Запретный лес

           Macdonald--heisSirAlasdairnowandaCaptain-general,andproudofitasanauldgander--mustmarchoffwiththefeckofhisIrishrytoArgylltosettlesomeprivatescoreswithClanDiarmaid.TheGordonstookthedorts[sulks]--aplagueontheirthrawnheids--andAboyneandhishorsewentoffinatirrivee.JameslookedforaLowlandrising,for,sayshe,thepoorfolkforwhomIfightarewearyofthetyrannyofgreedylairdsandpresumptuousministers.Ifso,theyareowerwearytoshowit.WhatcanbedonewithladsthatgrovelbeforeaKirkthatclaimsthekeysofHeavenandHell?...Ifthatsoundsblasphemy,sir,you’llforgiveabrokenmanthatisunlockinghisheartandcannotwale[pick]hiswords....Forbye,theIrishwerelikeamillstoneroundournecks,forwhatprofitwasittopleadthatMunrousedtheminIrelandforanhonestcause?TotheLowlandherdsandcotterstheyweremurderingsavages,andthemanthathadthemonhissidewascondemnedfromthebeginning.ThesonsofZeruiahweretoostrongforus."

           "Isittruethattheyfightbarbarously?"Davidasked.

           "So,so.I’llnotdenythatthey’rewildfolk,buttheyhavenayourKirk’stasteformurderincoldblood.TherewerewaurthingsdoneinMethvenWoodthanweredoneatAberdeen,andit’slikethatDavieLeslieisnowgivingshortershrifttothepoorcreaturesthanevertheygavetotheCampbellsinLorneandLochaber....We’llletthatbe,fortherewasneveranarmythatdidnotaccuseitsenemiesofbarbarity,andthemerebruitofitonoursidewasenoughtokeeptheLowlandsbehindsteekitdoors.