Запретный лес
XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
Therewereopenlettersbeforehim,anditseemedthathehadjustbeentherecipientofwelcomenews.
"Comeawa’in,Mr.David,"hecried.Hesawhisvisitor’seyestraytothepistols."Ay,I’vegotmetotheauldweapons.IhadthemwithmeatthememorableassemblyinGlasgowin’38,whenwedangdowntheBishops....Ihaveacrowtopykewithyou,butfirstIhavesomebrawtidingsforyourear.AtthelastPresbyterywemetundertheshadowofcalamity,buttheLordhasmercifullyturnedagainthecaptivityofSion.Yondevil’sspawn,Montrose--alasthatheshouldtakehisnamefromaburghofwhichworthyMr.SaundersLinklaterwassolongthefaithfulminister!--yonMontrose,Isay,approachestheendofhistether.Ithasbeenalongtether,andhehasravenedlikeahungryhound,buthewillsoonbebackonhishauncheswiththeropetighteningathisthrapple.TheAlmightyhaswysedhimwithasurehandintilthesnarethatwaspreparedforhim."
"Hashebeendefeated?"Davidasked.
"BythistimethereisgoodhopethathehasbeenscatteredtothefourairtsofHeaven.AfterhissavageriesinthenorthhemarchessouthtorendthefairfieldsofStirlingandtheLennox,andsummonthetownsofGlasgowandEmbro,whilkarethecitadelsofourfaith.LikeJeshurunhehaswaxedfatandkicked,buthispridewillhaveafearfulfall;forlongerehewinstoClydethetrapwillbesprung.HeisbyePerth,andatthismoment,Itrow,attheskirtsoftheOchils.BeforehimlieArgyllandBailliewithhorseandfoot,whicharetohisheathenhirelingsasfourmentoone.
