Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — CompleteScott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Complete
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
Then for the cup, Captain Waverley, it was wrought by the command of
Saint Duthac, Abbot of Aberbrothock, for behoof of another baron of the
house of Bradwardine, who had valiantly defended the patrimony of that
monastery against certain encroaching nobles. It is properly termed the
Blessed Bear of Bradwardine (though old Doctor Doubleit used jocosely
to call it Ursa Major), and was supposed, in old and Catholic times, to
be invested with certain properties of a mystical and supernatural
quality. And though I give not in to such anilia, it is certain it has
always been esteemed a solemn standard cup and heirloom of our house;
nor is it ever used but upon seasons of high festival, and such I hold
to be the arrival of the heir of Sir Everard under my roof; and I
devote this draught to the health and prosperity of the ancient and
highly-to-be-honoured house of Waverley.'
During this long harangue, he carefully decanted a cob-webbed bottle of
claret into the goblet, which held nearly an English pint; and, at the
conclusion, delivering the bottle to the butler, to be held carefully
in the same angle with the horizon, he devoutly quaffed off the
contents of the Blessed Bear of Bradwardine.
Edward, with horror and alarm, beheld the animal making his rounds, and
thought with great anxiety upon the appropriate motto, 'Beware the
Bear'; but, at the same time, plainly foresaw that, as none of the
guests scrupled to do him this extraordinary honour, a refusal on his
part to pledge their courtesy would be extremely ill received.
Resolving, therefore, to submit to this last piece of tyranny, and then
to quit the table, if possible, and confiding in the strength of his
constitution, he did justice to the company in the contents of the
Blessed Bear, and felt less inconvenience from the draught than he
could possibly have expected. The others, whose time had been more
actively employed, began to show symptoms of innovation--'the good wine
did its good office.' [Footnote: Southey's Madoc.] The frost of
etiquette and pride of birth began to give way before the genial
blessings of this benign constellation, and the formal appellatives
with which the three dignitaries had hitherto addressed each other were
now familiarly abbreviated into Tully, Bally, and Killie. When a few
rounds had passed, the two latter, after whispering together, craved
permission (a joyful hearing for Edward) to ask the grace-cup. This,
after some delay, was at length produced, and Waverley concluded the
orgies of Bacchus were terminated for the evening. He was never more
mistaken in his life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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