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Books: The Monastery

S >> Sir Walter Scott >> The Monastery




But when Halbert had concluded his bold speech, the White Lady stood
before him with the same pale, fixed, and melancholy aspect, which she
usually bore. He had expected the agitation which she exhibited would
conclude in some frightful metamorphosis. Folding her arms on her
bosom, the phantom replied,--

"Daring youth! for thee it is well,
Here calling me in haunted dell,
That thy heart has not quail'd,
Nor thy courage fail'd,
And that thou couldst brook
The angry look
Of Her of Avenel.

Did one limb shiver,
Or an eyelid quiver,
Thou wert lost for ever.
Though I am form'd from the ether blue,
And my blood is of the unfallen dew.
And thou art framed of mud and dust,
'Tis thine to speak, reply I must."

"I demand of thee, then," said the youth, "by what charm it is that I
am thus altered in mind and in wishes--that I think no longer of deer
or dog, of bow or bolt--that my soul spurns the bounds of this obscure
glen--that my blood boils at an insult from one by whose stirrup I
would some days since have run for a whole summer's morn, contented
and honoured by the notice of a single word? Why do I now seek to mate
me with princes, and knights, and nobles?--Am I the same, who but
yesterday, as it were, slumbered in contented obscurity, but who am
to-day awakened to glory and ambition?--Speak--tell me, if thou canst,
the meaning of this change?--Am I spell-bound?--or have I till now
been under the influence of a spell, that I feel as another being, yet
am conscious of remaining the same? Speak and tell me, is it to thy
influence that the change is owing?"

The White Lady replied,--

"A mightier wizard far than I
Wields o'er the universe his power;
Him owns the eagle in the sky,
The turtle in the bower.
Chanceful in shape, yet mightiest still,
He wields the heart of man at will,
From ill to good, from good, to ill,
In cot and castle-tower."

"Speak not thus darkly," said the youth, colouring so deeply, that face,
neck, and hands were in a sanguine glow; "make me sensible of thy
purpose."

The spirit answered,--

"Ask thy heart,--whose secret cell
Is fill'd with Marv Avenel!
Ask thy pride,--why scornful look
In Mary's view it will not brook?
Ask it, why thou seek'st to rise
Among the mighty and the wise?--
Why thou spurn'st thy lowly lot?--
Why thy pastimes are forgot?
Why thou wouldst in bloody strife
Mend thy luck or lose thy life?
Ask thy heart, and it shall tell,
Sighing from its secret cell,
'Tis for Mary Avenel."

"Tell me, then," said Halbert, his cheek still deeply crimsoned, "thou
who hast said to me that which I dared not say to myself, by what means
shall I urge my passion--by what means make it known?"

The White Lady replied,--

"Do not ask me;
On doubts like these thou canst not task me.
We only see the passing show
Of human passions' ebb and flow;
And view the pageant's idle glance
As mortals eye the northern dance,
When thousand streamers, flashing bright,
Career it o'er the brow of night.
And gazers mark their changeful gleams,
But feel no influence from their beams."

"Yet thine own fate," replied Halbert, "unless men greatly err, is
linked with that of mortals?"

The phantom answered,

"By ties mysterious link'd, our fated race
Holds strange connexion with the sons of men.
The star that rose upon the House of Avenel,
When Norman Ulric first assumed the name,
That star, when culminating in its orbit,
Shot from its sphere a drop of diamond dew,
And this bright font received it--and a Spirit
Rose from the fountain, and her date of life
Hath co-existence with the House of Avenel,
And with the star that rules it."

"Speak yet more plainly," answered young Glendinning; "of this I can
understand nothing. Say, what hath forged thy wierded [Footnote:
_Wierded_--fated.] link of destiny with the House of Avenel?
Say, especially, what fate now overhangs that house?"

The White Lady replied,--

"Look on my girdle--on this thread of gold--
'Tis fine as web of lightest gossamer.
And, but there is a spell on't, would not bind,
Light as they are, the folds of my thin robe.
But when 'twas donn'd, it was a massive chain,
Such as might bind the champion of the Jews,

Even when his looks were longest--it hath dwindled,
Hath minish'd in its substance and its strength,
As sunk the greatness of the House of Avenel.
When this frail thread gives way. I to the elements
Resign the principles of life they lent me.
Ask me no more of this!--the stars forbid it."

"Then canst thou read the stars," answered the youth; "and mayest
tell me the fate of my passion, if thou canst not aid it?"

The White Lady again replied,--

"Dim burns the once bright star of Avenel,
Dim as the beacon when the morn is nigh,
And the o'er-wearied warder leaves the light-house;
There is an influence sorrowful and fearful.
That dogs its downward course. Disastrous passion,
Fierce hate and rivalry, are in the aspect
That lowers upon its fortunes."

"And rivalry?" repeated Glendinning; "it is, then, as I feared!--But
shall that English silkworm presume to beard me in my father's house,
and in the presence of Mary Avenel?--Give me to meet him, spirit--give
me to do away the vain distinction of rank on which he refuses me the
combat. Place us on equal terms, and gleam the stars with what aspect
they will, the sword of my father shall control their influences."

She answered as promptly as before,--

"Complain not of me, child of clay,
If to thy harm I yield the way.
We, who soar thy sphere above,
Know not aught of hate or love;
As will or wisdom rules thy mood,
My gifts to evil turn, or good."

"Give me to redeem my honour," said Halbert Glendinning--"give me to
retort on my proud rival the insults he has thrown on me, and let the
rest fare as it will. If I cannot revenge my wrong, I shall sleep
quiet, and know nought of my disgrace."

The phantom failed not to reply,--

"When Piercie Shafton boasteth high,
Let this token meet his eye.
The sun is westering from the dell,
Thy wish is granted--fare thee well!"

As the White Lady spoke or chanted these last words, she undid from
her locks a silver bodkin around which they were twisted, and gave it
to Halbert Glendinning; then shaking her dishevelled hair till it fell
like a veil around her, the outlines of her form gradually became as
diffuse as her flowing tresses, her countenance grew pale as the moon
in her first quarter, her features became indistinguishable, and she
melted into the air.

Habit inures us to wonders; but the youth did not find himself alone
by the fountain without experiencing, though in a much less degree,
the revulsion of spirits which he had felt upon the phantom's former
disappearance. A doubt strongly pressed upon his mind, whether it
were safe to avail himself of the gifts of a spirit which did not even
pretend to belong to the class of angels, and might, for aught he
knew, have a much worse lineage than that which she was pleased to
avow. "I will speak of it," he said, "to Edward, who is clerkly
learned, and will tell me what I should do. And yet, no--Edward is
scrupulous and wary.--I will prove the effect of her gift on Sir
Piercie Shafton, if he again braves me, and by the issue, I will be
myself a sufficient judge whether there is danger in resorting to her
counsel. Home, then, home--and we shall soon learn whether that home
shall longer hold me; for not again will I brook insult, with my
father's sword by my side, and Mary for the spectator of my disgrace."




Chapter the Eighteenth.


I give thee eighteenpence a-day,
And my bow shall thou bear,
And over all the north country,
I make thee the chief rydere.
And I thirteenpence a-day, quoth the queen,
By God and by my faye,
Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt,
No man shall say thee nay.
WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEY.

The manners of the age did not permit the inhabitants of Glendearg to
partake of the collation which was placed in the spence of that
ancient tower, before the Lord Abbot and his attendants, and Sir
Piercie Shafton. Dame Glendinning was excluded, both by inferiority
of rank and by sex, for (though it was a rule often neglected) the
Superior of Saint Mary's was debarred from taking his meals in female
society. To Mary Avenel the latter, and to Edward Glendinning the
former, incapacity attached; but it pleased his lordship to require
their presence in the apartment, and to say sundry kind words to them
upon the ready and hospitable reception which they had afforded him.

The smoking haunch now stood upon the table; a napkin, white as snow,
was, with due reverence, tucked under the chin of the Abbot by the
Refectioner; and nought was wanting to commence the repast, save the
presence of Sir Piercie Shafton, who at length appeared, glittering
like the sun, in a carnation-velvet doublet, slashed and puffed out
with cloth of silver, his hat of the newest block, surrounded by a
hatband of goldsmith's work, while around his neck he wore a collar of
gold, set with rubies and topazes so rich, that it vindicated his
anxiety for the safety of his baggage from being founded upon his love
of mere finery. This gorgeous collar or chain, resembling those worn
by the knights of the highest orders of chivalry, fell down on his
breast, and terminated in a medallion.

"We waited for Sir Piercie Shafton," said the Abbot, hastily assuming
his place in the great chair which the Kitchener advanced to the table
with ready hand.

"I pray your pardon, reverend father, and my good lord," replied that
pink of courtesy; "I did but wait to cast my riding slough, and to
transmew myself into some civil form meeter for this worshipful
company."

"I cannot but praise your gallantry, Sir Knight," said the Abbot, "and
your prudence, also, for choosing the fitting time to appear thus
adorned. Certes, had that goodly chain been visible in some part of
your late progress, there was risk that the lawful owner might have
parted company therewith."

"This chain, said your reverence?" answered Sir Piercie; "surely it is
but a toy, a trifle, a slight thing which shows but poorly with this
doublet--marry, when I wear that of the murrey-coloured double-piled
Genoa velvet, puffed out with ciprus, the gems, being relieved and set
off by the darker and more grave ground of the stuff, show like stars
giving a lustre through dark clouds."

"I nothing doubt it," said the Abbot, "but I pray you to sit down at the
board."

But Sir Piercie had now got into his element, and was not easily
interrupted--"I own," he continued, "that slight as the toy is, it
might perchance have had some captivation for Julian--Santa Maria!"
said he, interrupting himself; "what was I about to say, and my fair
and beauteous Protection, or shall I rather term her my Discretion,
here in presence!--Indiscreet hath it been in your Affability, O most
lovely Discretion, to suffer a stray word to have broke out of the
penfold of his mouth, that might overleap the fence of civility, and
trespass on the manor of decorum."

"Marry!" said the Abbot, somewhat impatiently, "the greatest
discretion that I can see in the matter is, to eat our victuals being
hot--Father Eustace, say the Benedicite, and cut up the haunch."

The Sub-Prior readily obeyed the first part of the Abbot's injunction,
but paused upon the second--"It is Friday, most reverend," he said in
Latin, desirous that the hint should escape, if possible, the ears of
the stranger.

"We are travellers," said the Abbot, in reply, "and _viatoribus
licitum est_--You know the canon--a traveller must eat what food
his hard fate sets before him. I grant you all a dispensation to eat
flesh this day, conditionally that you, brethren, say the Confiteor at
curfew time, that the knight give alms to his ability, and that all
and each of you fast from flesh on such day within the next month that
shall seem most convenient;--wherefore fall to and eat your food with
cheerful countenances, and you, Father Refectioner, _da mixtus_."

While the Abbot was thus stating the conditions on which his
indulgence was granted, he had already half finished a slice of the
noble haunch, and now washed it down with a flagon of Rhenish,
modestly tempered with water.

"Well is it said," he observed, as he required from the Refectioner
another slice, "that virtue is its own reward; for though this is but
humble fare, and hastily prepared, and eaten in a poor chamber, I do
not remember me of having had such an appetite since I was a simple
brother in the Abbey of Dundrennan, and was wont to labour in the
garden from morning until nones, when our Abbot struck the
_Cymbalum_. Then would I enter keen with hunger, parched with
thirst, (_da mihi vinum quaeso, et merum sit_,) and partake with
appetite of whatever was set before us, according to our rule; feast
or fast day, _caritas_ or _penitentia_, was the same to me.
I had no stomach complaints then, which now crave both the aid of wine
and choice cookery, to render my food acceptable to my palate, and
easy of digestion."

"It may be, holy father," said the Sub-Prior, "an occasional ride to
the extremity of Saint Mary's patrimony, may have the same happy
effect on your health as the air of the garden at Dundrennan."

"Perchance, with our patroness's blessing, such progresses may
advantage us," said the Abbot; "having an especial eye that our
venison is carefully killed by some woodsman that is master of his
craft."

"If the Lord Abbot will permit me," said the Kitchener, "I think the
best way to assure his lordship on that important point, would be to
retain as a yeoman-pricker, or deputy-ranger, the eldest son of this
good woman, Dame Glendinning, who is here to wait upon us. I should
know by mine office what belongs to killing of game, and I can safely
pronounce, that never saw I, or any other _coquinarius_, a bolt
so justly shot. It has cloven the very heart of the buck."

"What speak you to us of one good shot, father?" said Sir Piercie; "I
would advise you that such no more maketh a shooter, than doth one
swallow make a summer--I have seen this springald of whom you speak,
and if his hand can send forth his shafts as boldly as his tongue doth
utter presumptuous speeches, I will own him as good an archer as Robin
Hood."

"Marry," said the Abbot, "and it is fitting we know the truth of this
matter from the dame herself; for ill advised were we to give way to
any rashness in this matter, whereby the bounties which Heaven and our
patroness provide might be unskilfully mangled, and rendered unfit for
worthy men's use.--Stand forth, therefore, dame Glendinning, and tell
to us, as thy liege lord and spiritual Superior, using plainness and
truth, without either fear or favour, as being a matter wherein we are
deeply interested, Doth this son of thine use his bow as well as the
Father Kitchener avers to us?"

"So please your noble fatherhood," answered Dame Glendinning with a
deep curtsy, "I should know somewhat of archery to my cost, seeing my
husband--God assoilzie him!--was slain in the field of Pinkie with an
arrow-shot, while he was fighting under the Kirk's banner, as became a
liege vassal of the Halidome. He was a valiant man, please your
reverence, and an honest; and saving that he loved a bit of venison,
and shifted for his living at a time as Border-men will sometimes do,
I wot not of sin that he did. And yet, though I have paid for mass
after mass to the matter of a forty shilling, besides a quarter of
wheat and four firlocks of rye, I can have no assurance yet that he
has been delivered from purgatory."

"Dame," said the Lord Abbot, "this shall be looked into heedfully; and
since thy husband fell, as thou sayest, in the Kirk's quarrel, and
under her banner, rely upon it that we will have him out of purgatory
forthwith--that is, always provided he be there.--But it is not of
thy husband whom we now devise to speak, but of thy son; not of a shot
Scotsman, but of a shot deer--Wherefore, I say, answer me to the
point, is thy son a practised archer, ay or no?"

"Alack! my reverend lord," replied the widow, "and my croft would be
better tilled, if I could answer your reverence that he is
not.--Practised archer!--marry, holy sir, I would he would practise
something else--cross-bow and long-bow, hand-gun and hack-but,
falconet and saker, he can shoot with them all. And if it would please
this right honourable gentleman, our guest, to hold out his hat at the
distance of a hundred yards, our Halbert shall send shaft, bolt, or
bullet through it, (so that right honourable gentleman swerve not, but
hold out steady,) and I will forfeit a quarter of barley if he touch
but a knot of his ribands. I have seen our old Martin do as much, and
so has our right reverend the Sub-Prior, if he be pleased to remember
it."

"I am not like to forget it, dame," said Father Eustace; "for I knew
not which most to admire, the composure of the young marksman, or the
steadiness of the old mark. Yet I presume not to advise Sir Piercie
Shafton to subject his valuable beaver, and yet more valuable person,
to such a risk, unless it should be his own special pleasure."

"Be assured it is not," said Sir Piercie Shafton, something hastily;
"be well assured, holy father, that it is not. I dispute not the lad's
qualities, for which your reverence vouches. But bows are but wood,
strings are but flax, or the silk-worm excrement at best; archers are
but men, fingers may slip, eyes may dazzle, the blindest may hit the
butt, the best marker may shoot a bow's length beside. Therefore will
we try no perilous experiments."

"Be that as you will, Sir Piercie," said the Abbot; "meantime we will
name this youth bow-bearer in the forest granted to us by good King
David, that the chase might recreate our wearied spirits, the flesh of
the dear improve our poor commons, and the hides cover the books of
our library; thus tending at once to the sustenance of body and soul."

"Kneel down, woman, kneel down," said the Refectioner and the
Kitchener, with one voice, to Dame Glendinning, "and kiss his lordship's
hand, for the grace which he has granted to thy son."

They then, as if they had been chanting the service and the responses,
set off in a sort of duetto, enumerating the advantages of the
situation.

"A green gown and a pair of leathern galligaskins every Pentecost," said
the Kitchener.

"Four marks by the year at Candlemas," answered the Refectioner.

"A hogshead of ale at Martlemas, of the double strike, and single ale at
pleasure, as he shall agree with the Cellarer--"

"Who is a reasonable man," said the Abbot, "and will encourage an
active servant of the convent."

"A mess of broth and a dole of mutton or beef, at the Kitchener's, on
each high holiday," resumed the Kitchener.

"The gang of two cows and a palfrey on our Lady's meadow." answered
his brother officer.

"An ox-hide to make buskins of yearly, because of the brambles," echoed
the Kitchener.

"And various other perquisites, _quae nunc praescribere longum_,"
said the Abbot, summing, with his own lordly voice, the advantages
attached to the office of conventional bow-bearer.

Dame Glendinning was all this while on her knees, her head
mechanically turning from the one church officer to the other, which,
as they stood one on each side of her, had much the appearance of a
figure moved by clock-work, and so soon as they were silent, most
devotedly did she kiss the munificent hand of the Abbot. Conscious,
however, of Halbert's intractability in some points, she could not
help qualifying her grateful and reiterated thanks for the Abbot's
bountiful proffer, with a hope that Halbert would see his wisdom, and
accept of it.

"How," said the Abbot, bending his brows, "accept of it?--Woman, is
thy son in his right wits?"

Elspeth, stunned by the tone in which this question was asked, was
altogether unable to reply to it. Indeed, any answer she might have
made could hardly have been heard, as it pleased the two
office-bearers of the Abbot's table again to recommence their
alternate dialogue.

"Refuse!" said the Kitchener.

"Refuse!" answered the Refectioner, echoing the other's word in a tone
of still louder astonishment.

"Refuse four marks by the year!" said the one.

"Ale and beer--broth and mutton--cow's grass and palfrey's!" shouted
the Kitchener.

"Gown and galligaskins!" responded the Refectioner.

"A moment's patience, my brethren," answered the Sub-Prior, "and let
us not be thus astonished before cause is afforded of our amazement.
This good dame best knoweth the temper and spirit of her son--this
much I can say, that it lieth not towards letters or learning, of
which I have in vain endeavoured to instil into him some tincture.
Nevertheless, he is a youth of no common spirit, but much like those
(in my weak judgment) whom God raises up among a people when he
meaneth that their deliverance shall be wrought out with strength of
hand and valour of heart. Such men we have seen marked with a
waywardness, and even an obstinacy of character, which hath appeared
intractability and stupidity to those among whom they walked and were
conversant, until the very opportunity hath arrived in, which it was
the will of Providence that they should be the fitting instrument of
great things."

"Now, in good time hast thou spoken, Father Eustace," said the Abbot;
"and we will see this swankie before we decide upon the means of
employing him.--How say you, Sir Piercie Shafton, is it not the court
fashion to suit the man to the office, and not the office to the man?"

"So please your reverence and lordship," answered the Northumbrian
knight, "I do partly, that is, in some sort, subscribe to what your
wisdom hath delivered--Nevertheless, under reverence of the Sub-Prior,
we do not look for gallant leaders and national deliverers in the
hovels of the mean common people. Credit me, that if there be some
flashes of martial spirit about this young person, which I am not
called upon to dispute, (though I have seldom seen that presumption
and arrogance were made good upon the upshot by deed and action,) yet
still these will prove insufficient to distinguish him, save in his
own limited and lowly sphere--even as the glowworm, which makes a
goodly show among the grass of the field, would be of little avail if
deposited in a beacon-grate."

"Now, in good time," said the Sub-Prior, "and here comes the young
huntsman to speak for himself;" for, being placed opposite to the
window, he could observe Halbert as he ascended the little mound on
which the tower was situated.

"Summon him to our presence," said the Lord Abbot; and with an
obedient start the two attendant monks went off with emulous
alertness. Dame Glendinning sprung away at the same moment, partly to
gain an instant to recommend obedience to her son, partly to prevail
with him to change his apparel before coming in presence of the Abbot.
But the Kitchener and Refectioner, both speaking at once, had already
seized each an arm, and were leading Halbert in triumph into the
apartment, so that she could only ejaculate, "His will be done; but an
he had but had on him his Sunday's hose!"

Limited and humble as this desire was, the fates did not grant it, for
Halbert Glendinning was hurried into the presence of the Lord Abbot
and his party, without a word of explanation, and without a moment's
time being allowed to assume his holiday hose, which, in the language
of the time, implied both breeches and stockings.

Yet, though thus suddenly presented amid the centre of all eyes, there
was something in Halbert's appearance which commanded a certain degree
of respect from the company into which he was so unceremoniously
intruded, and the greater part of whom were disposed to consider him
with hauteur if not with absolute contempt. But his appearance and
reception we must devote to another chapter.

* * * * * * *



Chapter the Nineteenth.


Now choose thee, gallant, betwixt wealth and honour;
There lies the pelf, in sum to bear thee through
The dance of youth, and the turmoil of manhood,
Yet leave enough for age's chimney-corner;
But an thou grasp to it, farewell ambition,
Farewell each hope of bettering thy condition,
And raising thy low rank above the churls
That till the earth for bread.
OLD PLAY.

It is necessary to dwell for some brief space on the appearance and
demeanour of young Glendinning, ere we proceed to describe his interview
with the Abbot of St. Mary's, at this momentous crisis of his life.

Halbert was now about nineteen years old, tall and active rather than
strong, yet of that hardy conformation of limb and sinew, which
promises great strength when the growth shall be complete, and the
system confirmed. He was perfectly well made, and, like most men who
have that advantage, possessed a grace and natural ease of manner and
carriage, which prevented his height from being the distinguished part
of his external appearance. It was not until you had compared his
stature with that of those amongst or near to whom he stood, that you
became sensible that the young Glendinning was upwards of six feet
high. In the combination of unusual height with perfect symmetry,
ease, and grace of carriage, the young heir of Glendearg,
notwithstanding his rustic birth and education, had greatly the
advantage even of Sir Piercie Shafton himself, whose stature was
lower, and his limbs, though there was no particular point to object
to, were on the whole less exactly proportioned. On the other hand,
Sir Piercie's very handsome countenance afforded him as decided an
advantage over the Scotsman, as regularity of features and brilliance
of complexion could give over traits which were rather strongly marked
than beautiful, and upon whose complexion the "skyey influences," to
which he was constantly exposed, had blended the red and white into
the purely nut-brown hue, which coloured alike cheeks, neck, and
forehead, and blushed only in a darker glow upon the former.--
Halbert's eyes supplied a marked and distinguished part of his
physiognomy. They were large and of a hazel colour, and sparkled in
moments of animation with such uncommon brilliancy, that it seemed as
if they actually emitted light. Nature had closely curled the locks of
dark-brown hair, which relieved and set off the features, such as we
have described them, displaying a bold and animated disposition, much
more than might have been expected from his situation, or from his
previous manners, which hitherto had seemed bashful, homely, and
awkward.