The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales Volume Ii Part 14

Next morning he saw his neighbour servants seeking for him, and calling his name, but he could make them no answer, save by long and mournful sounds between a grunt and groan. He drew near to several of them, but they regarded him in no other light than as a boar belonging to some one in the neighbourhood, straying in the fields. His case was most deplorable; but as he still conceived there was one who knew his situation well, he determined to seek her. He went down to Eildon-Hall, with the faithful Mumps walking close by his side--tried to work his way into the laundry, but being repulsed, he waited with patience about the doors for an opportunity to present himself before Pery. She came out at length, and went away singing to the well. The boar followed, uttering the most melancholy sounds that ever issued from the chest of distressed animal. Pery could not help noticing him a little. "What strange animal can this be?" said she to herself; but perceiving that Mumps too was following her, her attention was soon directed solely to him.

"Alas, poor Mumps," said she, "you are famishing. What can be become of your master?"

The boar laid his ungraceful foot softly on that of Pery, looked ruefully in her face, and uttered a most melancholly sound; as much as to say, "You know well what is become of him! Have you no pity nor remorse in your heart?"

It was impossible Pery could comprehend this. She judged, like others, that the animal had strayed from home, and was complaining to her for food. She looked at him, and thought him a very docile and valuable swine, and one that would soon be ready for the knife. He was astonished at her apparent indifference, as well as moved with grief and vengeance, seeing the abject state to which she had reduced him; and in his heart he cursed the whole s.e.x, deeming them all imps of Satan, witches, and enchantresses, each one. He followed her back to the house.

"Come in, Mumps," said she, "and you shall have your breakfast for the sake of him you belonged to, whatever is become of him, poor fellow!"

The boar ran forward, and kneeled at her feet moaning, on which she kicked him, and drove him away, saying, "What does the vile beast want with me? Mumps, come you in and get some meat, honest brute."

Mumps would not come in, but when the boar was expelled, turned back with him, looking very sullen. She brought him out a bicker of cold parritch mixed with milk, but he would not taste them until the boar had first taken his share; after which they went and lay down in the yard together, the dog in the boar's bosom. Thus did they continue for many days. At length the master of Eildon had the boar cried at the church-door, and at the cross of Melrose, and as no one appeared to claim him, he put him up for slaughter.

CHAPTER III.

But to return from this necessary digression.--The king and his n.o.bles had a banquet in the Abbey that night on which Croudy was changed, and it was agreed by all present, that the venison of the roe-deer of Eildon exceeded in quality that of any other part of the kingdom. The king appeared thoughtful and absent during the whole of the evening; and at ma.s.s, it was observed that he was more fervent in his devotions than ever he was wont to be. The words of the old mysterious stranger--his sudden disappearance--the rumours of fairies and witchcrafts that were abroad, together with another vision which he had seen, but not yet disclosed, preyed upon his mind, as it was little wonder they should, and made him apprehend that every step he took was on enchanted ground.

The hound, Mooly, had slipt into the banquet-hall at the time of vespers, and neither soothing, threatening, nor the lash, would drive her hence. She clung to the king's foot until he took pity on her, and said, "Cease, and let the poor animal stay, since she insists on it. I will not have her maltreated for the fault of those who have the charge of her, and should have put her better up." So Mooly got leave to remain, and kept her station the whole night without moving.

The gla.s.s circulated until a late hour. At length the king said, "My lords, I crave a cup full to the brim, which I mean to dedicate to the health of a lady, whom I think I saw yesterday morning; the mentioning of whose name will a little astonish you."

"My royal son and sire," said the abbot, "for your majesty is both, in the general acceptation of the terms, shall it not be of your far-famed Malmsey that you will drink this beloved toast?"

"If you so please," said his majesty.

"Ralpho," said the abbot, "here is the key. You alone know where the portion of old Malmsey is to be found among his majesty's stores here deposited; bring one bottle only to his majesty, and pour it carefully yourself."

Ralpho obeyed; poured out the wine till the cup was full, and turned the remainder into a sewer. The king then arose, and lifting his cup on high--"My lords," said he, "I give you the fairest, the loveliest, and the most angelic maid that ever Scotland bred--I give you Elen of Rosline."

Every one started at the name till the wine was spilled all around the table. Astonishment was in every look, for the king had said he had seen her yesterday at morn.

"To the bottom," cried the king.

Every one drank off his cup with avidity, anxious to hear the explanation. The king kept the position in which he stood until he saw every cup drained, and then brought his slowly and gracefully to his lips, with the intention of emptying it at one draught. But the moment that it reached them, Mooly sprung up, s.n.a.t.c.hed the cup and wine out of his hand, and threw them on the floor.

"Strike the animal dead," cried one.

"Kick her out of the hall," said another.

"Take her out and let her be hung up," cried a third.

Mooly cowered at her royal master's feet, as if begging pardon, or begging to remain.

"Let her alone," said the king; "let us see what the beast means, and if she persists in the outrage."

He filled his cup of the wine before him, and brought it slowly to his head in the same manner as he did before. He even took it away and brought it back several times, in order to see if she would be provoked to do the like again. But no!--Mooly appeared perfectly satisfied, and suffered her master to drink it off piece-meal. A certain consternation reigned in the royal apartment for some time; sharp arguments followed; and, in the mean time, Angus and the abbot were heard whispering apart, and the one said, "It must be accomplished this night, or abandoned for ever."

The n.o.bles again took their seats, and the king appeared as formerly to be growing thoughtful and dejected.

"Pray cheer up your heart and be merry, my liege," said Douglas, "and let not the casual frolic of a pampered animal tend to cast down your majesty's spirits. Your majesty has not yet drank the extraordinary toast you proposed."

"But that I shall do presently," said the king.

"Ay," said the abbot, "and your majesty shall do it too in the wine of which I have heard your majesty so much approve. Fetch another bottle, Ralpho."

Ralpho brought it.--"I will pour for myself," said the king; and taking the bottle, he poured about one-half of it into his cup; again named the name of Elen of Rosline with rapturous enthusiasm, and again as he put the cup to his lips, Mooly sprung up, s.n.a.t.c.hed the cup from his hand, and dashed it on the floor more furiously than before, and then cowered at her master's feet as if begging not to be struck.

"There is something more than ordinary in this," said the king, "and I will have it investigated instantly."

"There is nothing in it at all," said the abbot. "Pardon me, sire; but it is a fault in your majesty, for which I have grieved, and often done penance myself. You are, and have always been a visionary, and nothing will ever wean you from it. You make idols of these two animals; they have sometime been taught a number of pranks, and for one of these would you augur aught against the monastery, your n.o.bles, or your majesty's own peace of mind?"

"Are you certain that is the genuine Old Malmsey wine, Ralpho?" said the king.

"I am certain, sire, it is the wine that was shown to me as such."

The king poured out the remainder that was in the bottle. "Drink thou that, Ralpho," said he, "and tell me if it be really and truly the genuine Malmsey."

Ralpho thanked his majesty, bowed, and drank off the cup without hesitation.

"Is it genuine, Ralpho?"

"I don't know, your majesty; I think it tastes a little of the earth."

The circle laughed at Ralpho's remark; and the conversation began again to grow general, when, some time thereafter, Ralpho, who was bustling about, sat down in a languid and sickly posture on one of the window seats. They looked at him, and saw that his face was becoming black.

"What is the matter, Ralpho?" said one.

"I do not know what is the matter with me," returned he; "I think I feel as if that wine were not like to agree with my stomach."

He fell into immediate convulsions, and in ten minutes he was lying a swollen and disfigured corpse.

Douglas was the first to cry out _treason_. He bolted the door, and stood inside with his sword drawn, vowing that he would search the soul of every traitor in the room. Angus's great power made the other lords to stand in awe of him; although it was obvious to them all, that he was at least as likely to have a hand in this as any other. Hume charged him boldly to his face with it, and made proffer to abide by the proof; but he pretended to receive the charge only with scorn and derision, as one which no reasonable man could suppose. The king was greatly affected, and, upon the whole, showed rather more apprehension on account of his personal safety, than was, perhaps, becoming in a sovereign. He cried out that "they were all of them traitors! and that he would rather be at the head of a band of moss-troopers, than be thus condemned to have such a set about him whom he could not trust."

After some expostulation he acquitted the Earl of Angus, more, it was thought, through fear, than conviction of his innocence; but from an inference, the most natural in the world, he fixed the blame on the abbot.

"My liege," said the reverend father, "I know no more how this has happened than the child that is unborn. There can be no doubt but that, instigated by some of your majesty's enemies, the wretch, Ralpho, has mixed the poison himself, and has met with the fate he justly deserved."

"No!" replied the king, "If that had been the case, he would not have been so ready in partic.i.p.ating of the draught. I will not believe, but that there is a combination among you to take my life."

Every one protested his innocence more strenuously than another.

The abbot was seized; and said, in his justification, "That he would show his majesty the set of wine from which he had ordered Ralpho to bring it, and he was willing to drink a share of any bottle of it that they chose;" which he did.

But this did not convince the king. He sent off privately a messenger to a.s.semble the Border Chiefs, and bring them to his rescue--took his two favourite hounds with him into his chamber, placed a strong guard, counted his beads, and retired to rest.

Every means were tried next day by the n.o.bles to dispel his majesty's fears, and regain his confidence; and as nothing decisive could be produced against any one, they succeeded in some degree. New perplexities, however, continued to way-lay him, for he was throughout his whole life the prey of witches and evil spirits; and though he wrecked due vengeance on many, they still continued to hara.s.s him the more.