The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

ROB ROY. 113
than muddy those intellects, which in their sober state are none of the
clearest; but men who are strangers to the vice of drunkenness as a habit,
are more powerfully acted upon by intoxicating liquors. My spirits, once
aroused, became extravagant; I talked a great deal, argued upon what I
knew nothing of, told stories of which I forgot the point, then laughed immoderately at my own forgetfulness; I accepted several bets without having
the least judgment; I challenged the giant John to wrestle with me, although
he had kept the ring at iexhamn for a year, and I never tried so much as a
single fall.
My uncle had the goodness to interpose and prevent this consummation
of drunken folly, which, I suppose, would have otherwise ended in my neck
being broken.
It has even been reported by maligners, that I sung a song while under
this vinous influence; *but, as I remember nothing of it, and never attempted
to turn a tune in all -my life before or since, I would willingly hope there is
no actual foundation for the caluinny. I was absurd enough without this
exaggeration. Without positively losing my senses, I speedily lost all come.
mand of my terner, and my impetuous passions whirled me onward at
their pleasure. I had sate down sulky and discontented, and disposed to be
silent-the wine rendered me loquacious, disputatious, and quarrelsomne. I
contradicted whatever was asserted, and attacked, without any respect to
my uncle's table, both his politics and his religion. The affected moderation of Rashleigh, which he well knew how to qualify with irritating ingredients, was even more provoking to me than the noisy and bullying language
of his obstreperous brothers. My uncle, to do him justice, endeavoured to
bring us to order; but his authority was lost amidst the tumult of wine and
passion. At length, frantic at some real, or supposed injurious insinuation,
actually struck Rashleigh with my fist. No Stoic philosopher, superior
to his own passion and that of others, could have received an insult with a
higher degree of scorn. What -he himself did not think it apparently worth
while to resent, Thorncliff resented for him. Swords were drawn,, and we
exchanged one or two passes, when the other brothers separated.us by
main force; and I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed
Rashleigh's wayward features, as I was forced from the apartment by the
main strength of two of these youthful Titans. They secured me in my
apartment by lockin'g the door, and I heard them, to my inexpressible rage,
laugh heartily as they descended the stairs. I essayed in my fury to break
out; but the window-grates, and the strength of a door clenched with iron,
resisted my efforts. At length I threw myself on my bed, and fell asleep
amidst vows of dire revenge to be taken in the ensuing day.
But with the morning cool repentance came. I felt, in the keenest manner, the violence and absurdity of my conduct, and was obliged to confess
that wine and passion had lowered my intellects even below those of Wilfred Osbaldistone, whom I held in so much contempt. My uncomfortable
reflections were by no means soothed by meditating the necessity of an
apology for my improper behaviour, and recollecting that Miss Vernon
must be a witness of my submission. The impropriety and unkindness of
my conduct to her personally, added not a little: to these galling codsiderations, and for this I could not even plead the miserable excuse of intoxication.
Under all these aggravating feelings of shame and degradation, I descended to the breakfast-hall, like a criminal to receive sentence. It chanced
that a hard frost had rendered it impossible to take out the hounds, so that
I had the additional mortification to meet the family, excepting only Rashleigh and Miss Vernon, in full divan, surrounding the cold venison pasty
and chine of beef. They were in high glee as I entered, and I could easily
imagine that the jests were furnished at my expense. In fact, what I was
disposed to consider with serious pain, was regarded as an excellent good
VOL. III.-8 K2