第59章

ThislastdilemmahadalmostdisturbedFergus’sgravity。

Why，’’saidhe，youknow，Baron，theproverbtellsus，`It’silltakingthebreeksoffaHighlandman，’-andthebootsarehereinthesamepredicament。’’

Theword_calig，_however，’’continuedtheBaron，thoughIadmit，that，byfamilytradition，andeveninourancientevidents，itisexplained_lie_=boots，=means，initsprimitivesense，rathersandals；andCaiusCsar，thenephewandsuccessorofCaiusTiberius，receivedtheagnomenofCaligula，_acaligulis，sivecaligislevioribus，quibusadolescentiorususfueratinexercituGermanicipatrissui。_Andthe_calig_werealsopropertothemonasticbodies；forwereadinanancientGlossarium，upontheruleofStBenedict，intheAbbeyofSt。Amand，that_calig_

weretiedwithlatchets。’’

Thatwillapplytothebrogues，’’saidFergus。

Itwillso，mydearGlennaquoich；andthewordsareexpress：_Caligdictsuntquialigantur；namsoccinonligantur，sedtantumintromittuntur；_thatis，_calig_aredenominatedfromtheligatureswherewiththeyarebound；whereas_socci，_whichmaybeanalogoustoourmules，whilktheEnglishdenominateslippers，areonlyslippeduponthefeet。Thewordsofthecharterarealsoalternative，-_exuere，seudetrahere；_thatis，to_undo，_asinthecaseofsandalsorbrogues；andto_pulloff，_aswesayvernacularly，concerningboots。YetIwouldwehadmorelight；butIfearthereislittlechanceoffindinghereaboutanyeruditeauthor_derevestiari。_’’

Ishoulddoubtitverymuch，’’saidtheChieftain，lookingaroundonthestragglingHighlanders，whowerereturningloadedwithspoilsoftheslain，thoughthe_resvestiaria_itselfseemstobeinsomerequestatpresent。’’

ThisremarkcomingwithintheBaron’sideaofjocularity，hehonoureditwithasmile，butimmediatelyresumedwhattohimappearedveryseriousbusiness。

BailieMacwheebleindeedholdsanopinion，thatthishonoraryserviceisdue，fromitsverynature，_sipetaturtantum；_

onlyifhisRoyalHighnessshallrequireofthegreattenantofthecrowntoperformthatpersonalduty；andindeedhepointedoutthecaseinDirleton’sDoubtsandQueries，Grippet_versus_

Spicer，anenttheevictionofanestate_obnonsolutumcanonem，_

thatis，fornon-paymentofafeu-dutyofthreepeppercornsa-year，whilkweretaxttobeworthseven-eighthsofapennyScots，inwhilkthedefenderwasassoilzied。ButIdeemitsafest，wi’yourgoodfavour，toplacemyselfinthewayofrenderingthePrincethisservice，andtoprofferperformancethereof；andIshallcausetheBailietoattendwithascheduleofaprotest，whilkhehashereprepared(takingoutapaper)，intimating，thatifitshallbehisRoyalHighness’spleasuretoacceptofotherassistanceatpullingoffhis_calig_(whetherthesameshallberenderedbootsorbrogues)savethatofthesaidBaronofBradwardine，whoisinpresencereadyandwillingtoperformthesame，itshallinnowiseimpingeuponorprejudicetherightofthesaidCosmoComyneBradwardinetoperformthesaidserviceinfuture；norshallitgiveanyesquire，valetofthechamber，squire，orpage，whoseassistanceitmaypleasehisRoyalHighnesstoemploy，anyright，title，orground，forevictingfromthesaidCosmo，ComyneBradwardinetheestateandbaronyofBradwardine，andothersheldasaforesaid，bythedueandfaithfulperformancethereof。’’

Fergushighlyapplaudedthisarrangement；andtheBarontookafriendlyleaveofthem，withasmileofcontentedimportanceuponhisvisage。

LongliveourdearfriendtheBaron，’’exclaimedtheChief，assoonashewasoutofhearing，forthemostabsurdoriginalthatexistsnorthoftheTweed！IwishtoheavenIhadrecommendedhimtoattendthecirclethiseveningwithaboot-ketchunderhisarm。Ithinkhemighthaveadoptedthesuggestion，ifithadbeenmadewithsuitablegravity。’’

Andhowcanyoutakepleasureinmakingamanofhisworthsoridiculous？’’

Beggingpardon，mydearWaverley，youareasridiculousashe。Why，doyounotseethattheman’swholemindiswrappedupinthisceremony？Hehasheardandthoughtofitsinceinfancy，asthemostaugustprivilegeandceremonyintheworld；andIdoubtnotbuttheexpectedpl