第30章

EreWaverleyenteredthebanquetinghall，hewasofferedthepatriarchalrefreshmentofabathforthefeet，whichthesultryweather，andthemorasseshehadtraversed，renderedhighlyacceptable。Hewasnot，indeed，soluxuriouslyattendeduponthisoccasionastheheroictravellersintheOdyssey；thetaskofablutionandabstersionbeingperformed，notbyabeautifuldamsel，trainedTochafethelimb，andpourthefragrantoil，butbyasmoke-driedskinnyoldHighlandwoman，whodidnotseemtothinkherselfmuchhonouredbythedutyimposeduponher，butmutteredbetweenherteeth，Ourfathers’herdsdidnotfeedsoneartogether，thatIshoulddoyouthisservice。’’A

smalldonation，however，amplyreconciledthisancienthandmaidentothesupposeddegradation；and，asEdwardproceededtothehall，shegavehimherblessing，intheGaelicproverb，Maytheopenhandbefilledthefullest。’’

Thehall，inwhichthefeastwasprepared，occupiedthefirststoreyofIannanChaistel’soriginalerection，andahugeoakentableextendedthroughitswholelength。Theapparatusfordinnerwassimple，eventorudeness，andthecompanynumerous，eventocrowding。AttheheadofthetablewastheChiefhimself，withEdward，andtwoorthreeHighlandvisitorsofneighbouringclans；theeldersofhisowntribe，wadsetters，andtacksmen，astheywerecalled，whooccupiedportionsofhisestateasmortgagersorlessees，satnextinrank；beneaththem，theirsons，andnephews，andfoster-brethren；thentheofficersoftheChief’shousehold，accordingtotheirorder；and，lowestofall，thetenantswhoactuallycultivatedtheground。Evenbeyondthislongperspective，Edwardmightseeuponthegreen，towhichahugepairoffoldingdoorsopened，amultitudeofHighlandersofayetinferiordescription，who，nevertheless，wereconsideredasguests，andhadtheirsharebothofthecountenanceoftheentertainer，andofthecheeroftheday。Inthedistance，andfluctuatingroundthisextremevergeofthebanquet，wasachangefulgroupofwomen，raggedboysandgirls，beggars，youngandold，largegreyhounds，andterriers，andpointers，andcursoflowdegree；allofwhomtooksomeinterest，moreorlessimmediate，inthemainactionofthepiece。

Thishospitality，apparentlyunbounded，hadyetitslineofeconomy。Somepainshadbeenbestowedindressingthedishesoffish，game，etc。，whichwereattheupperendofthetable，andimmediatelyundertheeyeoftheEnglishstranger。Lowerdownstoodimmenseclumsyjointsofmuttonandbeef，which，butfortheabsenceofpork，<>abhorredintheHighlands，resembledPorkorswine’sflesh，inanyshape，was，tilloflateyears，muchabominatedbytheScotch，norisityetafavouritefoodamongstthem。

KingJamiecarriedthisprejudicetoEngland，andisknowntohaveabhorredporkalmostasmuchashedidtobacco。BenJonsonhasrecordedthispeculiarity，wherethegipsyinamasque，examiningtheking’shand，says-

Youshould，bythisline，Loveahorse，andahound，butnopartofaswine。’’

_TheGipsiesMetamorphosed。_

James’sownproposedbanquetforthedevilwasaloinofporkandapollofling，withapipeoftobaccofordigestion。

therudefestivityofthebanquetofPenelope’ssuitors。

Butthecentraldishwasayearlinglamb，called，ahoginhar’st，’’roastedwhole。Itwassetuponitslegs，withabunchofparsleyinitsmouth，andwasprobablyexhibitedinthatformtogratifytheprideofthecook，whopiquedhimselfmoreontheplentythantheeleganceofhismaster’stable。Thesidesofthispooranimalwerefiercelyattackedbytheclansmen，somewithdirks，otherswiththekniveswhichwereusuallyinthesamesheathwiththedagger，sothatitwassoonrenderedamangledandruefulspectacle。Lowerdownstill，thevictualsseemedofyetcoarserquality，thoughsufficientlyabundant。

Broth，onions，cheese，andthefragmentsofthefeast，regaledthesonsofIvorwhofeastedintheopenair。

Theliquorwassuppliedinthesameproportion，andundersimilarregulations。ExcellentclaretandchampagnewereliberallydistributedamongtheChief’simmediateneighbours；

whisky，plainordiluted，andstrongbeer，refreshedthosewhosatnearthelowerend。Nordidthisinequalityofdistributionappeartogivetheleastoffence。Everyonepresentunderstoodthathistastewastobef