按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
graves； rose out of their coffins； at the same time； from the old and grand
monuments； with the effigies and coats…of…arms； came the great men； and
the kings of the earth with crowns on their heads； and globes and sceptres
in their hands。
I stood wondering what was to ensue； when presently I heard the noise
of drums and trumpets； and anon I beheld an army with banners entering
in at the gate； upon which the kings and the great men came also forth in
their power and array； and a dreadful battle was foughten； but the
multitude that had risen from the common graves； stood afar off； and were
but lookers…on。
The kings and their host were utterly discomfited。 They were driven
within the doors of their monuments； their coats…of…arms were broken off；
and their effigies cast down； and the victors triumphed over them with the
flourishes of trumpets and the waving of banners。 But while I looked；
the vision was changed； and I then beheld a wide and a dreary waste； and
afar off the steeples of a great city； and a tower in the midst； like the tower
of Babel； and on it I could discern； written in characters of fire； 〃Public
Opinion。〃 While I was pondering at the same； I heard a great shout； and
presently the conquerors made their appearance； coming over the desolate
moor。 They were going in great pride and might towards the city； but an
awful burning rose； afar as it were in the darkness； and the flames stood
like a tower of fire that reached unto the heavens。 And I saw a dreadful
hand and an arm stretched from out of the cloud； and in its hold was a
122
… Page 123…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
besom made of the hail and the storm； and it swept the fugitives like dust；
and in their place I saw the churchyard； as it were； cleared and spread
around； the graves closed； and the ancient tombs； with their coats…of…arms
and their effigies of stone； all as they were in the beginning。 I then
awoke； and behold it was a dream。
This vision perplexed me for many days； and when the news came that
the King of France was beheaded by the hands of his people； I received； as
it were； a token in confirmation of the vision that had been disclosed to me
in my sleep； and I preached a discourse on the same； and against the
French Revolution； that was thought one of the greatest and soundest
sermons that I had ever delivered in my pulpit。
On the Monday following； Mr Cayenne； who had been some time
before appointed a justice of the peace； came over from Wheatrig House to
the Cross…Keys； where he sent for me and divers other respectable
inhabitants of the clachan； and told us that he was to have a sad business；
for a warrant was out to bring before him two democratical weaver lads；
on a suspicion of high treason。 Scarcely were the words uttered when
they were brought in； and he began to ask them how they dared to think of
dividing； with their liberty and equality of principles； his and every other
man's property in the country。 The men answered him in a calm manner；
and told him they sought no man's property； but only their own natural
rights； upon which he called them traitors and reformers。 They denied
they were traitors； but confessed they were reformers； and said they knew
not how that should be imputed to them as a fault； for that the greatest men
of all times had been reformers；〃Was not；〃 they said； 〃our Lord Jesus
Christ a reformer？〃〃And what the devil did he make of it？〃 cried Mr
Cayenne； bursting with passion； 〃Was he not crucified？〃
I thought； when I heard these words； that the pillars of the earth sank
beneath me； and that the roof of the house was carried away in a
whirlwind。 The drums of my ears crackit； blue starns danced before my
sight； and I was fain to leave the house and hie me home to the manse；
where I sat down in my study； like a stupified creature； awaiting what
would betide。 Nothing； however； was found against the weaver lads； but
I never from that day could look on Mr Cayenne as a Christian； though
123
… Page 124…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
surely he was a true government…man。
Soon after this affair； there was a pleasant re…edification of a gospel…
spirit among the heritors； especially when they heard how I had handled
the regicides in France； and on the following Sunday； I had the
comfortable satisfaction to see many a gentleman in their pews； that had
not been for years within a kirk…door。 The democrats； who took a world
of trouble to misrepresent the actions of the gentry； insinuated that all this
was not from any new sense of grace； but in fear of their being reported as
suspected persons to the king's government。 But I could not think so； and
considered their renewal of communion with the church as a swearing of
allegiance to the King of kings； against that host of French atheists； who
had torn the mortcloth from the coffin； and made it a banner； with which
they were gone forth to war against the Lamb。 The whole year was；
however； spent in great uneasiness； and the proclamation of the war was
followed by an appalling stop in trade。 We heard of nothing but failures on
all hands； and among others that grieved me； was that of Mr Maitland of
Glasgow； who had befriended Mrs Malcolm in the days of her affliction；
and gave her son Robert his fine ship。 It was a sore thing to hear of so
many breakings； especially of old respected merchants like him； who had
been a Lord Provost； and was far declined into the afternoon of life。 He
did not； however； long survive the mutation of his fortune； but bending his
aged head in sorrow； sank down beneath the stroke； to rise no more。
124
… Page 125…
ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXXV YEAR 1794
This year had opened into all the leafiness of midsummer before
anything memorable happened in the parish； further than that the sad
division of my people into government…men and jacobins was perfected。
This calamity； for I never could consider such heartburning among
neighbours as any thing less than a very heavy calamity