Guy Mannering, Or, the Astrologer — Volume 01

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER IV

  Come and see' trust thine own eyes A fearful sign stands in the house of life, An enemy a fiend lurks close behind The radiance of thy planet O be warned!

  COLERIDGE, from SCHILLER

  The belief in astrology was almost universal in the middle of theseventeenth century; it began to waver and become doubtful towards theclose of that period, and in the beginning of the eighteenth the artfell into general disrepute, and even under general ridicule. Yet itstill retained many partizans even in the seats of learning. Grave andstudious men were both to relinquish the calculations which had earlybecome the principal objects of their studies, and felt reluctant todescend from the predominating height to which a supposed insight intofuturity, by the power of consulting abstract influences andconjunctions, had exalted them over the rest of mankind.

  Among those who cherished this imaginary privilege with undoubtingfaith was an old clergyman with whom Mannering was placed during hisyouth. He wasted his eyes in observing the stars, and his brains incalculations upon their various combinations. His pupil, in earlyyouth, naturally caught some portion of his enthusiasm, and labouredfor a time to make himself master of the technical process ofastrological research; so that, before he became convinced of itsabsurdity, William Lilly himself would have allowed him 'a curiousfancy and piercing judgment in resolving a question of nativity.'

  On the present occasion he arose as early in the morning as theshortness of the day permitted, and proceeded to calculate the nativityof the young heir of Ellangowan. He undertook the task secundum artem,as well to keep up appearances as from a sort of curiosity to knowwhether he yet remembered, and could practise, the imaginary science.He accordingly erected his scheme, or figure of heaven, divided intoits twelve houses, placed the planets therein according to theephemeris, and rectified their position to the hour and moment of thenativity. Without troubling our readers with the generalprognostications which judicial astrology would have inferred fromthese circumstances, in this diagram there was one significator whichpressed remarkably upon our astrologer's attention. Mars, havingdignity in the cusp of the twelfth house, threatened captivity orsudden and violent death to the native; and Mannering, having recourseto those further rules by which diviners pretend to ascertain thevehemency of this evil direction, observed from the result that threeperiods would be particularly hazardous--his fifth, his tenth, histwenty-first year.

  It was somewhat remarkable that Mannering had once before tried asimilar piece of foolery at the instance of Sophia Wellwood, the younglady to whom he was attached, and that a similar conjunction ofplanetary influence threatened her with death or imprisonment in herthirty-ninth year. She was at this time eighteen; so that, according tothe result of the scheme in both cases, the same year threatened herwith the same misfortune that was presaged to the native or infant whomthat night had introduced into the world. Struck with this coincidence,Mannering repeated his calculations; and the result approximated theevents predicted, until at length the same month, and day of the month,seemed assigned as the period of peril to both.

  It will be readily believed that, in mentioning this circumstance, welay no weight whatever upon the pretended information thus conveyed.But it often happens, such is our natural love for the marvellous, thatwe willingly contribute our own efforts to beguile our betterjudgments. Whether the coincidence which I have mentioned was reallyone of those singular chances which sometimes happen against allordinary calculations; or whether Mannering, bewildered amid thearithmetical labyrinth and technical jargon of astrology, hadinsensibly twice followed the same clue to guide him out of the maze;or whether his imagination, seduced by some point of apparentresemblance, lent its aid to make the similitude between the twooperations more exactly accurate than it might otherwise have been, itis impossible to guess; but the impression upon his mind that theresults exactly corresponded was vividly and indelibly strong.

  He could not help feeling surprise at a coincidence so singular andunexpected. 'Does the devil mingle in the dance, to avenge himself forour trifling with an art said to be of magical origin? Or is itpossible, as Bacon and Sir Thomas Browne admit, that there is sometruth in a sober and regulated astrology, and that the influence of thestars is not to be denied, though the due application of it by theknaves who pretend to practise the art is greatly to be suspected?' Amoment's consideration of the subject induced him to dismiss thisopinion as fantastical, and only sanctioned by those learned men eitherbecause they durst not at once shock the universal prejudices of theirage, or because they themselves were not altogether freed from thecontagious influence of a prevailing superstition. Yet the result ofhis calculations in these two instances left so unpleasing animpression on his mind that, like Prospero, he mentally relinquishedhis art, and resolved, neither in jest nor earnest, ever again topractise judicial astrology.

  He hesitated a good deal what he should say to the Laird of Ellangowanconcerning the horoscope of his first-born; and at length resolvedplainly to tell him the judgment which he had formed, at the same timeacquainting him with the futility of the rules of art on which he hadproceeded. With this resolution he walked out upon the terrace.

  If the view of the scene around Ellangowan had been pleasing bymoonlight, it lost none of its beauty by the light of the morning sun.The land, even in the month of November, smiled under its influence. Asteep but regular ascent led from the terrace to the neighbouringeminence, and conducted Mannering to the front of the old castle. Itconsisted of two massive round towers projecting deeply and darkly atthe extreme angles of a curtain, or flat wall, which united them, andthus protecting the main entrance, that opened through a lofty arch inthe centre of the curtain into the inner court of the castle. The armsof the family, carved in freestone, frowned over the gateway, and theportal showed the spaces arranged by the architect for lowering theportcullis and raising the drawbridge. A rude farm-gate, made of youngfir-trees nailed together, now formed the only safeguard of this onceformidable entrance. The esplanade in front of the castle commanded anoble prospect.

  The dreary scene of desolation through which Mannering's road had lainon the preceding evening was excluded from the view by some risingground, and the landscape showed a pleasing alternation of hill anddale, intersected by a river, which was in some places visible, andhidden in others, where it rolled betwixt deep and wooded banks. Thespire of a church and the appearance of some houses indicated thesituation of a village at the place where the stream had its junctionwith the ocean. The vales seemed well cultivated, the little inclosuresinto which they were divided skirting the bottom of the hills, andsometimes carrying their lines of straggling hedgerows a little way upthe ascent. Above these were green pastures, tenanted chiefly by herdsof black cattle, then the staple commodity of the country, whosedistant low gave no unpleasing animation to the landscape. The remoterhills were of a sterner character, and, at still greater distance,swelled into mountains of dark heath, bordering the horizon with ascreen which gave a defined and limited boundary to the cultivatedcountry, and added at the same time the pleasing idea that it wassequestered and solitary. The sea-coast, which Mannering now saw in itsextent, corresponded in variety and beauty with the inland view. Insome places it rose into tall rocks, frequently crowned with the ruinsof old buildings, towers, or beacons, which, according to tradition,were placed within sight of each other, that, in times of invasion orcivil war, they might communicate by signal for mutual defence andprotection. Ellangowan Castle was by far the most extensive andimportant of these ruins, and asserted from size and situation thesuperiority which its founders were said once to have possessed amongthe chiefs and nobles of the district. In other places the shore was ofa more gentle description, indented with small bays, where the landsloped smoothly down, or sent into the sea promontories covered withwood.

  A scene so different from what last night's journey had presagedproduced a proportional effect upon Mannering. Beneath his eye lay themodern house--an awkward mansion,
indeed, in point of architecture, butwell situated, and with a warm, pleasant exposure. 'How happily,'thought our hero, 'would life glide on in such a retirement! On the onehand, the striking remnants of ancient grandeur, with the secretconsciousness of family pride which they inspire; on the other, enoughof modern elegance and comfort to satisfy every moderate wish. Herethen, and with thee, Sophia!'

  We shall not pursue a lover's day-dream any farther. Mannering stood aminute with his arms folded, and then turned to the ruined castle.

  On entering the gateway, he found that the rude magnificence of theinner court amply corresponded with the grandeur of the exterior. Onthe one side ran a range of windows lofty and large, divided by carvedmullions of stone, which had once lighted the great hall of the castle;on the other were various buildings of different heights and dates, yetso united as to present to the eye a certain general effect ofuniformity of front. The doors and windows were ornamented withprojections exhibiting rude specimens of sculpture and tracery, partlyentire and partly broken down, partly covered by ivy and trailingplants, which grew luxuriantly among the ruins. That end of the courtwhich faced the entrance had also been formerly closed by a range ofbuildings; but owing, it was said, to its having been battered by theships of the Parliament under Deane, during the long civil war, thispart of the castle was much more ruinous than the rest, and exhibited agreat chasm, through which Mannering could observe the sea, and thelittle vessel (an armed lugger), which retained her station in thecentre of the bay. [Footnote: The outline of the above description, asfar as the supposed ruins are concerned, will be found somewhat toresemble the noble remains of Carlaverock Castle, six or seven milesfrom Dumfries, and near to Lochar Moss.] While Mannering was gazinground the ruins, he heard from the interior of an apartment on the lefthand the voice of the gipsy he had seen on the preceding evening. Hesoon found an aperture through which he could observe her without beinghimself visible; and could not help feeling that her figure, heremployment, and her situation conveyed the exact impression of anancient sibyl.

  She sate upon a broken corner-stone in the angle of a paved apartment,part of which she had swept clean to afford a smooth space for theevolutions of her spindle. A strong sunbeam through a lofty and narrowwindow fell upon her wild dress and features, and afforded her lightfor her occupation; the rest of the apartment was very gloomy. Equiptin a habit which mingled the national dress of the Scottish commonpeople with something of an Eastern costume, she spun a thread drawnfrom wool of three different colours, black, white, and grey, byassistance of those ancient implements of housewifery now almostbanished from the land, the distaff and spindle. As she spun, she sungwhat seemed to be a charm. Mannering, after in vain attempting to makehimself master of the exact words of her song, afterwards attempted thefollowing paraphrase of what, from a few intelligible phrases, heconcluded to be its purport:--

  Twist ye, twine ye! even so Mingle shades of joy and woe, Hope, and fear, and peace, and strife, In the thread of human life.

  While the mystic twist is spinning, And the infant's life beginning, Dimly seen through twilight bending, Lo, what varied shapes attending!

  Passions wild, and Follies vain, Pleasures soon exchanged for pain, Doubt, and Jealousy, and Fear In the magic dance appear.

  Now they wax, and now they dwindle, Whirling with the whirling spindle. Twist ye, twine ye! even so Mingle human bliss and woe.

  Ere our translator, or rather our free imitator, had arranged thesestanzas in his head, and while he was yet hammering out a rhyme forDWINDLE, the task of the sibyl was accomplished, or her wool wasexpended. She took the spindle, now charged with her labours, and,undoing the thread gradually, measured it by casting it over her elbowand bringing each loop round between her forefinger and thumb. When shehad measured it out, she muttered to herself--'A hank, but not a haillane--the full years o' three score and ten, but thrice broken, andthrice to OOP (i.e. to unite); he'll be a lucky lad an he win throughwi't.'

  Our hero was about to speak to the prophetess, when a voice, hoarse asthe waves with which it mingled, hallooed twice, and with increasingimpatience--'Meg, Meg Merrilies! Gipsy--hag--tausend deyvils!'

  'I am coming, I am coming, Captain,' answered Meg; and in a moment ortwo the impatient commander whom she addressed made his appearance fromthe broken part of the ruins.

  He was apparently a seafaring man, rather under the middle size, andwith a countenance bronzed by a thousand conflicts with the north-eastwind. His frame was prodigiously muscular, strong, and thick-set; sothat it seemed as if a man of much greater height would have been aninadequate match in any close personal conflict. He was hard-favoured,and, which was worse, his face bore nothing of the insouciance, thecareless, frolicsome jollity and vacant curiosity, of a sailor onshore. These qualities, perhaps, as much as any others, contribute tothe high popularity of our seamen, and the general good inclinationwhich our society expresses towards them. Their gallantry, courage, andhardihood are qualities which excite reverence, and perhaps ratherhumble pacific landsmen in their presence; and neither respect nor asense of humiliation are feelings easily combined with a familiarfondness towards those who inspire them. But the boyish frolics, theexulting high spirits, the unreflecting mirth of a sailor when enjoyinghimself on shore, temper the more formidable points of his character.There was nothing like these in this man's face; on the contrary, asurly and even savage scowl appeared to darken features which wouldhave been harsh and unpleasant under any expression or modification.'Where are you, Mother Deyvilson?' he said, with somewhat of a foreignaccent, though speaking perfectly good English. 'Donner and blitzen! wehave been staying this half-hour. Come, bless the good ship and thevoyage, and be cursed to ye for a hag of Satan!'

  At this moment he noticed Mannering, who, from the position which hehad taken to watch Meg Merrilies's incantations, had the appearance ofsome one who was concealing himself, being half hidden by the buttressbehind which he stood. The Captain, for such he styled himself, made asudden and startled pause, and thrust his right hand into his bosombetween his jacket and waistcoat as if to draw some weapon. 'Whatcheer, brother? you seem on the outlook, eh?' Ere Mannering, somewhatstruck by the man's gesture and insolent tone of voice, had made anyanswer, the gipsy emerged from her vault and joined the stranger. Hequestioned her in an undertone, looking at Mannering--'A sharkalongside, eh?'

  She answered in the same tone of under-dialogue, using the cantlanguage of her tribe--'Cut ben whids, and stow them; a gentry cove ofthe ken.' [Footnote: Meaning--Stop your uncivil language; that is agentleman from the house below.]

  The fellow's cloudy visage cleared up. 'The top of the morning to you,sir; I find you are a visitor of my friend Mr. Bertram. I beg pardon,but I took you for another sort of a person.'

  Mannering replied, 'And you, sir, I presume, are the master of thatvessel in the bay?'

  'Ay, ay, sir; I am Captain Dirk Hatteraick, of the YungfrauwHagenslaapen, well known on this coast; I am not ashamed of my name,nor of my vessel--no, nor of my cargo neither for that matter.'

  'I daresay you have no reason, sir.'

  'Tausend donner, no; I'm all in the way of fair trade. Just loadedyonder at Douglas, in the Isle of Man--neat cogniac--real hyson andsouchong--Mechlin lace, if you want any--right cogniac--we bumpedashore a hundred kegs last night.'

  'Really, sir, I am only a traveller, and have no sort of occasion foranything of the kind at present.'

  'Why, then, good-morning to you, for business must be minded--unlessye'll go aboard and take schnaps; you shall have a pouch-full of teaashore. Dirk Hatteraick knows how to be civil.'

  There was a mixture of impudence, hardihood, and suspicious fear aboutthis man which was inexpressibly disgusting. His manners were those ofa ruffian, conscious of the suspicion attending his character, yetaiming to bear it down by the affectation of a careless and hardyfamiliarity. Mannering briefly rejected his proffered civilities; and,after a surly good-morning
, Hatteraick retired with the gipsy to thatpart of the ruins from which he had first made his appearance. A verynarrow staircase here went down to the beach, intended probably for theconvenience of the garrison during a siege. By this stair the couple,equally amiable in appearance and respectable by profession, descendedto the sea-side. The soi-disant captain embarked in a small boat withtwo men, who appeared to wait for him, and the gipsy remained on theshore, reciting or singing, and gesticulating with great vehemence.