The Black Dwarf | Page 3

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THE BLACK DWARF by Sir Walter Scott, Bart.

CONTENTS.
I. Tales of my Landlord - Introduction by "Jedediah Cleishbotham" II.
Introduction to THE BLACK DWARF III. Main text of THE BLACK
DWARF
Note: Footnotes in the printed book have been inserted in the etext in
square brackets ("[]") close to the place where they were referenced by
a suffix in the original text. Text in italics has been written in capital
letters.

*
I. TALES OF MY LANDLORD
COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY JEDEDIAH CLEISHBOTHAM,
SCHOOLMASTER AND PARISH-CLERK OF GANDERCLEUGH.
INTRODUCTION.
As I may, without vanity, presume that the name and official
description prefixed to this Proem will secure it, from the sedate and
reflecting part of mankind, to whom only I would be understood to
address myself, such attention as is due to the sedulous instructor of
youth, and the careful performer of my Sabbath duties, I will forbear to
hold up a candle to the daylight, or to point out to the judicious those
recommendations of my labours which they must necessarily anticipate
from the perusal of the title-page. Nevertheless, I am not unaware, that,
as Envy always dogs Merit at the heels, there may be those who will
whisper, that albeit my learning and good principles cannot (lauded be
the heavens) be denied by any one, yet that my situation at
Gandercleugh hath been more favourable to my acquisitions in learning
than to the enlargement of my views of the ways and works of the
present generation. To the which objection, if, peradventure, any such
shall be started, my answer shall be threefold:
First, Gandercleugh is, as it were, the central part--the navel (SI FAS
SIT DICERE) of this our native realm of Scotland; so that men, from
every corner thereof, when travelling on their concernments of business,
either towards our metropolis of law, by which I mean Edinburgh, or
towards our metropolis and mart of gain, whereby I insinuate Glasgow,
are frequently led to make Gandercleugh their abiding stage and place
of rest for the night. And it must be acknowledged by the most
sceptical, that I, who have sat in the leathern armchair, on the left-hand
side of the fire, in the common room of the Wallace Inn, winter and
summer, for every evening in my life, during forty years bypast (the
Christian Sabbaths only excepted), must have seen more of the
manners and customs of various tribes and people, than if I had sought
them out by my own painful travel and bodily labour. Even so doth the

tollman at the well-frequented turn-pike on the Wellbraehead, sitting at
his ease in his own dwelling, gather more receipt of custom, than if,
moving forth upon the road, he were to require a contribution from
each person whom he chanced to meet in his journey, when, according
to the vulgar adage, he might possibly be greeted with more kicks than
halfpence.
But, secondly, supposing it again urged, that Ithacus, the most wise of
the Greeks, acquired his renown, as the Roman poet hath assured us, by
visiting states and men, I reply to the Zoilus who shall adhere to this
objection, that, DE FACTO, I have seen states and men also; for I have
visited the famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the former twice,
and the latter three times, in the course of my earthly pilgrimage. And,
moreover, I had the honour to sit in the General Assembly (meaning, as
an auditor, in the galleries thereof), and have heard as much goodly
speaking on the law of patronage, as, with the fructification thereof in
mine own understanding, hath made me be considered as an oracle
upon that doctrine ever since my safe and happy return to
Gandercleugh.
Again--and thirdly, If it be nevertheless pretended that my information
and knowledge of mankind, however extensive, and