第22章

althoughIconjecturethefollowingcopytohavebeensomewhatcorrectedbyWaverley，tosuitthetasteofthosewhomightnotrelishpureantiquity：-

St。Swithin’sChair。

OnHallow-MassEve，ereyebouneyetorest，Everbewarethatyourcouchbeblessed；

Signitwithcross，andsainitwithbead，SingtheAve，andsaytheCreed。

ForonHallow-MassEvetheNight-Hagwillride，Andallhernine-foldsweepingonbyherside，Whetherthewindsinglowlyorloud，Sailingthroughmoonshineorswathedinthecloud。

TheLadyshesatinSt。Swithin’sChair，Thedewofthenighthasdampedherhair：

Hercheekwaspale-butresolvedandhighWasthewordofherlipandtheglanceofhereye。

ShemutteredthespellofSwithinbold，Whenhisnakedfoottracedthemidnightwold，WhenhestoppedtheHagassherodethenight，Andbadeherdescend，andherpromiseplight。

HethatdaresitonSt。Swithin’sChair，WhentheNight-Hagwingsthetroubledair，Questionsthree，whenhespeaksthespell，Hemayask，andshemusttell。

TheBaronhasbeenwithKingRoberthisliege，Thesethreelongyearsinbattleandsiege；

Newsatetherenoneofhiswealorhiswoe，AndfaintheLadyhisfatewouldknow。

Sheshuddersandstopsasthecharmshespeaks；-

Isitthemoodyowlthatshrieks？

Orisitthatsound，betwixtlaughterandscream，ThevoiceoftheDemonwhohauntsthestream？

Themoanofthewindsunksilentandlow，Andtheroaringtorrentceasedtoflow；

Thecalmwasmoredreadfulthanragingstorm，Whenthecoldgreymistbroughttheghastlyform！

Iamsorrytodisappointthecompany，especiallyCaptainWaverley，wholistenswithsuchlaudablegravity；itisbutafragment，althoughIthinkthereareotherverses，describingthereturnoftheBaronfromthewars，andhowtheladywasfoundclay-colduponthegrounsillledge。’’

Itisoneofthosefigments，’’observedMr。Bradwardine，withwhichtheearlyhistoryofdistinguishedfamilieswasdeformedinthetimesofsuperstition；asthatofRome，andotherancientnations，hadtheirprodigies，sir，thewhichyoumayreadinancienthistories，orinthelittleworkcompiledbyJuliusObsequens，andinscribedbythelearnedScheffer，theeditor，tohispatron，BenedictusSkytte，BaronofDudershoff。’’

Myfatherhasastrangedefianceofthemarvellous，CaptainWaverley，’’observedRose，andoncestoodfirmwhenawholesynodofPresbyteriandivineswereputtotheroutbyasuddenapparitionofthefoulfiend。’’

Waverleylookedasifdesiroustohearmore。

MustItellmystoryaswellassingmysong？-Well-

Onceuponatimetherelivedanoldwoman，calledJanetGellatley，whowassuspectedtobeawitch，ontheinfalliblegroundsthatshewasveryold，veryugly，verypoor，andhadtwosons，oneofwhomwasapoet，andtheotherafool，whichvisitation，alltheneighbourhoodagreed，hadcomeuponherforthesinofwitchcraft。Andshewasimprisonedforaweekinthesteepleoftheparishchurch，andsparinglysuppliedwithfood，andnotpermittedtosleep，untilsheherselfbecameasmuchpersuadedofherbeingawitchasheraccusers；andinthislucidandhappystateofmindwasbroughtforthtomakeacleanbreast，thatis，tomakeopenconfessionofhersorceries，beforealltheWhiggentryandministersinthevicinity，whowerenoconjurorsthemselves。Myfatherwenttoseefairplaybetweenthewitchandtheclergy；forthewitchhadbeenbornonhisestate。AndwhilethewitchwasconfessingthattheEnemyappeared，andmadehisaddressestoherasahandsomeblackman，-which，ifyoucouldhaveseenpooroldblear-eyedJanet，reflectedlittlehonouronApollyon’staste，-andwhiletheauditorslistenedwithastonishedears，andtheclerkrecordedwithatremblinghand，she，allofasudden，changedthelowmumblingtonewithwhichshespokeintoashrillyell，andexclaimed，`Looktoyourselves！looktoyourselves！IseetheEvilOnesittinginthemidstofye。’Thesurprisewasgeneral，andterrorandflightitsimmediateconsequenc