandmorning,hauntedthepurlieusofhisabode。Hishousefellundersuchaloadofinfamythatnoonedaredtosleepinit,untilmunicipalimprovementlevelledthestructuretotheground。Andmyfatherhasoftenbeentoldinthenurseryhowthedevil’scoach,drawnbysixcoal-blackhorseswithfieryeyes,woulddriveatnightintotheWestBow,andbelatedpeoplemightseethedeadMajorthroughtheglasses。

Anotherlegendisthatofthetwomaidensisters。A

legendIamafraiditmaybe,inthemostdiscreditablemeaningoftheterm;orperhapssomethingworse-amereyesterday’sfiction。Butitisastoryofsomevitality,andisworthyofaplaceintheEdinburghkalendar。Thispairinhabitedasingleroom;fromthefacts,itmusthavebeendouble-bedded;anditmayhavebeenofsomedimensions:butwhenallissaid,itwasasingleroom。

Hereourtwospinstersfellout-onsomepointofcontroversialdivinitybelike:butfelloutsobitterlythattherewasneverawordspokenbetweenthem,blackorwhite,fromthatdayforward。Youwouldhavethoughttheywouldseparate:butno;whetherfromlackofmeans,ortheScottishfearofscandal,theycontinuedtokeephousetogetherwheretheywere。Achalklinedrawnuponthefloorseparatedtheirtwodomains;itbisectedthedoorwayandthefireplace,sothateachcouldgooutandin,anddohercooking,withoutviolatingtheterritoryoftheother。So,foryears,theycoexistedinahatefulsilence;theirmeals,theirablutions,theirfriendlyvisitors,exposedtoanunfriendlyscrutiny;andatnight,inthedarkwatches,eachcouldhearthebreathingofherenemy。Neverdidfourwallslookdownuponanuglierspectaclethanthesesistersrivallinginunsisterliness。HereisacanvasforHawthornetohaveturnedintoacabinetpicture-hehadaPuritanicvein,whichwouldhavefittedhimtotreatthisPuritanichorror;hecouldhaveshownthemtousintheirsicknessesandattheirhideoustwindevotions,thumbingapairofgreatBibles,orprayingaloudforeachother’spenitencewithmarrowyemphasis;noweach,withkiltedpetticoat,atherowncornerofthefireonsometempestuousevening;nowsittingeachatherwindow,lookingoutuponthesummerlandscapeslopingfarbelowthemtowardsthefirth,andthefield-pathswheretheyhadwanderedhandinhand;or,asageandinfirmitygrewuponthemandprolongedtheirtoilettes,andtheirhandsbegantotrembleandtheirheadstonodinvoluntarily,growingonlythemoresteeledinenmitywithyears;untilonefineday,ataword,alook,avisit,ortheapproachofdeath,theirheartswouldmeltandthechalkboundarybeoversteppedforever。

Alas!tothosewhoknowtheecclesiasticalhistoryoftherace-themostperverseandmelancholyinman’sannals-thiswillseemonlyafigureofmuchthatistypicalofScotlandandherhigh-seatedcapitalabovetheForth-afiguresogrimlyrealisticthatitmaypasswithstrangersforacaricature。WearewonderfulpatienthatersforconsciencesakeuphereintheNorth。

Ispoke,inthefirstofthesepapers,oftheParliamentsoftheEstablishedandFreeChurches,andhowtheycanheareachothersingingpsalmsacrossthestreet。Thereisbutastreetbetweentheminspace,butashadowbetweentheminprinciple;andyettheretheysit,enchanted,andindamnatoryaccentsprayforeachother’sgrowthingrace。Itwouldbewelliftherewerenomorethantwo;butthesectsinScotlandformalargefamilyofsisters,andthechalklinesarethicklydrawn,andrunthroughthemidstofmanyprivatehomes。Edinburghisacityofchurches,asthoughitwereaplaceofpilgrimage。Youwillseefourwithinastone-castattheheadoftheWestBow。Somearecrowdedtothedoors;

someareemptylikemonuments;andyetyouwilleverfindnewonesinthebuilding。HencethatsurprisingclamourofchurchbellsthatsuddenlybreaksoutupontheSabbathmorningfromTrinityandthesea-skirtstoMorningsideonthebordersofthehills。IhaveheardthechimesofOxfordplayingtheirsymphonyinagoldenautumnmorning,andbeautifulitwastohear。ButinEdinburghallmannerofloudbellsjoin,orratherdisjoin,inoneswelling,brutalbabblementofnoise。Nowoneovertakesanother,andnowlagsbehindit;nowfiveorsixallstrikeonthepainedtympanumatthesamepunctualinstantoftime,andmaketogetheradismalchordofdiscord;andnowforasecondallseemtohaveconspiredtoholdtheirpeace。Indeed,therearenotmanyuproarsinthisworldmoredismalthanthatoftheSabbathbellsinEdinburgh:aharshecclesiasticaltocsin;theoutcryofincongruousorthodoxies,callingoneveryseparateconventiclertoputupaprotest,eachinhisownsynagogue,against’right-handextremesandleft-handdefections。’Andsurelytherearefewworseextremesthanthisextremityofzeal;andfewmoredeplorabledefectionsthanthisdisloyaltytoChristianlove。

Shakespearewroteacomedyof’MuchAdoaboutNothing。’

TheScottishnationmadeafantastictragedyonthesamesubject。AnditisforthesuccessofthisremarkablepiecethatthesebellsaresoundedeverySabbathmorningonthehillsabovetheForth。Howmanyofthemmightrestsilentinthesteeple,howmanyoftheseuglychurchesmightbedemolishedandturnedoncemoreintousefulbuildingmaterial,ifpeoplewhothinkalmostexactlythesamethoughtsaboutreligionwouldcondescendtoworshipGodunderthesameroof!Buttherearethechalklines。Andwhichistopocketpride,andspeaktheforemostword?

CHAPTERV。

GREYFRIARS。

ITwasQueenMarywhothrewopenthegardensoftheGreyFriars:anewandsemi-ruralcemeteryinthosedays,althoughithasgrownanantiquityinitsturnandbeensupersededbyhalf-a-dozenothers。TheFriarsmusthavehadapleasanttimeonsummerevenings;fortheirgardensweresituatedtoawish,withthetallcastleandthetallestofthecastlecragsinfront。Evennow,itisoneofourfamousEdinburghpointsofview;andstrangersareledthithertosee,byyetanotherinstance,howstrangelythecityliesuponherhills。Theenclosureisofanirregularshape;thedoublechurchofOldandNewGreyfriarsstandsonthelevelatthetop;afewthornsaredottedhereandthere,andthegroundfallsbyterraceandsteepslopetowardsthenorth。Theopenshowsmanyslabsandtabletombstones;andallroundthemargin,theplaceisgirtbyanarrayofaristocraticmausoleumsappallinglyadorned。

SettingasidethetombsofRoubiliac,whichbelongtotheheroicorderofgraveyardart,weScotchstand,tomyfancy,highestamongnationsinthematterofgrimlyillustratingdeath。Weseemtolovefortheirownsaketheemblemsoftimeandthegreatchange;andevenaroundcountrychurchesyouwillfindawonderfulexhibitionofskulls,andcrossbones,andnoselessangels,andtrumpetspealingfortheJudgmentDay。EverymasonwasapedestrianHolbein:hehadadeepconsciousnessofdeath,andlovedtoputitsterrorspithilybeforethechurchyardloiterer;hewasbrimfulofroughhintsuponmortality,andanydeadfarmerwasseizedupontobeatext。TheclassicalexamplesofthisartareinGreyfriars。Intheirtime,theseweredoubtlesscostlymonuments,andreckonedofaveryelegantproportionbycontemporaries;andnow,whentheeleganceisnotsoapparent,thesignificanceremains。YoumayperhapslookwithasmileontheprofusionofLatinmottoes-somecrawlingendwiseuptheshaftofapillar,someissuingonascrollfromangels’trumpets-ontheemblematichorrors,thefiguresrisingheadlessfromthegrave,andallthetraditionalingenuitiesinwhichitpleasedourfatherstosetforththeirsorrowforthedeadandtheirsenseofearthlymutability。Butitisnotaheartysortofmirth。Eachornamentmayhavebeenexecutedbythemerriestapprentice,whistlingashepliedthemallet;

buttheoriginalmeaningofeach,andthecombinedeffectofsomanyoftheminthisquietenclosure,isserioustothepointofmelancholy。

Roundagreatpartofthecircuit,housesofalowclasspresenttheirbackstothechurchyard。Onlyafewinchesseparatethelivingfromthedead。Here,awindowispartlyblockedupbythepedimentofatomb;there,wherethestreetfallsfarbelowthelevelofthegraves,achimneyhasbeentrainedupthebackofamonument,andaredpotlooksvulgarlyoverfrombehind。Adampsmellofthegraveyardfindsitswayintohouseswhereworkmensitatmeat。Domesticlifeonasmallscalegoesforwardvisiblyatthewindows。Theverysolitudeandstillnessoftheenclosure,whichliesapartfromthetown’straffic,servestoaccentuatethecontrast。Asyouwalkuponthegraves,youseechildrenscatteringcrumbstofeedthesparrows;youhearpeoplesingingorwashingdishes,orthesoundoftearsandcastigation;thelinenonaclothes-poleflapsagainstfunerealsculpture;orperhapsthecatslipsoverthelintelanddescendsonamemorialurn。Andasthereisnothingelseastir,theseincongruoussightsandnoisestakeholdontheattentionandexaggeratethesadnessoftheplace。

Greyfriarsiscontinuallyoverrunbycats。Ihaveseenoneafternoon,asmanyasthirteenofthemseatedonthegrassbesideoldMilne,theMasterBuilder,allsleekandfat,andcomplacentlyblinking,asiftheyhadfeduponstrangemeats。OldMilnewaschauntingwiththesaints,aswemayhope,andcaredlittleforthecompanyabouthisgrave;butIconfessthespectaclehadanuglysideforme;andIwasgladtostepforwardandraisemyeyestowheretheCastleandtheroofsoftheOldTown,andthespireoftheAssemblyHall,stooddeployedagainsttheskywiththecolourlessprecisionofengraving。Anopenoutlookistobedesiredfromachurchyard,andasightoftheskyandsomeoftheworld’sbeautyrelievesamindfrommorbidthoughts。

Ishallneverforgetonevisit。Itwasagrey,droppingday;thegrasswasstrungwithrain-drops;andthepeopleinthehouseskepthangingouttheirshirtsandpetticoatsandangrilytakingtheminagain,astheweatherturnedfromwettofairandbackagain。Agrave-

digger,andafriendofhis,agardenerfromthecountry,accompaniedmeintooneafteranotherofthecellsandlittlecourtyardsinwhichitgratifiedthewealthyofolddaystoenclosetheiroldbonesfromneighbourhood。

Inone,underasortofshrine,wefoundaforlornhumaneffigy,veryrealisticallyexecuteddowntothedetailofhisribbedstockings,andholdinginhishandaticketwiththedateofhisdemise。Helookedmostpitifulandridiculous,shutupbyhimselfinhisaristocraticprecinct,likeabadoldboyoraninferiorforgottendeityunderanewdispensation;theburdocksgrewfamiliarlyabouthisfeet,theraindrippedallroundhim;andtheworldmaintainedthemostentireindifferenceastowhohewasorwhitherhehadgone。Inanother,avaultedtomb,handsomeexternallybuthorribleinsidewithdampandcobwebs,therewerethreemoundsofblackearthandanuncoveredthighbone。Thiswastheplaceofinterment,itappeared,ofafamilywithwhomthegardenerhadbeenlonginservice。Hewasamongoldacquaintances。’This’llbeMissMarg’et’s,’saidhe,givingtheboneafriendlykick。’Theauld-!’Ihavealwaysanuncomfortablefeelinginagraveyard,atsightofsomanytombstoperpetuatememoriesbestforgotten;

butIneverhadtheimpressionsostronglyasthatday。

Peoplehadbeenatsomeexpenseinboththesecases:toprovokeamelancholyfeelingofderisionintheone,andaninsultingepithetintheother。Theproperinscriptionforthemostpartofmankind,Ibegantothink,isthecynicaljeer,CRASTIBI。That,ifanything,willstopthemouthofacarper;sinceitbothadmitstheworstandcarriesthewartriumphantlyintotheenemy’scamp。

Greyfriarsisaplaceofmanyassociations。Therewasonewindowinahouseatthelowerend,nowdemolished,whichwaspointedouttomebythegravediggerasaspotoflegendaryinterest。Burke,theresurrectionman,infamousforsomanymurdersatfiveshillingsa-head,usedtositthereat,withpipeandnightcap,towatchburialsgoingforwardonthegreen。

Inatombhigherup,whichmustthenhavebeenbutnewlyfinished,JohnKnox,accordingtothesameinformant,hadtakenrefugeinaturmoiloftheReformation。BehindthechurchisthehauntedmausoleumofSirGeorgeMackenzie:

BloodyMackenzie,LordAdvocateintheCovenantingtroublesandauthorofsomepleasingsentimentsontoleration。Here,inthelastcentury,anoldHeriot’sHospitalboyonceharbouredfromthepursuitofthepolice。TheHospitalisnextdoortoGreyfriars-acourtlybuildingamonglawns,where,onFounder’sDay,youmayseeamultitudeofchildrenplayingKiss-in-the-

RingandRoundtheMulberry-bush。Thus,whenthefugitivehadmanagedtoconcealhimselfinthetomb,hisoldschoolmateshadahundredopportunitiestobringhimfood;andtherehelayinsafetytillashipwasfoundtosmugglehimabroad。Buthismusthavebeenindeedaheartofbrass,toliealldayandnightalonewiththedeadpersecutor;andotherladswerefarfromemulatinghimincourage。Whenaman’ssouliscertainlyinhell,hisbodywillscarceliequietinatombhowevercostly;

sometimeorotherthedoormustopen,andthereprobatecomeforthintheabhorredgarmentsofthegrave。ItwasthoughtahighpieceofprowesstoknockattheLordAdvocate’smausoleumandchallengehimtoappear。

’BluidyMackingie,comeootifyedar’!’sangthefool-

hardyurchins。ButSirGeorgehadotheraffairsonhand;

andtheauthorofanessayontolerationcontinuestosleeppeacefullyamongthemanywhomhesointolerantlyhelpedtoslay。

ForthisINFELIXCAMPUS,asitisdubbedinoneofitsowninscriptions-aninscriptionoverwhichDr。

Johnsonpassedacriticaleye-isinmanywayssacredtothememoryofthemenwhomMackenziepersecuted。Itwashere,ontheflattombstones,thattheCovenantwassignedbyanenthusiasticpeople。Inthelongarmofthechurch-yardthatextendstoLauriston,theprisonersfromBothwellBridge-fedonbreadandwaterandguarded,lifeforlife,byvigilantmarksmen-layfivemonthslookingforthescaffoldortheplantations。AndwhilethegoodworkwasgoingforwardintheGrassmarket,idlersinGreyfriarsmighthaveheardthethrobofthemilitarydrumsthatdrownedthevoicesofthemartyrs。

Noristhisall:fordowninthecornerfarthestfromSirGeorge,therestandsamonumentdedicated,inuncouthCovenantingverse,toallwholosttheirlivesinthatcontention。ThereisnomoorsmanshotinasnowshowerbesideIrongrayorCo’monell;thereisnotoneofthetwohundredwhoweredrownedofftheOrkneys;norsomuchasapoor,over-driven,CovenantingslaveintheAmericanplantations;butcanlayclaimtoashareinthatmemorial,and,ifsuchthingsinterestjustmenamongtheshades,canboasthehasamonumentonearthaswellasJuliusCaesarorthePharaohs。Wheretheymayalllie,I

knownot。Far-scatteredbones,indeed!Butifthereadercarestolearnhowsomeofthem-orsomepartofsomeofthem-foundtheirwayatlengthtosuchhonourablesepulture,lethimlistentothewordsofonewhowastheircomradeinlifeandtheirapologistwhentheyweredead。SomeoftheinsanecontroversialmatterIomit,aswellassomedigressions,butleavetherestinPatrickWalker’slanguageandorthography:-

’ThenevertobeforgottenMr。JAMESRENWICKTOLD

me,thathewasWitnesstotheirPublicMurderattheGALLOWLEE,betweenLEITHandEDINBURGH,whenhesawtheHangmanhashandhaggoffalltheirFiveHeads,withPATRICKFOREMAN’SRightHand:TheirBodieswereallburiedattheGallowsFoot;theirHeads,withPATRICK’S

Hand,werebroughtandputuponfivePikesonthePLEASAUNCE-PORT……Mr。RENWICKtoldmealsothatitwasthefirstpublicActionthathisHandwasat,toconveenFriends,andlifttheirmurtheredBodies,andcarriedthemtotheWestChurchyardofEDINBURGH,’-notGreyfriars,thistime,-’andburiedthemthere。ThentheycameabouttheCity……andtookdowntheseFiveHeadsandthatHand;andDaybeingcome,theywentquicklyupthePLEASAUNCE;andwhentheycametoLAURISTOUNYards,upontheSouth-sideoftheCity,theydurstnotventure,beingsolight,togoandburytheirHeadswiththeirBodies,whichtheydesigned;itbeingpresentDeath,ifanyofthemhadbeenfound。ALEXANDER

TWEEDIE,aFriend,beingwiththem,whoatthatTimewasGardnerintheseYards,concludedtoburytheminhisYard,beinginaBox(wrappedinLinen),wheretheylay45Yearsexcept3Days,beingexecuteduponthe10thofOCTOBER1681,andfoundthe7thDayofOCTOBER1726。

ThatPieceofGroundlayforsomeYearsunlaboured;andtrenchingit,theGardnerfoundthem,whichaffrightedhimtheBoxwasconsumed。Mr。SCHAW,theOwneroftheseYards,causedliftthem,andlaythemuponaTableinhisSummer-house:Mr。SCHAW’Smotherwassokind,astocutoutaLinen-cloth,andcoverthem。TheylayTwelveDaysthere,whereallhadAccesstoseethem。ALEXANDER

TWEEDIE,theforesaidGardner,said,whendying,TherewasaTreasurehidinhisYard,butneitherGoldnorSilver。DANIELTWEEDIE,hisSon,camealongwithmetothatYard,andtoldmethathisFatherplantedawhiteRose-bushabovethem,andfartherdowntheYardaredRose-bush,whichweremorefruitfulthananyotherBushintheYard……Manycame’-toseetheheads-’outofCuriosity;yetIrejoicedtoseesomanyconcernedgraveMenandWomenfavouringtheDustofourMartyrs。

TherewereSixofusconcludedtoburythemupontheNineteenthDayofOCTOBER1726,andeveryOneofustoacquaintFriendsoftheDayandHour,beingWEDNESDAY,theDayoftheWeekonwhichmostofthemwereexecuted,andat4oftheClockatNight,beingtheHourthatmostofthemwenttotheirrestingGraves。WecausedmakeacompleatCoffinfortheminBlack,withfourYardsoffineLinen,thewaythatourMartyrsCorpsweremanaged……AccordinglywekepttheaforesaidDayandHour,anddoubledtheLinen,andlaidtheHalfofitbelowthem,theirnetherjawsbeingpartedfromtheirHeads;butbeingyoungMen,theirTeethremained。AllwereWitnesstotheHolesineachoftheirHeads,whichtheHangmanbrokewithhisHammer;andaccordingtotheBignessoftheirSculls,welaidtheJawstothem,anddrewtheotherHalfoftheLinenabovethem,andstuffttheCoffinwithShavings。SomepresthardtogothorowthechiefPartsoftheCityaswasdoneattheRevolution;butthiswerefused,consideringthatitlookedairyandfrothy,tomakesuchShowofthem,andinconsistentwiththesolidseriousObservingofsuchanaffecting,surprizingunheard-ofDispensation:ButtooktheordinaryWayofotherBurialsfromthatPlace,towit,wewenteasttheBackoftheWall,andinatBRISTO-PORT,anddowntheWaytotheHeadoftheCOWGATE,andturneduptotheChurch-

yard,wheretheywereinterredclosstotheMartyrsTomb,withthegreatestMultitudeofPeopleOldandYoung,MenandWomen,Ministersandothers,thateverIsawtogether。’

Andsotheretheywereatlast,in’theirrestinggraves。’Solongasmendotheirduty,evenifitbegreatlyinamisapprehension,theywillbeleadingpatternlives;andwhetherornottheycometoliebesideamartyrs’monument,wemaybesuretheywillfindasafehavensomewhereintheprovidenceofGod。Itisnotwelltothinkofdeath,unlesswetemperthethoughtwiththatofheroeswhodespisedit。Uponwhatground,isofsmallaccount;ifitbeonlythebishopwhowasburnedforhisfaithintheantipodes,hismemorylightenstheheartandmakesuswalkundisturbedamonggraves。Andsothemartyrs’monumentisawholesome,heartsomespotinthefieldofthedead;andaswelookuponit,abraveinfluencecomestousfromthelandofthosewhohavewontheirdischargeand,inanotherphraseofPatrickWalker’s,got’cleanlyoffthestage。’

CHAPTERVI。

NEWTOWN-TOWNANDCOUNTRY。

ITisasmuchamatterofcoursetodecrytheNewTownastoexalttheOld;andthemostcelebratedauthoritieshavepickedoutthisquarterastheveryemblemofwhatiscondemnableinarchitecture。Muchmaybesaid,muchindeedhasbeensaid,uponthetext;buttotheunsophisticated,whocallanythingpleasingifitonlypleasesthem,theNewTownofEdinburghseems,initself,notonlygayandairy,buthighlypicturesque。

Anoldskipper,invinciblyignorantofalltheoriesofthesublimeandbeautiful,oncepropoundedashismostradiantnotionforParadise:’ThenewtownofEdinburgh,withthewindamatterofapointfree。’Hehasnowgonetothatspherewhereallgoodtarsarepromisedpleasantweatherinthesong,andperhapshisthoughtsflysomewhathigher。Buttherearebrightandtemperatedays-withsoftaircomingfromtheinlandhills,militarymusicsoundingbravelyfromthehollowofthegardens,theflagsallwavingonthepalacesofPrincesStreet-

whenIhaveseenthetownthroughasortofglory,andshakenhandsinsentimentwiththeoldsailor。Andindeed,foramanwhohasbeenmuchtumbledroundOrcadianskerries,whatscenecouldbemoreagreeabletowitness?Onsuchaday,thevalleywearsasurprisingairoffestival。Itseems(Idonotknowhowelsetoputmymeaning)asifitwereatrifletoogoodtobetrue。

ItiswhatParisoughttobe。Ithasthescenicqualitythatwouldbestsetoffalifeofunthinking,open-airdiversion。Itwasmeantbynaturefortherealisationofthesocietyofcomicoperas。Andyoucanimagine,iftheclimatewerebuttowardly,howalltheworldandhiswifewouldflockintothesegardensinthecooloftheevening,tohearcheerfulmusic,tosippleasantdrinks,toseethemoonrisefrombehindArthur’sSeatandshineuponthespiresandmonumentsandthegreentree-topsinthevalley。Alas!andthenextmorningtherainissplashingonthewindows,andthepassengersfleealongPrincesStreetbeforethegallopingsqualls。

Itcannotbedeniedthattheoriginaldesignwasfaultyandshort-sighted,anddidnotfullyprofitbythecapabilitiesofthesituation。Thearchitectwasessentiallyatownbird,andhelaidoutthemoderncitywithaviewtostreetscenery,andtostreetsceneryalone。Thecountrydidnotenterintohisplan;hehadneverliftedhiseyestothehills。Ifhehadsochosen,everystreetuponthenorthernslopemighthavebeenanobleterraceandcommandedanextensiveandbeautifulview。Butthespacehasbeentoocloselybuilt;manyofthehousesfrontthewrongway,intent,liketheManwiththeMuck-Rake,onwhatisnotworthobservation,andstandingdiscourteouslyback-foremostintheranks;and,inaword,itistoooftenonlyfromattic-windows,orhereandthereatacrossing,thatyoucangetalookbeyondthecityuponitsdiversifiedsurroundings。Butperhapsitisallthemoresurprising,tocomesuddenlyonacorner,andseeaperspectiveofamileormoreoffallingstreet,andbeyondthatwoodsandvillas,andabluearmofsea,andthehillsuponthefartherside。

Fergusson,ourEdinburghpoet,Burns’smodel,oncesawabutterflyattheTownCross;andthesightinspiredhimwithaworthlesslittleode。Thispaintedcountryman,thedandyoftherosegarden,lookedfarabroadinsuchahummingneighbourhood;andyoucanfancywhatmoralconsiderationsayouthfulpoetwouldsupply。Buttheincident,inafancifulsortofway,ischaracteristicoftheplace。Intonoothercitydoesthesightofthecountryentersofar;ifyoudonotmeetabutterfly,youshallcertainlycatchaglimpseoffar-

awaytreesuponyourwalk;andtheplaceisfulloftheatretricksinthewayofscenery。Youpeepunderanarch,youdescendstairsthatlookasiftheywouldlandyouinacellar,youturntotheback-windowofagrimytenementinalane:-andbehold!youareface-to-facewithdistantandbrightprospects。Youturnacorner,andthereisthesungoingdownintotheHighlandhills。

Youlookdownanalley,andseeshipstackingfortheBaltic。

ForthecountrypeopletoseeEdinburghonherhill-

tops,isonething;itisanotherforthecitizen,fromthethickofhisaffairs,tooverlookthecountry。Itshouldbeagenialandamelioratinginfluenceinlife;itshouldpromptgoodthoughtsandremindhimofNature’sunconcern:thathecanwatchfromdaytoday,ashetrotsofficeward,howtheSpringgreenbrightensinthewoodorthefieldgrowsblackunderamovingploughshare。Ihavebeentempted,inthisconnexion,todeploretheslenderfacultiesofthehumanrace,withitspenny-whistleofavoice,itsdullcars,anditsnarrowrangeofsight。Ifyoucouldseeaspeoplearetoseeinheaven,ifyouhadeyessuchasyoucanfancyforasuperiorrace,ifyoucouldtakeclearnoteoftheobjectsofvision,notonlyafewyards,butafewmilesfromwhereyoustand:-thinkhowagreeablyyoursightwouldbeentertained,howpleasantlyyourthoughtswouldbediversified,asyouwalkedtheEdinburghstreets!Foryoumightpause,insomebusinessperplexity,inthemidstofthecitytraffic,andperhapscatchtheeyeofashepherdashesatdowntobreatheuponaheatheryshoulderofthePentlands;orperhapssomeurchin,clamberinginacountryelm,wouldputasidetheleavesandshowyouhisflushedandrusticvisage;orafisherracingseawards,withthetillerunderhiselbow,andthesailsoundinginthewind,wouldflingyouasalutationfrombetweenAnst’erandtheMay。

Tobeoldisnotthesamethingastobepicturesque;norbecausetheOldTownbearsastrangephysiognomy,doesitatallfollowthattheNewTownshalllookcommonplace。Indeed,apartfromantiquehouses,itiscurioushowmuchdescriptionwouldapplycommonlytoeither。Thesamesuddenaccidentsofground,asimilardominatingsiteabovetheplain,andthesamesuperpositionofonerankofsocietyoveranother,aretobeobservedinboth。Thus,thebroadandcomelyapproachtoPrincesStreetfromtheeast,linedwithhotelsandpublicoffices,makesaleapoverthegorgeoftheLowCalton;ifyoucastaglanceovertheparapet,youlookdirectintothatsunlessanddisreputableconfluentofLeithStreet;andthesametallhousesopenuponboththoroughfares。ThisisonlytheNewTownpassingoverheadaboveitsowncellars;walking,sotospeak,overitsownchildren,asisthewayofcitiesandthehumanrace。ButattheDeanBridge,youmaybeholdaspectacleofamorenovelorder。Theriverrunsatthebottomofadeepvalley,amongrocksandbetweengardens;

thecrestofeitherbankisoccupiedbysomeofthemostcommodiousstreetsandcrescentsinthemoderncity;andahandsomebridgeunitesthetwosummits。Overthis,everyafternoon,privatecarriagesgospinningby,andladieswithcard-casespasstoandfroaboutthedutiesofsociety。Andyetdownbelow,youmaystillsee,withitsmillsandfoamingweir,thelittleruralvillageofDean。Modernimprovementhasgoneoverheadonitshigh-

levelviaduct;andtheextendedcityhascleanlyoverleapt,andleftunaltered,whatwasoncethesummerretreatofitscomfortablecitizens。Everytownembraceshamletsinitsgrowth;Edinburghherselfhasembracedagoodfew;butitisstrangetoseeonestillsurviving-

andtoseeitsomehundredsoffeetbelowyourpath。IsitTorredelGrecothatisbuiltaboveburiedHerculaneum?Herculaneumwasdeadatleast;butthesunstillshinesupontheroofsofDean;thesmokestillrisesthriftilyfromitschimneys;thedustymillercomestohisdoor,looksatthegurglingwater,hearkenstotheturningwheelandthebirdsabouttheshed,andperhapswhistlesanairofhisowntoenrichthesymphony-foralltheworldasifEdinburghwerestilltheoldEdinburghontheCastleHill,andDeanwerestillthequietestofhamletsburiedamileorsointhegreencountry。

ItisnotsolongagosincemagisterialDavidHumelenttheauthorityofhisexampletotheexodusfromtheOldTown,andtookuphisnewabodeinastreetwhichisstill(sooddlymayajestbecomeperpetuated)knownasSaintDavidStreet。Noristhetownsolargebutaholidayschoolboymayharryabird’snestwithinhalfamileofhisowndoor。Thereareplacesthatstillsmelloftheploughinmemory’snostrils。Here,onehadheardablackbirdonahawthorn;there,anotherwastakenonsummereveningstoeatstrawberriesandcream;andyouhaveseenawavingwheatfieldonthesiteofyourpresentresidence。ThememoriesofanEdinburghboyarebutpartlymemoriesofthetown。Ilookbackwithdelightonmanyanescaladeofgardenwalls;manyarambleamonglilacsfullofpipingbirds;manyanexplorationinobscurequartersthatwereneithertownnorcountry;andIthinkthatbothformycompanionsandmyself,therewasaspecialinterest,apointofromance,andasentimentasofforeigntravel,whenwehitinourexcursionsonthebutt-endofsomeformerhamlet,andfoundafewrusticcottagesembeddedamongstreetsandsquares。ThetunneltotheScotlandStreetStation,thesightofthetrainsshootingoutofitsdarkmawwiththetwoguardsuponthebrake,thethoughtofitslengthandthemanyponderousedificesandopenthoroughfaresabove,werecertainlythingsofparamountimpressivenesstoayoungmind。Itwasasubterraneanpassage,althoughofalargerborethanwewereaccustomedtoinAinsworth’snovels;andthesetwowords,’subterreaneanpassage,’

wereinthemselvesanirresistibleattraction,andseemedtobringusnearerinspirittotheheroeswelovedandtheblackrascalswesecretlyaspiredtoimitate。ToscaletheCastleRockfromWestPrincesStreetGardens,andlayatriumphalhandagainsttherampartitself,wastotasteahighorderofromanticpleasure。Andthereareothersightsandexploitswhichcrowdbackuponmymindunderaverystrongilluminationofrememberedpleasure。Buttheeffectofnotoneofthemallwillcomparewiththediscoverer’sjoy,andthesenseofoldTimeandhisslowchangesonthefaceofthisearth,withwhichIexploredsuchcornersasCannonmillsorWaterLane,orthenuggetofcottagesatBroughtonMarket。

Theyweremoreruralthantheopencountry,andgaveagreaterimpressionofantiquitythantheoldestLANDupontheHighStreet。Theytoo,likeFergusson’sbutterfly,hadaquaintairofhavingwanderedfarfromtheirownplace;theylookedabashedandhomely,withtheirgablesandtheircreepingplants,theiroutsidestairsandrunningmill-streams;therewerecornersthatsmeltliketheendofthecountrygardenwhereIspentmyAprils;

andthepeoplestoodtogossipattheirdoors,astheymighthavedoneinColintonorCramond。

Inagreatmeasurewemay,andshall,eradicatethishauntingflavourofthecountry。ThelastelmisdeadinElmRow;andthevillasandtheworkmen’squartersspreadapaceonallthebordersofthecity。Wecancutdownthetrees;wecanburythegrassunderdeadpaving-

stones;wecandrivebriskstreetsthroughalloursleepyquarters;andwemayforgetthestoriesandtheplaygroundsofourboyhood。Butwehavesomepossessionsthatnoteventheinfuriatezealofbuilderscanutterlyabolishanddestroy。Nothingcanabolishthehills,unlessitbeacataclysmofnaturewhichshallsubvertEdinburghCastleitselfandlayallherfloridstructuresinthedust。AndaslongaswehavethehillsandtheFirth,wehaveafamousheritagetoleaveourchildren。

Ourwindows,atnoexpensetous,aremostartfullystainedtorepresentalandscape。AndwhentheSpringcomesround,andthehawthornsbegintoflower,andthemeadowstosmellofyounggrass,eveninthethickestofourstreets,thecountryhilltopsfindoutayoungman’seyes,andsethisheartbeatingfortravelandpureair。

CHAPTERVII。

THEVILLAQUARTERS。

MR。RUSKIN’SdenunciationoftheNewTownofEdinburghincludes,asIhavehearditrepeated,nearlyallthestoneandlimewehavetoshow。Manyhoweverfindagrandairandsomethingsettledandimposinginthebetterparts;anduponmany,asIhavesaid,theconfusionofstylesinducesanagreeablestimulationofthemind。Butuponthesubjectofourrecentvillaarchitecture,IamfranklyreadytominglemytearswithMr。Ruskin’s,anditisasubjectwhichmakesoneenviousofhislargedeclamatoryandcontroversialeloquence。

Daybyday,onenewvilla,onenewobjectofoffence,isaddedtoanother;allaroundNewingtonandMorningside,thedismalleststructureskeepspringinguplikemushrooms;thepleasanthillsareloadedwiththem,eachimpudentlysquattedinitsgarden,eachroofedandcarryingchimneyslikeahouse。Andyetaglanceofaneyediscoverstheirtruecharacter。Theyarenothouses;

fortheywerenotdesignedwithaviewtohumanhabitation,andtheinternalarrangementsare,astheytellme,fantasticallyunsuitedtotheneedsofman。

Theyarenotbuildings;foryoucanscarcelysayathingisbuiltwhereeverymeasurementisinclamantdisproportionwithitsneighbour。Theybelongtonostyleofart,onlytoaformofbusinessmuchtoberegretted。