第15章 A LEGEND OF MONTROSE.(8)

"O!my lord,"said the soldier,in a sort of enthusiasm,"their behaviour on pay-day might be a pattern to all Europe--no borrowings,no lendings,no offsets no arrears--all balanced and paid like a banker's book.The quarters,too,are excellent,and the allowances unchallengeable;but then,sir,they are a preceese,scrupulous people,and will allow nothing for peccadilloes.So that if a boor complains of a broken head,or a beer-seller of a broken can,or a daft wench does but squeak loud enough to be heard above her breath,a soldier of honour shall be dragged,not before his own court-martial,who can best judge of and punish his demerits,hut before a base mechanical burgo-master,who shall menace him with the rasp-house,the cord,and what not,as if he were one of their own mean,amphibious,twenty-breeched boors.So not being able to dwell longer among those ungrateful plebeians,who,although unable to defend themselves by their proper strength,will nevertheless allow the noble foreign cavalier who engages with them nothing beyond his dry wages,which no honourable spirit will put in competition with a liberal license and honourable countenance,I resolved to leave the service of the Mynheers.And hearing at this time,to my exceeding satisfaction,that there is something to be doing this summer in my way in this my dear native country,I am come hither,as they say,like a beggar to a bridal,in order to give my loving countrymen the advantage of that experience which I have acquired in foreign parts.So your lordship has an outline of my brief story,excepting my deportment in those passages of action in the field,in leaguers,storms,and onslaughts,whilk would be wearisome to narrate,and might,peradventure,better befit any other tongue than mine own."

CHAPTER III.

For pleas of right let statesmen vex their head,Battle's my business,and my guerdon bread;

And,with the sworded Switzer,I can say,The best of causes is the best of pay.DONNE.

The difficulty and narrowness of the road had by this time become such as to interrupt the conversation of the travellers,and Lord Menteith,reining back his horse,held a moment's private conversation with his domestics.The Captain,who now led the van of the party,after about a quarter of a mile's slow and toilsome advance up a broken and rugged ascent,emerged into an upland valley,to which a mountain stream acted as a drain,and afforded sufficient room upon its greensward banks for the travellers to pursue their journey in a more social manner.

Lord Menteith accordingly resumed the conversation,which had been interrupted by the difficulties of the way."I should have thought,"said he to Captain Dalgetty,"that a cavalier of your honourable mark,who hath so long followed the valiant King of Sweden,and entertains such a suitable contempt for the base mechanical States of Holland,would not have hesitated to embrace the cause of King Charles,in preference to that of the low-born,roundheaded,canting knaves,who are in rebellion against his authority?"

"Ye speak reasonably,my lord,"said Dalgetty,"and,CAETERIS PARIBUS,I might be induced to see the matter in the same light.

But,my lord,there is a southern proverb,fine words butter no parsnips.I have heard enough since I came here,to satisfy me that a cavalier of honour is free to take any part in this civil embroilment whilk he may find most convenient for his own peculiar.Loyalty is your pass-word,my lord--Liberty,roars another chield from the other side of the strath--the King,shouts one war-cry--the Parliament,roars another--Montrose,for ever,cries Donald,waving his bonnet--Argyle and Leven,cries a south-country Saunders,vapouring with his hat and feather.

Fight for the bishops,says a priest,with his gown and rochet --Stand stout for the Kirk,cries a minister,in a Geneva cap and band.--Good watchwords all--excellent watchwords.Whilk cause is the best I cannot say.But sure am I,that I have fought knee-deep in blood many a day for one that was ten degrees worse than the worst of them all."

"And pray,Captain Dalgetty,"said his lordship,"since the pretensions of both parties seem to you so equal,will you please to inform us by what circumstances your preference will be determined?"

"Simply upon two considerations,my lord,"answered the soldier.

"Being,first,on which side my services would be in most honourable request;--And,secondly,whilk is a corollary of the first,by whilk party they are likely to be most gratefully requited.And,to deal plainly with you,my lord,my opinion at present doth on both points rather incline to the side of the Parliament."

"Your reasons,if you please,"said Lord Menteith,"and perhaps I may be able to meet them with some others which are more powerful."

"Sir,I shall be amenable to reason,"said Captain Dalgetty,"supposing it addresses itself to my honour and my interest.