the lady of the lake - sir walter scott

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Title: The Lady of the Lake

uthor: Sir Walter Scott



Commentator: William J. Rolfe

Editor: William J. Rolfe

Release Date: February 9, 2009[EBook #3011]Last Updated: November 6, 2012

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECTGUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADY OF THELAKE ***

Produced by J.C. Byers, and DavidWidger



THE LADY OF THELAKE



By Sir Walter Scott, Bart.

Edited with Notes By William J.Rolfe,

Formerly Head Master of theHigh School, Cambridge, Mass.



Boston



1883

CONTENTS

Preface

ARGUMENT.



THE LADY OF THE

LAKE.

CANTO FIRST.

CANTO SECOND.

CANTO THIRD.CANTO FOURTH.

CANTO FIFTH.

CANTO SIXTH.



ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES.

NOTES.

Introduction.

Canto First.Canto Second.

Canto Third.

Canto Fourth.



Canto Fifth.

Canto Sixth.

Addendum.

FOOTNOTES:



had not been correctly printed for more than half a century; but in thecase of Scott I supposed that thtext of Black's so-called "Author'Edition" could be depended uponas accurate. Almost at the start,

however, I detected sundryobvious misprints in one of the

many forms in which this edition isissued, and an examination oothers showed that they were as

bad in their way. The "Shilling"issue was no worse than the costlyillustrated one of 1853, which hadits own assortment of slips of the



type. No two editions that I coulobtain agreed exactly in their readings. I tried in vain to findcopy of the editio princeps (1810)in Cambridge and Boston, busucceeded in getting one through a

London bookseller. This Icompared, line by line, with the

Edinburgh edition of 1821 (frothe Harvard Library), witLockhart's first edition, the "Globe"edition, and about a dozen othersEnglish and American. I founmany misprints and corruptions inall except the edition of 1821, and a

f



few even in that. For instance in i.217 Scott wrote "Found in eaccliff a narrow bower," and it is so

printed in the first edition; but inevery other that I have seen "cliff"appears in place of clift,, to the

manifest injury of the passage. Inii. 685, every edition that I hav

seen since that of 1821 has "I meantnot all my heart might say," whichis worse than nonsense, the correctreading being "my heat." In vi. 396,the Scottish "boune" (though ioccurs twice in other parts of the

poem) has been changed to

"b d" i ll di i i 1821



"bound" in all editions since 1821;and, eight lines below, the oldword "barded" has become"barbed." Scores of similacorruptions are recorded in my

otes, and need not be cited here.

I have restored the reading of thfirst edition, except in cases where

I have no doubt that the latereading is the poet's own correction

or alteration. There are obviousmisprints in the first edition whichScott himself overlooked (see on ii.115, 217,, Vi. 527, etc.), and it is

i diffi l d id



sometimes difficult to decidewhether a later reading—a changeof a plural to a singular, or liketrivial variation—is a misprint or the author's correction of an earlier misprint. I have done the best I

could, with the means at mycommand, to settle these questions,

and am at least certain that the textas I give it is nearer right than inany edition since 1821 As all thevariae lectiones are recorded in the

Notes, the reader who does noapprove of the one I adopt cansubstitute that which he prefers.

I h t i d ll S tt' N t



I have retained all Scott's Note(a few of them have beensomewhat abridged) and all thoseadded by Lockhart. 1 My own Ihave made as concise as possible.There are, of course, many of the

which many of my readers will notneed, but I think there are none that

may not be of service, or at least ointerest, to some of them; and Ihope that no one will turn to themfor help without finding it.

Scott is much given to the use oElizabethan words and

t ti d I h t d



constructions, and I have quotedmany "parallelisms" fromShakespeare and hiscontemporaries. I believe I havreferred to my edition oShakespeare in only a singl

instance (on iii. 17), but teachersand others who have that edition

will find many additionalillustrations in the Notes on th passages cited.

While correcting the errors oformer editors, I may havoverlooked some of my own. I a

already indebted to the careful



already indebted to the careful proofreaders of the UniversitPress for the detection ooccasional slips in quotations or references; and I shall be ver grateful to my readers for a

memorandum of any others thatthey may discover.

Cambridge, June 23, 1883..



THE LADY OF THE



THE LADY OF THE

LAKE.



Still must thy sweeter



ysounds their silence keep, Nor bid a warrior smile, norteach a maid to weep?

Not thus, in ancient days ofCaledon, 10 Was thy voicemute amid the festal crowd, When lay of hopeless love,

or glory won, Aroused the fearful orsubdued the proud.

At each according pause washeard aloud Thine ardent symphony

sublime and high! Fair dames and crestedchiefs attention bowed; For still the burden ofthy minstrelsy Was Knighthood's dauntless

deed, and Beauty's matchless eye.



y y

O, wake once more! how rudesoe'er the hand That ventures o'er thymagic maze to stray; O, wake once more! thoughscarce my skill command Some feeble echoing of

thine earlier lay: Though harsh and faint, andsoon to die away,

And all unworthy of thynobler strain, Yet if one heart throb

higher at its sway, The wizard note has notbeen touched in vain. Then silent be no more!Enchantress, wake again! I.



The stag at eve had drunkhis fill, Where danced the moon onMonan's rill, And deep his midnight lairhad made In lone Glenartney's hazelshade;

But when the sun his beaconred Had kindled on Benvoirlich's

head, The deep-mouthedbloodhound's heavy bay

Resounded up the rocky way, And faint, from fartherdistance borne, Were heard the clanging hoofand horn. II.



As Chief, who hears hiswarder call, 'To arms! the foemen stormthe wall,' The antlered monarch of thewaste Sprung from his heatherycouch in haste.

But ere his fleet career hetook, The dew-drops from his

flanks he shook; Like crested leader proudand high

Tossed his beamed frontletto the sky; A moment gazed adown thedale, A moment snuffed the taintedgale,

A moment listened to the



cry, That thickened as the chasedrew nigh; Then, as the headmost foesappeared, With one brave bound thecopse he cleared, And, stretching forward free

and far, Sought the wild heaths ofUam-Var.

III.

Yelled on the view the

opening pack; Rock, glen, and cavern paidthem back; To many a mingled sound atonce The awakened mountain gave

response.



A hundred dogs bayed deepand strong, Clattered a hundred steedsalong, Their peal the merry hornsrung out, A hundred voices joined theshout;

With hark and whoop and wildhalloo, No rest Benvoirlich's echoes

knew. Far from the tumult fled theroe,

Close in her covert coweredthe doe, The falcon, from her cairnon high, Cast on the rout a wonderingeye,

Till far beyond her piercing



ken The hurricane had swept theglen. Faint, and more faint, itsfailing din Returned from cavern, cliff,and linn, And silence settled, wide

and still, On the lone wood and mightyhill.

IV.

Less loud the sounds of

sylvan war Disturbed the heights ofUam-Var, And roused the cavern where,'t is told, A giant made his den of old;

For ere that steep ascent



was won, High in his pathway hung thesun, And many a gallant, stayedperforce, Was fain to breathe hisfaltering horse, And of the trackers of the

deer Scarce half the lesseningpack was near;

So shrewdly on the mountain-side Had the bold burst their

mettle tried. V.

The noble stag was pausingnow Upon the mountain's southern

brow,Wh b d d d f



Where broad extended, farbeneath, The varied realms of fairMenteith. With anxious eye he wanderedo'er Mountain and meadow, mossand moor,

And pondered refuge from histoil, By far Lochard or Aberfoyle.

But nearer was the copsewoodgray That waved and wept on Loch

chray, And mingled with the pine-trees blue On the bold cliffs ofBenvenue. Fresh vigor with the hope

returned,Wi h fl i f h h h



With flying foot the heathhe spurned, Held westward with unweariedrace, And left behind the pantingchase. VI.

'T were long to tell whatsteeds gave o'er, As swept the hunt through

Cambusmore; What reins were tightened indespair,

When rose Benledi's ridge inair; Who flagged upon Bochastle'sheath, Who shunned to stem theflooded Teith,—

For twice that day, fromh t h



shore to shore, The gallant stag swamstoutly o'er. Few were the stragglers,following far, That reached the lake ofVennachar; And when the Brigg of Turk

was won, The headmost horseman rodealone.

VII.

Alone, but with unbated

zeal, That horseman plied thescourge and steel; For jaded now, and spentwith toil, Embossed with foam, and dark

with soil,While every gasp with sobs



While every gasp with sobshe drew, The laboring stag strainedfull in view. Two dogs of black SaintHubert's breed, Unmatched for courage,breath, and speed,

Fast on his flying tracescame, And all but won that

desperate game; For, scarce a spear's lengthfrom his haunch, Vindictive toiled thebloodhounds stanch; Nor nearer might the dogsattain, Nor farther might the quarrystrain

Thus up the margin of thelake



lake, Between the precipice andbrake, O'er stock and rock theirrace they take. VIII.

The Hunter marked that

mountain high, The lone lake's westernboundary,

And deemed the stag mustturn to bay, Where that huge rampartbarred the way; Already glorying in theprize, Measured his antlers withhis eyes; For the death-wound and

death-hallooMustered his breath his



Mustered his breath, hiswhinyard drew:— But thundering as he cameprepared, With ready arm and weaponbared, The wily quarry shunned theshock,

And turned him from theopposing rock; Then, dashing down a

darksome glen, Soon lost to hound andHunter's ken, In the deep Trosachs'wildest nook His solitary refuge took. There, while close couchedthe thicket shed Cold dews and wild flowers

on his head,He heard the baffled dogs in



He heard the baffled dogs invain Rave through the hollow passamain, Chiding the rocks that

yelled again. IX.

Close on the hounds theHunter came, To cheer them on the

vanished game; But, stumbling in the ruggeddell, The gallant horse exhaustedfell. The impatient rider strovein vain To rouse him with the spurand rein,

For the good steed, hislabors o'er



labors o er, Stretched his stiff limbs,to rise no more; Then, touched with pity andremorse,

He sorrowed o'er theexpiring horse. 'I little thought, when

first thy rein I slacked upon the banks ofSeine,

That Highland eagle e'ershould feed On thy fleet limbs, mymatchless steed! Woe worth the chase, woeworth the day, That costs thy life, mygallant gray!' X.

Then through the dell his



Then through the dell hishorn resounds, From vain pursuit to callthe hounds. Back limped, with slow and

crippled pace, The sulky leaders of thechase;

Close to their master's sidethey pressed, With drooping tail and

humbled crest; But still the dingle'shollow throat Prolonged the swellingbugle-note. The owlets started fromtheir dream, The eagles answered withtheir scream,

Round and around the soundswere cast,



, Till echo seemed ananswering blast; And on the Hunter tried hisway,

To join some comrades of theday, Yet often paused, so strange

the road, So wondrous were the scenesit showed.

XI.

The western waves of ebbingday Rolled o'er the glen theirlevel way; Each purple peak, eachflinty spire, Was bathed in floods of

living fire. But not a setting beam could



gglow Within the dark ravinesbelow, Where twined the path in

shadow hid, Round many a rocky pyramid, Shooting abruptly from the

dell Its thunder-splinteredpinnacle;

Round many an insulatedmass, The native bulwarks of thepass, Huge as the tower whichbuilders vain Presumptuous piled onShinar's plain. The rocky summits, split and

rent, Formed turret, dome, or



battlement. Or seemed fantastically set With cupola or minaret, Wild crests as pagod ever

decked, Or mosque of Easternarchitect.

Nor were these earth-borncastles bare, Nor lacked they many a

banner fair; For, from their shiveredbrows displayed, Far o'er the unfathomableglade, All twinkling with thedewdrop sheen, The briar-rose fell instreamers green,

kind creeping shrubs ofthousand dyes



Waved in the west-wind'ssummer sighs. XII.

Boon nature scattered, freeand wild, Each plant or flower, the

mountain's child. Here eglantine embalmed theair,

Hawthorn and hazel mingledthere; The primrose pale and violetflower Found in each cliff a narrowbower; Foxglove and nightshade,side by side, Emblems of punishment and

pride, Grouped their dark hues with



every stain The weather-beaten cragsretain. With boughs that quaked at

every breath, Gray birch and aspen weptbeneath;

Aloft, the ash and warrioroak Cast anchor in the rifted

rock; And, higher yet, the pine-tree hung His shattered trunk, andfrequent flung, Where seemed the cliffs tomeet on high, His boughs athwart thenarrowed sky.

Highest of all, where whitepeaks glanced,



Where glistening streamerswaved and danced, The wanderer's eye couldbarely view

The summer heaven'sdelicious blue; So wondrous wild, the whole

might seem The scenery of a fairydream.

XIII.

Onward, amid the copse 'ganpeep A narrow inlet, still anddeep, Affording scarce suchbreadth of brim As served the wild duck's

brood to swim. Lost for a space, through



thickets veering, But broader when againappearing, Tall rocks and tufted knolls

their face Could on the dark-bluemirror trace;

And farther as the Hunterstrayed, Still broader sweep its

channels made. The shaggy mounds no longerstood, Emerging from entangledwood, But, wave-encircled, seemedto float, Like castle girdled with itsmoat;

Yet broader floods extendingstill



Divide them from theirparent hill, Till each, retiring, claimsto be

An islet in an inland sea. XIV.

And now, to issue from theglen, No pathway meets the

wanderer's ken, Unless he climb with footingnice A far-projecting precipice. The broom's tough roots hisladder made, The hazel saplings lenttheir aid; And thus an airy point he



threw Crags, knolls, and mounds,

f dl h l d



confusedly hurled, The fragments of an earlierworld; A wildering forest feathered

o'er His ruined sides and summithoar,

While on the north, throughmiddle air, Ben-an heaved high his

forehead bare. XV.

From the steep promontorygazed The stranger, raptured andamazed, And, 'What a scene werehere,' he cried,

'For princely pomp orchurchman's pride!

O thi b ld b l dl



On this bold brow, a lordlytower; In that soft vale, a lady'sbower;

On yonder meadow far away, The turrets of a cloistergray;

How blithely might thebugle-horn Chide on the lake the

lingering morn! How sweet at eve the lover'slute Chime when the groves werestill and mute! And when the midnight moonshould lave Her forehead in the silverwave,

How solemn on the ear wouldcome

Th h l ti ' di t t



The holy matins' distanthum, While the deep peal'scommanding tone

Should wake, in yonder isletlone, A sainted hermit from his

cell, To drop a bead with everyknell!

And bugle, lute, and bell,and all, Should each bewilderedstranger call To friendly feast andlighted hall. XVI.

'Blithe were it then to

wander here! But now—beshrew yon nimbledeer



deer— Like that same hermit's,thin and spare, The copse must give my

evening fare; Some mossy bank my couchmust be,

Some rustling oak my canopy. Yet pass we that; the warand chase

Give little choice ofresting-place;— A summer night in greenwoodspent Were but to-morrow'smerriment: But hosts may in these wildsabound, Such as are better missed

than found; To meet with Highlandplunderers here



plunderers here Were worse than loss ofsteed or deer.— I am alone;—my bugle-strain

May call some straggler ofthe train; Or, fall the worst that may

betide, Ere now this falchion hasbeen tried.'

XVII.

But scarce again his horn hewound, When lo! forth starting atthe sound, From underneath an aged oak That slanted from the isletrock,

A damsel guider of its way, A little skiff shot to thebay



bay, That round the promontorysteep Led its deep line in

graceful sweep, Eddying, in almost viewlesswave,

The weeping willow twig torave, And kiss, with whispering

sound and slow, The beach of pebbles brightas snow. The boat had touched thissilver strand Just as the Hunter left hisstand, And stood concealed amid thebrake,

To view this Lady of theLake.

The maiden paused as if



The maiden paused, as ifagain She thought to catch thedistant strain.

With head upraised, and lookintent, And eye and ear attentive

bent, And locks flung back, andlips apart,

Like monument of Grecianart, In listening mood, sheseemed to stand, The guardian Naiad of thestrand. XVIII.

And ne'er did Grecian chisel



A foot more light, a stepmore true,

Ne'er from the heath-flower



Ne er from the heath flowerdashed the dew; E'en the slight harebellraised its head,

Elastic from her airy tread: What though upon her speechthere hung

The accents of the mountaintongue,—- Those silver sounds, so

soft, so dear, The listener held his breathto hear! XIX.

A chieftain's daughterseemed the maid; Her satin snood, her silkenplaid,

Her golden brooch, suchbirth betrayed. And seldom was a snood amid



Such wild luxuriant ringletshid, Whose glossy black to shame

might bring The plumage of the raven'swing;

And seldom o'er a breast sofair Mantled a plaid with modestcare, And never brooch the foldscombined Above a heart more good andkind. Her kindness and her worthto spy, You need but gaze on Ellen'seye;

Not Katrine in her mirrorblue Gives back the shaggy banks



ggymore true, Than every free-born glanceconfessed

The guileless movements ofher breast; Whether joy danced in her

dark eye, Or woe or pity claimed asigh, Or filial love was glowingthere, Or meek devotion poured aprayer, Or tale of injury calledforth The indignant spirit of theNorth. One only passion unrevealed

With maiden pride the maidconcealed, Yet not less purely felt the



p y

flame;— O, need I tell thatpassion's name?

XX.

Impatient of the silent

horn, Now on the gale her voicewas borne:— 'Father!' she cried; therocks around Loved to prolong the gentlesound. Awhile she paused, no answercame;— 'Malcolm, was thine theblast?' the name Less resolutely uttered

fell, The echoes could not catchthe swell.



'A stranger I,' the Huntsmansaid, Advancing from the hazel

shade. The maid, alarmed, withhasty oar

Pushed her light shallopfrom the shore, And when a space was gainedbetween, Closer she drew her bosom'sscreen;— So forth the startled swanwould swing, So turn to prune his ruffledwing. Then safe, though flutteredand amazed,

She paused, and on thestranger gazed. Not his the form, nor his



the eye, That youthful maidens wontto fly.

XXI.

On his bold visage middle

age Had slightly pressed itssignet sage, Yet had not quenched theopen truth And fiery vehemence ofyouth; Forward and frolic glee wasthere, The will to do, the soul todare, The sparkling glance, soon

blown to fire, Of hasty love or headlongire.



His limbs were cast in manlycould For hardy sports or contest

bold; And though in peaceful garbarrayed,

And weaponless except hisblade, His stately mien as wellimplied A high-born heart, a martialpride, As if a baron's crest hewore, And sheathed in armor bodethe shore. Slighting the petty need heshowed,

He told of his benightedroad; His ready speech flowed fair



and free, In phrase of gentlestcourtesy,

Yet seemed that tone andgesture bland Less used to sue than to

command. XXII.

Awhile the maid the strangereyed, And, reassured, at lengthreplied, That Highland halls wereopen still To wildered wanderers of thehill. 'Nor think you unexpected

come To yon lone isle, our deserthome;



Before the heath had lostthe dew, This morn, a couch was

pulled for you; On yonder mountain's purplehead

Have ptarmigan and heath-cock bled, And our broad nets haveswept the mere, To furnish forth yourevening cheer.'— 'Now, by the rood, my lovelymaid, Your courtesy has erred,' hesaid; 'No right have I to claim,misplaced,

The welcome of expectedguest. A wanderer, here by fortune



toss, My way, my friends, mycourser lost,

I ne'er before, believe me,fair, Have ever drawn your

mountain air, Till on this lake's romanticstrand I found a fey in fairyland!'— XXIII.

'I well believe,' the maidreplied, As her light skiff

approached the side,— 'I well believe, that ne'er

before Your foot has trod LochKatrine's shore



But yet, as far asyesternight, Old Allan-bane foretold your

plight,— A gray-haired sire, whoseeye intent

Was on the visioned futurebent. He saw your steed, a dappledgray, Lie dead beneath the birchenway; Painted exact your form andmien, Your hunting-suit of Lincolngreen,

That tasselled horn so gaylygilt,

That falchion's crookedblade and hilt, That cap with heron plumage



trim, And yon two hounds so darkand grim.

He bade that all shouldready be To grace a guest of fair

degree; But light I held hisprophecy, And deemed it was myfather's horn Whose echoes o'er the lakewere borne.' XXIV.

The stranger smiled:—'Since

to your home A destined errant-knight I



Yet with main strength hisstrokes he drew, And o'er the lake the



shallop flew; With heads erect andwhimpering cry,

The hounds behind theirpassage ply. Nor frequent does the bright

oar break The darkening mirror of thelake, Until the rocky isle theyreach, And moor their shallop onthe beach. XXV.

The stranger viewed the

shore around; 'T was all so close with

copsewood bound, Nor track nor pathway mightdeclare

h h f f d



That human foot frequentedthere, Until the mountain maiden

showed A clambering unsuspectedroad,

That winded through thetangled screen, And opened on a narrowgreen, Where weeping birch andwillow round With their long fibres sweptthe ground. Here, for retreat indangerous hour,

Some chief had framed arustic bower.

XXVI.

It was a lodge of ample

i



size, But strange of structure anddevice;

Of such materials as around The workman's hand hadreadiest found.

Lopped of their boughs,their hoar trunks bared, And by the hatchet rudelysquared, To give the walls theirdestined height, The sturdy oak and ashunite; While moss and clay andleaves combined

To fence each crevice fromthe wind.

The lighter pine-treesoverhead Their slender length for

ft d



rafters spread, And withered heath andrushes dry

Supplied a russet canopy. Due westward, fronting tothe green,

A rural portico was seen, Aloft on native pillarsborne, Of mountain fir with barkunshorn Where Ellen's hand hadtaught to twine The ivy and Idaean vine, The clematis, the favoredflower

Which boasts the name ofvirgin-bower,

And every hardy plant couldbear Loch Katrine's keen and

hi g i



searching air. An instant in this porch shestayed,

And gayly to the strangersaid: 'On heaven and on thy lady

call, And enter the enchantedhall!' XXVII.

'My hope, my heaven, mytrust must be, My gentle guide, infollowing thee!'— He crossed the threshold,—

and a clang Of angry steel that instant

rang. To his bold brow his spiritrushed,

But soon for vain alarm he



But soon for vain alarm heblushed When on the floor he saw

displayed, Cause of the din, a nakedblade

Dropped from the sheath,that careless flung Upon a stag's huge antlersswung; For all around, the walls tograce, Hung trophies of the fightor chase: A target there, a buglehere,

A battle-axe, a hunting-spear,

And broadswords, bows, andarrows store, With the tusked trophies of

the boar



the boar. Here grins the wolf as whenhe died,

And there the wild-cat'sbrindled hide The frontlet of the elk

adorns, Or mantles o'er the bison'shorns; Pennons and flags defacedand stained, That blackening streaks ofblood retained, And deer-skins, dappled,dun, and white, With otter's fur and seal's

unite, In rude and uncouth tapestry

all, To garnish forth the sylvanhall.



XXVIII.

The wondering stranger round

him gazed



him gazed, And next the fallen weaponraised:—

Few were the arms whosesinewy strength Sufficed to stretch it forth

at length. And as the brand he poisedand swayed, 'I never knew but one,' hesaid, 'Whose stalwart arm mightbrook to wield A blade like this in battle-field.' She sighed, then smiled and

took the word: 'You see the guardian

champion's sword; As light it trembles in hishand

As in my grasp a hazel wand:



As in my grasp a hazel wand: My sire's tall form mightgrace the part

Of Ferragus or Ascabart, But in the absent giant'shold

Are women now, and menialsold.' XXIX.

The mistress of the mansioncame, Mature of age, a gracefuldame, Whose easy step and statelyport

Had well become a princelycourt,

To whom, though more thankindred knew, Young Ellen gave a mother's

due.



due. Meet welcome to her guestshe made,

And every courteous rite waspaid That hospitality could

claim, Though all unasked his birthand name. Such then the reverence to aguest, That fellest foe might jointhe feast, And from his deadliestfoeman's door Unquestioned turn the

banquet o'er At length his rank the

stranger names, 'The Knight of Snowdoun,James Fitz-James;

Lord of a barren heritage,



Lord of a barren heritage, Which his brave sires, fromage to age,

By their good swords hadheld with toil; His sire had fallen in such

turmoil, And he, God wot, was forcedto stand Oft for his right with bladein hand. This morning with LordMoray's train He chased a stalwart stag invain, Outstripped his comrades,

missed the deer, Lost his good steed, and

wandered here.' XXX.

Fain would the Knight in



gturn require The name and state of

Ellen's sire. Well showed the elder lady'smien That courts and cities shehad seen; Ellen, though more her looksdisplayed The simple grace of sylvanmaid, In speech and gesture, formand face, Showed she was come ofgentle race.

'T were strange in ruderrank to find

Such looks, such manners,and such mind. Each hint the Knight of

Snowdoun gave,



g , Dame Margaret heard withsilence grave;

Or Ellen, innocently gay, Turned all inquiry lightaway:— 'Weird women we! by dale anddown We dwell, afar from towerand town. We stem the flood, we ridethe blast, On wandering knights ourspells we cast; While viewless minstrelstouch the string,

'Tis thus our charmed rhymeswe sing.'

She sung, and still a harpunseen Filled up the symphony

between.



XXXI.

Song.

Soldier, rest! thy warfareo'er, Sleep the sleep thatknows not breaking; Dream of battled fields nomore, Days of danger, nightsof waking. In our isle's enchantedhall, Hands unseen thy couch

are strewing, Fairy strains of music fall,

Every sense in slumberdewing. Soldier, rest! thy warfare

o'er,D f fi h i fi ld



Dream of fighting fields nomore;

Sleep the sleep that knowsnot breaking, Morn of toil, nor night ofwaking.

'No rude sound shall reachthine ear, Armor's clang or war-steed champing Trump nor pibroch summonhere Mustering clan orsquadron tramping.

Yet the lark's shrill fifemay come

At the daybreak fromthe fallow, And the bittern sound his

drumB i f th d



Booming from the sedgyshallow.

Ruder sounds shall none benear, Guards nor warders challengehere, Here's no war-steed's neighand champing, Shouting clans or squadronsstamping.' XXXII.

She paused,—then, blushing,led the lay, To grace the stranger of the

day. Her mellow notes awhile

prolong The cadence of the flowingsong,

Till to her lips in measuredf



frame The minstrel verse

spontaneous came.

Song Continued.

'Huntsman, rest! thy chaseis done; While our slumbrousspells assail ye, Dream not, with the risingsun, Bugles here shall soundreveille. Sleep! the deer is in his

den; Sleep! thy hounds are



But vainly did the heath-flower shed Its moorland fragrance round

his head;Not Ellen's spell had lulled



Not Ellen s spell had lulledto rest

The fever of his troubledbreast. In broken dreams the imagerose Of varied perils, pains, andwoes: His steed now flounders inthe brake, Now sinks his barge upon thelake; Now leader of a broken host, His standard falls, hishonor's lost.

Then,—from my couch mayheavenly might

Chase that worst phantom ofthe night!— Again returned the scenes of

youth,Of confident undoubting



Of confident, undoubtingtruth;

Again his soul heinterchanged With friends whose heartswere long estranged. They come, in dim processionled, The cold, the faithless, andthe dead; As warm each hand, each browas gay,

As if they parted yesterday. And doubt distracts him atthe view,—

O were his senses false ortrue?

Dreamed he of death orbroken vow, Or is it all a vision now?

XXXIV.



At length, with Ellen in a

grove He seemed to walk and speakof love; She listened with a blushand sigh, His suit was warm, his hopeswere high. He sought her yielded handto clasp, And a cold gauntlet met his

grasp: The phantom's sex waschanged and gone,

Upon its head a helmetshone;

Slowly enlarged to giantsize, With darkened cheek and

threatening eyes,The grisly visage, stern and



The grisly visage, stern andhoar,

To Ellen still a likenessbore.— He woke, and, panting withaffright, Recalled the vision of thenight. The hearth's decaying brandswere red And deep and dusky lustreshed,

Half showing, halfconcealing, all The uncouth trophies of the

hall. Mid those the stranger fixed

his eye Where that huge falchionhung on high,

And thoughts on thoughts, acountless throng,



countless throng, Rushed, chasing countless

thoughts along, Until, the giddy whirl tocure, He rose and sought themoonshine pure. XXXV.

The wild rose, eglantine,and broom Wasted around their rich

perfume; The birch-trees wept infragrant balm;

The aspens slept beneath thecalm;

The silver light, withquivering glance, Played on the water's still

expanse,— Wild were the heart whose



passion's sway

Could rage beneath the soberray! He felt its calm, thatwarrior guest, While thus he communed withhis breast:— 'Why is it, at each turn Itrace Some memory of that exiledrace?

Can I not mountain maidenspy, But she must bear the

Douglas eye? Can I not view a Highland

brand, But it must match theDouglas hand?

Can I not frame a fevereddream,



, But still the Douglas is the

theme? I'll dream no more,—by manlymind Not even in sleep is willresigned. My midnight orisons saido'er, I'll turn to rest, and dreamno more.' His midnight orisons he

told, A prayer with every bead ofgold,

Consigned to heaven hiscares and woes,

And sunk in undisturbedrepose, Until the heath-cock shrilly

crew, And morning dawned on



gBenvenue.

CANTO SECOND.

The Island



The Island.

I.

At morn the black-cock trimshis jetty wing, 'T is morning promptsthe linnet's blithest lay,

All Nature's children feelthe matin spring Of life reviving, with

reviving day; And while yon little barkglides down the bay,

Wafting the stranger onhis way again,

Morn's genial influenceroused a minstrel gray, And sweetly o'er the

lake was heard thy strain, Mixed with the sounding



harp, O white-haired Allan-bane!

II.

Song.

'Not faster yonder rowers'might Flings from their oarsthe spray, Not faster yonder ripplingbright,

That tracks the shallop'scourse in light, Melts in the lake away,

Than men from memory erase The benefits of former days;

Then, stranger, go! goodspeed the while, Nor think again of the

lonely isle.



'High place to thee in royal

court, High place in battledline, Good hawk and hound forsylvan sport! Where beauty sees the braveresort, The honored meed bethine! True be thy sword, thy

friend sincere, Thy lady constant, kind, anddear,

And lost in love's andfriendship's smile

Be memory of the lonelyisle! III.

Song Continued.



'But if beneath yon southernsky A plaided strangerroam, Whose drooping crest andstifled sigh, And sunken cheek and heavyeye, Pine for his Highlandhome;

Then, warrior, then be thineto show The care that soothes a

wanderer's woe; Remember then thy hap

erewhile, A stranger in the lonelyisle.

'Or if on life's uncertain



main

Mishap shall mar thysail; If faithful, wise, and bravein vain, Woe, want, and exile thousustain Beneath the ficklegale; Waste not a sigh on fortunechanged,

On thankless courts, orfriends estranged, But come where kindred worth

shall smile, To greet thee in the lonely

isle.' IV.

As died the sounds upon thetide,

h h ll h d h



The shallop reached the

mainland side, And ere his onward way hetook, The stranger cast alingering look, Where easily his eye mightreach The Harper on the isletbeach, Reclined against a blighted

tree, As wasted, gray, and worn ashe.

To minstrel meditationgiven,

His reverend brow was raisedto heaven, As from the rising sun to

claim A sparkle of inspiringfl



flame.

His hand, reclined upon thewire, Seemed watching theawakening fire; So still he sat as those whowait Till judgment speak the doomof fate; So still, as if no breezemight dare

To lift one lock of hoaryhair; So still, as life itself

were fled In the last sound his harp

had sped. V.

Upon a rock with lichenswild,B id hi Ell t d



Beside him Ellen sat and

smiled.— Smiled she to see thestately drake Lead forth his fleet uponthe lake, While her vexed spaniel fromthe beach Bayed at the prize beyondhis reach? Yet tell me, then, the maid

who knows, Why deepened on her cheekthe rose?—

Forgive, forgive, Fidelity! Perchance the maiden smiled

to see Yon parting lingerer waveadieu,

And stop and turn to waveanew;And lo el ladies ere o r



And, lovely ladies, ere yourire Condemn the heroine of mylyre, Show me the fair would scornto spy And prize such conquest ofher eve! VI.

While yet he loitered on the

spot, It seemed as Ellen markedhim not;

But when he turned him tothe glade,

One courteous parting signshe made; And after, oft the knight

would say, That not when prize offestal day



festal day Was dealt him by thebrightest fair Who e'er wore jewel in herhair, So highly did his bosomswell As at that simple mutefarewell. Now with a trusty mountain-guide,

And his dark stag-hounds byhis side, He parts,—the maid,

unconscious still, Watched him wind slowly



'Arouse thee from thy moodydream! I 'll give thy harp heroic

theme, And warm thee with a noblename;



name; Pour forth the glory of theGraeme!' Scarce from her lip the wordhad rushed, When deep the consciousmaiden blushed; For of his clan, in hall andbower, Young Malcolm Graeme washeld the flower.

VII.

The minstrel waked his harp,

three times Arose the well-known martial

chimes, And thrice their high heroicpride

In melancholy murmurs died. 'Vainly thou bidst, O noblemaid '



maid, Clasping his withered hands,he said, 'Vainly thou bidst me wakethe strain, Though all unwont to bid invain. Alas! than mine a mightierhand Has tuned my harp, mystrings has spanned!

I touch the chords of joy,but low And mournful answer notes of

woe; And the proud march which

victors tread Sinks in the wailing for thedead.

O, well for me, if minealoneThat dirge's deep prophetic



That dirge s deep prophetictone! If, as my tuneful fatherssaid, This harp, which erst SaintModan swayed, Can thus its master's fateforetell, Then welcome be theminstrel's knell.' VIII.

'But ah! dear lady, thus itsighed,

The eve thy sainted motherdied;

And such the sounds which,while I strove To wake a lay of war or

love, Came marring all the festalmirth,



mirth, Appalling me who gave thembirth, And, disobedient to my call, Wailed loud throughBothwell's bannered hall. Ere Douglases, to ruindriven, Were exiled from theirnative heaven.— O! if yet worse mishap and

woe My master's house mustundergo,

Or aught but weal to Ellenfair

Brood in these accents ofdespair, No future bard, sad Harp!

shall fling Triumph or rapture from thystring;



g; One short, one final strainshall flow, Fraught with unutterablewoe, Then shivered shall thyfragments lie, Thy master cast him down anddie!' IX.

Soothing she answered him:'Assuage, Mine honored friend, the

fears of age; All melodies to thee are

known That harp has rung or pipehas blown,

In Lowland vale or Highlandglen, From Tweed to Spey—what



p ymarvel, then, At times unbidden notesshould rise, Confusedly bound in memory'sties, Entangling, as they rushalong, The war-march with thefuneral song?— Small ground is now for

boding fear; Obscure, but safe, we restus here.

My sire, in native virtuegreat,

Resigning lordship, lands,and state, Not then to fortune more

resigned Than yonder oak might givethe wind;



The graceful foliage stormsmay reeve, 'Fine noble stem they cannotgrieve. For me'—she stooped, and,looking round, Plucked a blue harebell from

the ground,— 'For me, whose memory scarceconveys

An image of more splendiddays, This little flower that

loves the lea May well my simple emblem

be; It drinks heaven's dew asblithe as rose

That in the King's owngarden grows; And when I place it in my



hair, Allan, a bard is bound toswear He ne'er saw coronet sofair.' Then playfully the chapletwild

She wreathed in her darklocks, and smiled. X.

Her smile, her speech, withwinning sway

Wiled the old Harper's moodaway.

With such a look as hermitsthrow, When angels stoop to soothe

their woe He gazed, till fond regretand pride



Thrilled to a tear, thenthus replied: 'Loveliest and best! thoulittle know'st The rank, the honors, thouhast lost! O. might I live to see thee

grace, In Scotland's court, thybirthright place,

To see my favorite's stepadvance The lightest in the courtly

dance, The cause of every gallant's

sigh, And leading star of everyeye,

And theme of everyminstrel's art, The Lady of the Bleeding



Heart!' XI.

'Fair dreams are these,' themaiden cried,— Light was her accent, yetshe sighed,—

'Yet is this mossy rock tome Worth splendid chair and

canopy; Nor would my footstep springmore gay

In courtly dance than blithestrathspey,

Nor half so pleased mine earincline To royal minstrel's lay as

thine. And then for suitors proudand high,



To bend before my conqueringeye,— Thou, flattering bard!thyself wilt say, That grim Sir Roderick ownsits sway. The Saxon scourge, Clan-

lpine's pride, The terror of Loch Lomond'sside,

Would, at my suit, thouknow'st, delay A Lennox foray—for a day.'—

XII..

The ancient bard her gleerepressed: 'Ill hast thou chosen theme

for jest! For who, through all thiswestern wild,



Named Black Sir Rodericke'er, and smiled? In Holy-Rood a knight heslew; I saw, when back the dirk hedrew, Courtiers give place before

the stride Of the undaunted homicide; And since, though outlawed,

hath his hand Full sternly kept hismountain land.

Who else dared give—ah! woe

the day, That I such hated truthshould say!—

The Douglas, like a strickendeer, Disowned by every noble



peer, Even the rude refuge we havehere? Alas, this wild marauding Chief Alone might hazard ourrelief, And now thy maiden charms

expand, Looks for his guerdon in thyhand;

Full soon may dispensationsought, To back his suit, from Rome

be brought. Then, though an exile on the

hill, Thy father, as the Douglas,still

Be held in reverence andfear; And though to Roderickh ' d



thou'rt so dear That thou mightst guide withsilken thread. Slave of thy will, thischieftain dread, Yet, O loved maid, thy mirthrefrain!

Thy hand is on a lion'smane.'— XIII.

Minstrel,' the maid replied,and high

Her father's soul glancedfrom her eye,

'My debts to Roderick'shouse I know: All that a mother could

bestow To Lady Margaret's care Iowe,

Si fi t h i th



Since first an orphan in thewild She sorrowed o'er hersister's child; To her brave chieftain son,from ire Of Scotland's king who

shrouds my sire, A deeper, holier debt isowed;

And, could I pay it with myblood, Allan! Sir Roderick should command

My blood, my life,—but notmy hand.

Rather will Ellen Douglasdwell A votaress in Maronnan's

cell; Rather through realms beyondthe sea,

Seeking the world's cold



Seeking the world's coldcharity Where ne'er was spoke aScottish word, And ne'er the name ofDouglas heard An outcast pilgrim will she

rove, Than wed the man she cannotlove.

XIV.

'Thou shak'st, good friend,

thy tresses gray,— That pleading look, what can

it say But what I own?—I grant himbrave,

But wild as Bracklinn'sthundering wave; And generous,—savevindictive mood



vindictive mood Or jealous transport chafehis blood: I grant him true to friendlyband, As his claymore is to hishand;

But O! that very blade ofsteel More mercy for a foe would

feel: I grant him liberal, tofling

Among his clan the wealththey bring,

When back by lake and glenthey wind, And in the Lowland leave

behind, Where once some pleasanthamlet stood,

A mass of ashes slaked with



A mass of ashes slaked withblood. The hand that for my fatherfought I honor, as his daughterought; But can I clasp it reeking

red From peasants slaughtered intheir shed?

No! wildly while his virtuesgleam, They make his passions

darker seem, And flash along his spirit

high, Like lightning o'er themidnight sky.

While yet a child,—andchildren know, Instinctive taught, thefriend and foe —



friend and foe,— I shuddered at his brow ofgloom, His shadowy plaid and sableplume; A maiden grown, I ill couldbear

His haughty mien and lordlyair: But, if thou join'st a

suitor's claim, In serious mood, toRoderick's name.

I thrill with anguish! or,if e'er

A Douglas knew the word,with fear. To change such odious theme

were best,— What think'st thou of ourstranger guest? '—

XV



XV.

'What think I of him?—woethe while That brought such wandererto our isle! Thy father's battle-brand,

of yore For Tine-man forged by fairylore,

What time he leagued, nolonger foes His Border spears with

Hotspur's bows, Did, self-unscabbarded,

foreshow The footstep of a secretfoe.

If courtly spy hath harboredhere, What may we for the Douglasfear?



fear? What for this island, deemedof old Clan-Alpine's last andsurest hold? If neither spy nor foe, Ipray

What yet may jealousRoderick say?— Nay, wave not thy disdainful

head! Bethink thee of the discorddread

That kindled when at Beltanegame

Thou least the dance withMalcolm Graeme; Still, though thy sire thepeace renewed Smoulders in Roderick'sbreast the feud: Beware!—But hark! what



Bewa e! But a ! w atsounds are these? My dull ears catch nofaltering breeze No weeping birch nor aspenswake, Nor breath is dimpling in

the lake; Still is the canna's hoarybeard,

Yet, by my minstrel faith, Iheard— And hark again! some pipe of

war Sends the hold pibroch from

afar.' XVI.

Far up the lengthened lakewere spied Four darkening specks uponthe tide,



, That, slow enlarging on theview, Four manned and massedbarges grew, And, bearing downwards fromGlengyle,

Steered full upon the lonelyisle; The point of Brianchoil they

passed, And, to the windward as theycast,

Against the sun they gave toshine

The bold Sir Roderick'sbannered Pine. Nearer and nearer as theybear, Spears, pikes, and axesflash in air. Now might you see the



g ytartars brave, And plaids and plumage danceand wave: Now see the bonnets sink andrise, As his tough oar the rower

plies; See, flashing at each sturdystroke,

The wave ascending intosmoke; See the proud pipers on the

bow, And mark the gaudy streamers

flow From their loud chantersdown, and sweep The furrowed bosom of thedeep, As, rushing through the lakeamain,



They plied the ancientHighland strain. XVII.

Ever, as on they bore, moreloud

And louder rung the pibrochproud. At first the sounds, by

distance tame, Mellowed along the waterscame,

And, lingering long by capeand bay,

Wailed every harsher noteaway, Then bursting bolder on theear, The clan's shrill Gatheringthey could hear, Those thrilling sounds that



call the might Of old Clan-Alpine to thefight. Thick beat the rapid notes,as when The mustering hundreds shake

the glen, And hurrying at the signaldread,

'Fine battered earth returnstheir tread. Then prelude light, of

livelier tone, Expressed their merry

marching on, Ere peal of closing battlerose, With mingled outcry,shrieks, and blows; And mimic din of stroke andward,



As broadsword upon targetjarred; And groaning pause, ere yetagain, Condensed, the battle yelledamain:

The rapid charge, therallying shout, Retreat borne headlong into

rout, And bursts of triumph, todeclare

Clan-Alpine's congest—allwere there.

Nor ended thus the strain,but slow Sunk in a moan prolonged andlow, And changed the conqueringclarion swell For wild lament o'er those



that fell. XVIII.

The war-pipes ceased, butlake and hill Were busy with their echoes

still; And, when they slept, avocal strain

Bade their hoarse choruswake again, While loud a hundredclansmen raise Their voices in their



Hail to the Chief who intriumph advances! Honored and blessed bethe ever-green Pine! Long may the tree, in hisbanner that glances, Flourish, the shelter



and grace of our line! Heaven send ithappy dew,

Earth lend it sapanew, Gayly to bourgeon and

broadly to grow, While everyHighland glen

Sends our shoutback again, 'Roderigh Vich Alpinedhu, ho! ieroe!'

Ours is no sapling, chance-sown by the fountain,

Blooming at Beltane, inwinter to fade; When the whirlwind hasstripped every leaf on the



mountain, The more shall Clan-

lpine exult in her shade.

Moored in therifted rock, Proof to the

tempest's shock, Firmer he roots him theruder it blow;

Menteith andBreadalbane, then, Echo his praiseagain, 'Roderigh Vich Alpine

dhu, ho! ieroe!' XX.

Proudly our pibroch hasthrilled in Glen Fruin, And Bannochar's groansto our slogan replied;

Gl L d R dh h



Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, theyare smoking in ruin, And the best of Loch

Lomond lie dead on her side. Widow and Saxonmaid

Long shall lamentour raid, Think of Clan-Alpine

with fear and with woe; Lennox and Leven-glen Shake when theyhear again,

'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu,ho! ieroe!'

Row, vassals, row, for thepride of the Highlands! Stretch to your oarsfor the ever-green Pine!

O th t th b d th t



O that the rosebud thatgraces yon islands Were wreathed in a

garland around him to twine! O that someseedling gem,

Worthy such noblestem, Honored and blessed in

their shadow might grow! Loud should Clan-lpine then

Ring from herdeepmost glen,

Roderigh Vich Alpinedhu, ho! ieroe!' XXI.

With all her joyful femaleband Had Lady Margaret sought thet d



strand. Loose on the breeze theirtresses flew,

And high their snowy armsthey threw, As echoing back with shrill

acclaim, And chorus wild, theChieftain's name;

While, prompt to please,with mother's art The darling passion of hisheart, The Dame called Ellen to the

strand, To greet her kinsman ere heland: 'Come, loiterer, come! aDouglas thou, And shun to wreathe avictor's brow?'

Reluctantly and slow the



Reluctantly and slow, themaid The unwelcome summoning

obeyed, And when a distant buglerung,

In the mid-path aside shesprung:— 'List, Allan-bane! From

mainland cast I hear my father's signalblast. Be ours,' she cried, 'theskiff to guide,

And waft him from themountain-side.' Then, like a sunbeam, swiftand bright, She darted to her shalloplight, And, eagerly while Roderickscanned



scanned, For her dear form, hismother's band,

The islet far behind herlay, And she had landed in the

bay. XXII.

Some feelings are to mortalsgiven With less of earth in themthan heaven; And if there be a human tear

From passion's dross refinedand clear, A tear so limpid and so meek It would not stain anangel's cheek, 'Tis that which piousfathers shed

Upon a duteous daughter's



Upon a duteous daughter shead! And as the Douglas to his

breast His darling Ellen closelypressed,

Such holy drops her tressessteeped, Though 't was an hero's eye

that weeped. Nor while on Ellen'sfaltering tongue Her filial welcomes crowdedhung,

Marked she that fear— affection's proof— Still held a graceful youthaloof; No! not till Douglas namedhis name, Although the youth wasMalcolm Graeme



Malcolm Graeme. XXIII.

Allan, with wistful look thewhile, Marked Roderick landing on

the isle; His master piteously heeyed,

Then gazed upon theChieftain's pride, Then dashed with hasty handaway From his dimmed eye the

gathering spray; And Douglas, as his hand helaid On Malcolm's shoulder,kindly said: 'Canst thou, young friend,no meaning spy

In my poor follower's



In my poor follower sglistening eye? I 'll tell thee:—he recalls

the day When in my praise he led thelay

O'er the arched gate ofBothwell proud, While many a minstrel

answered loud, When Percy's Norman pennon,won In bloody field, before meshone,

And twice ten knights, theleast a name As mighty as yon Chief mayclaim, Gracing my pomp, behind mecame. Yet trust me, Malcolm, notso proud



so proud Was I of all that marshalledcrowd,

Though the waned crescentowned my might, And in my train trooped lord

and knight, Though Blantyre hymned herholiest lays,

And Bothwell's bards flungback my praise, As when this old man'ssilent tear, And this poor maid's

affection dear, A welcome give more kind andtrue Than aught my betterfortunes knew. Forgive, my friend, afather's boast,—

O, it out-beggars all I



O, it out beggars all Ilost!'

XXIV.

Delightful praise!—likesummer rose, That brighter in the dew-drop glows, The bashful maiden's cheekappeared,



pp , For Douglas spoke, andMalcolm heard.

The flush of shame-faced joyto hide, The hounds, the hawk, her

cares divide; The loved caresses of themaid

The dogs with crouch andwhimper paid; And, at her whistle, on herhand The falcon took his favorite

stand, Closed his dark wing,relaxed his eye, Nor, though unhooded, soughtto fly. And, trust, while in suchguise she stood, Like fabled Goddess of the



wood, That if a father's partial

thought O'erweighed her worth andbeauty aught,

Well might the lover'sjudgment fail To balance with a juster

scale; For with each secret glancehe stole, The fond enthusiast sent hissoul.

XXV.

Of stature fair, and slenderframe, But firmly knit, was MalcolmGraeme. The belted plaid and tartanhose



Did ne'er more gracefullimbs disclose;

His flaxen hair, of sunnyhue, Curled closely round his

bonnet blue. Trained to the chase, hiseagle eye

The ptarmigan in snow couldspy; Each pass, by mountain,lake, and heath, He knew, through Lennox and

Menteith; Vain was the bound of dark-brown doe When Malcolm bent hissounding bow, And scarce that doe, thoughwinged with fear, Outstripped in speed the



mountaineer: Right up Ben Lomond could he

press, And not a sob his toilconfess.

His form accorded with amind Lively and ardent, frank and

kind; A blither heart, till Ellencame Did never love nor sorrowtame;

It danced as lightsome inhis breast As played the feather on hiscrest. Yet friends, who nearestknew the youth His scorn of wrong, his zealfor truth



And bards, who saw hisfeatures bold

When kindled by the tales ofold Said, were that youth to

manhood grown, Not long should RoderickDhu's renown

Be foremost voiced bymountain fame, But quail to that of MalcolmGraeme. XXVI.



shade Nor strayed I safe, for allaround Hunters and horsemen scouredthe ground. This youth, though still aroyal ward, Risked life and land to be



my guard, And through the passes of

the wood Guided my steps, notunpursued;

And Roderick shall hiswelcome make, Despite old spleen, for

Douglas' sake. Then must he seek Strath-Endrick glen Nor peril aught for meagain.'

XXVII.

Sir Roderick, who to meetthem came, Reddened at sight of MalcolmGraeme, Yet, not in action, word, oreye,

l d h h l



Failed aught in hospitality. In talk and sport they

whiled away The morning of that summerday;

But at high noon a courierlight Held secret parley with the

knight, Whose moody aspect soondeclared That evil were the news heheard.

Deep thought seemed toilingin his head; Yet was the evening banquetmade Ere he assembled round theflame His mother, Douglas, and theGraeme,

A d Ell h



And Ellen too; then castaround

His eyes, then fixed them onthe ground, As studying phrase that

might avail Best to convey unpleasanttale.

Long with his dagger's hilthe played, Then raised his haughtybrow, and said:— XXVIII.

'Short be my speech;—nortime affords, Nor my plain temper, glozingwords. Kinsman and father,—if suchname Douglas vouchsafe toR d i k' l i



Roderick's claim; Mine honored mother;—Ellen,—

why, My cousin, turn away thineeye?—

And Graeme, in whom I hopeto know Full soon a noble friend or

foe, When age shall give thee thycommand, And leading in thy nativeland,—

List all!—The King'svindictive pride Boasts to have tamed theBorder-side, Where chiefs, with hound andtrawl; who came To share their monarch'ssylvan game,

Themselves in bloody toils



Themselves in bloody toilswere snared,

And when the banquet theyprepared, And wide their loyal portals

flung, O'er their own gatewaystruggling hung. Loud cries their blood fromMeggat's mead, From Yarrow braes and banksof Tweed, Where the lone streams of

Ettrick glide, And from the silver Teviot'sside; The dales, where martialclans did ride, Are now one sheep-walk,waste and wide. This tyrant of the Scottishthrone



throne, So faithless and so ruthless

known, Now hither comes; his endthe same,

The same pretext of sylvangame. What grace for HighlandChiefs, judge ye By fate of Border chivalry. Yet more; amid Glenfinlas'green, Douglas, thy stately form

was seen. This by espial sure I know: Your counsel in the streightI show.' XXIX.

Ellen and Margaret fearfully

Sought comfort in eachother's eye



other s eye, Then turned their ghastly

look, each one, This to her sire, that toher son.

The hasty color went andcame In the bold cheek of MalcohmGraeme, But from his glance it wellappeared 'T was but for Ellen that hefeared;



pride, Shall turn the Monarch'swrath aside. Poor remnants of theBleeding Heart, Ellen and I will seek apart The refuge of some forest

cell,There like the hunted



There, like the huntedquarry, dwell,

Till on the mountain and themoor The stern pursuit be passed

and o'er,'— XXX.

'No, by mine honor,'Roderick said, 'So help me Heaven, and mygood blade! No, never! Blasted be yon

Pine, My father's ancient crestand mine, If from its shade in dangerpart The lineage of the BleedingHeart!

Hear my blunt speech: grantme this maid



me this maid To wife, thy counsel to mine

aid; To Douglas, leagued withRoderick Dhu,

Will friends and alliesflock enow; Like cause of doubt,distrust, and grief, Will bind to us each WesternChief When the loud pipes mybridal tell,

The Links of Forth shallhear the knell, The guards shall start inStirling's porch; And when I light the nuptialtorch, A thousand villages in

flames Shall scare the slumbers of



King James!—

Nay, Ellen, blench not thusaway, And, mother, cease these

signs, I pray; I meant not all my heatmight say.— Small need of inroad or offight, When the sage Douglas mayunite Each mountain clan in

friendly band, To guard the passes of theirland, Till the foiled King frompathless glen Shall bootless turn him homeagain.'

XXXI.



There are who have, at

midnight hour, In slumber scaled a dizzytower,

And, on the verge thatbeetled o'er The ocean tide's incessantroar, Dreamed calmly out theirdangerous dream, Till wakened by the morningbeam;

When, dazzled by the easternglow, Such startler cast hisglance below, And saw unmeasured deptharound, And heard unintermitted

sound, And thought the battled



gfence so frail,

It waved like cobweb in thegale; Amid his senses' giddy

wheel, Did he not desperate impulsefeel, Headlong to plunge himselfbelow, And meet the worst his fearsforeshow?— Thus Ellen, dizzy and

astound, As sudden ruin yawnedaround, By crossing terrors wildlytossed, Still for the Douglasfearing most,

Could scarce the desperatethought withstand,



To buy his safety with her

hand. XXXII.

Such purpose dread couldMalcolm spy In Ellen's quivering lip andeye, And eager rose to speak,—butere His tongue could hurry forthhis fear,

Had Douglas marked thehectic strife, Where death seemed combatingwith life; For to her cheek, infeverish flood, One instant rushed the

throbbing blood, Then ebbing back, with



sudden sway,

Left its domain as wan asclay. 'Roderick, enough! enough!'

he cried, 'My daughter cannot be thybride; Not that the blush to wooerdear, Nor paleness that of maidenfear. It may not be,—forgive her,

Chief, Nor hazard aught forour relief. Against his sovereign,Douglas ne'er Will level a rebelliousspear. 'T was I that taught his

youthful hand To rein a steed and wield a



brand;

I see him yet, the princelyboy! Not Ellen more my pride and

joy; I love him still, despite mywrongs By hasty wrath andslanderous tongues. O. seek the grace you wellmay find, Without a cause to mine

combined!' XXXIII.

Twice through the hall theChieftain strode; The waving of his tartarsbroad,

And darkened brow, wherewounded pride



With ire and disappointment

vied Seemed, by the torch'sgloomy light,

Like the ill Demon of thenight, Stooping his pinions'shadowy sway Upon the righted pilgrim'sway: But, unrequited Love! thydart



the ball. The son's despair, themother's look, III might the gentle Ellenbrook; She rose, and to her sidethere came,

To aid her parting steps,the Graeme.



XXXIV.

Then Roderick from theDouglas broke—

As flashes flame throughsable smoke, Kindling its wreaths, long,dark, and low, To one broad blaze of ruddyglow, So the deep anguish ofdespair

Burst, in fierce jealousy,to air. With stalwart grasp his handhe laid On Malcolm's breast andbelted plaid: 'Back, beardless boy!' he

sternly said, 'Back, minion! holdst thouh h



thus at naught

The lesson I so latelytaught? This roof, the Douglas, and

that maid, Thank thou for punishmentdelayed.' Eager as greyhound on hisgame, Fiercely with Roderickgrappled Graeme. 'Perish my name, if aught

afford Its Chieftain safety savehis sword!' Thus as they strove theirdesperate hand Griped to the dagger or thebrand,

And death had been—butDouglas rose,

A d h b h



And thrust between the

struggling foes His giant strength:—'Chieftains, forego!

I hold the first who strikesmy foe.— Madmen, forbear your franticjar! What! is the Douglas fallenso far, His daughter's hand isdeemed the spoil

Of such dishonorable broil?' Sullen and slowly theyunclasp, As struck with shame, theirdesperate grasp, And each upon his rivalglared,

With foot advanced and bladehalf bared.

XXXV



XXXV.

Ere yet the brands aloftwere flung,

Margaret on Roderick'smantle hung, And Malcolm heard hisEllen's scream, As faltered through terrificdream. Then Roderick plunged insheath his sword,

And veiled his wrath inscornful word:' Rest safe till morning; pity't were Such cheek should feel themidnight air! Then mayst thou to James

Stuart tell, Roderick will keep the lakeand fell



and fell,

Nor lackey with his freebornclan The pageant pomp of earthly

man. More would he of Clan-Alpineknow, Thou canst our strength andpasses show.— Malise, what ho!'—hishenchman came: 'Give our safe-conduct to

the Graeme.' Young Malcolm answered, calmand bold:' Fear nothing for thyfavorite hold; The spot an angel deigned tograce

Is blessed, though robbershaunt the place.

Thy churlish courtesy for



Thy churlish courtesy for

those Reserve, who fear to be thyfoes.

As safe to me the mountainway At midnight as in blaze ofday, Though with his boldest athis back Even Roderick Dhu beset thetrack.—



had sworn, The Fiery Cross shouldcircle o'er Dale, glen, and valley, downand moor Much were the peril to theGraeme

From those who to the signalcame;

Far up the lake 't were



Far up the lake t were

safest land, Himself would row him to thestrand.

He gave his counsel to thewind, While Malcolm did,unheeding, bind, Round dirk and pouch andbroadsword rolled, His ample plaid in tightenedfold,

And stripped his limbs tosuch array As best might suit thewatery way,— XXXVII.

Then spoke abrupt: 'Farewell

to thee, Pattern of old fidelity!'

The Minstrel's hand he



The Minstrel s hand he

kindly pressed,— 'O, could I point a place ofrest!

My sovereign holds in wardmy land, My uncle leads my vassalband; To tame his foes, hisfriends to aid, Poor Malcolm has but heartand blade.

Yet, if there be onefaithful Graeme Who loves the chieftain ofhis name, Not long shall honoredDouglas dwell Like hunted stag in mountain

cell; Nor, ere yon pride-swollenrobber dare,—



robber dare,

I may not give the rest toair! Tell Roderick Dhu I owed himnaught, Not tile poor service of aboat, To waft me to yon mountain-side.' Then plunged he in theflashing tide. Bold o'er the flood his head

he bore, And stoutly steered him fromthe shore; And Allan strained hisanxious eye, Far mid the lake his form tospy,

Darkening across each punywave, To which the moon her silver



gave. Fast as the cormorant couldskim. The swimmer plied eachactive limb; Then landing in themoonlight dell, Loud shouted of his weal totell. The Minstrel heard the farhalloo,

And joyful from the shorewithdrew.



Wait on the verge of darketernity, Like stranded wrecks,the tide returning hoarse,

To sweep them from outsight! Time rolls his ceaselesscourse.

Yet live there still who canremember well,



How, when a mountainchief his bugle blew, Both field and forest,dingle, cliff; and dell, And solitary heath, thesignal knew; And fast the faithful clanaround him drew. What time the warningnote was keenly wound, What time aloft their

kindred banner flew, While clamorous war-pipes yelled the gathering sound, And while the Fiery Cross

glanced like a meteor, round. II.

The Summer dawn's reflectedhue To purple changed Loch



Katrine blue; Mildly and soft the westernbreeze Just kissed the lake, juststirred the trees, And the pleased lake, likemaiden coy, Trembled but dimpled not forjoy The mountain-shadows on herbreast

Were neither broken nor atrest; In bright uncertainty theylie,

Like future joys to Fancy'seye. The water-lily to the light

Her chalice reared of silverbright; The doe awoke, and to the



lawn, Begemmed with dew-drops, ledher fawn; The gray mist left themountain-side, The torrent showed itsglistening pride; Invisible in flecked sky Thelark sent clown her revelry: The blackbird and thespeckled thrush

Good-morrow gave from brakeand bush; In answer cooed the cushatdove

Her notes of peace and restand love. III.

No thought of peace, nothought of rest,



Assuaged the storm inRoderick's breast. With sheathed broadsword inhis hand, Abrupt he paced the isletstrand, And eyed the rising sun, andlaid His hand on his impatientblade. Beneath a rock, his vassals'

care Was prompt the ritual toprepare, With deep and deathful

meaning fraught; For such Antiquity hadtaught

Was preface meet, ere yetabroad The Cross of Fire should



take its road. The shrinking band stood oftaghast At the impatient glance hecast;— Such glance the mountaineagle threw, As, from the cliffs ofBenvenue, She spread her dark sails on

the wind,



Obscured a visage ofdespair; His naked arms and legs,seamed o'er,

The scars of frantic penancebore. That monk, of savage form

and face The impending danger of hisrace



Had drawn from deepestsolitude Far in Benharrow's bosomrude. Not his the mien ofChristian priest, But Druid's, from the gravereleased Whose hardened heart and eyemight brook

On human sacrifice to look;

And much, 't was said, ofheathen lore Mixed in the charms hemuttered o'er.

The hallowed creed gave onlyworse And deadlier emphasis of

curse. No peasant sought thatHermit's prayer



His cave the pilgrim shunnedwith care, The eager huntsman knew hisbound And in mid chase called offhis hound;' Or if, in lonely glen orstrath, The desert-dweller met hispath

He prayed, and signed the

cross between, While terror took devotion'smien. V.

Of Brian's birth strangetales were told.

His mother watched amidnight fold, Built deep within a dreary



glen, Where scattered lay thebones of men In some forgotten battleslain, And bleached by driftingwind and rain. It might have tamed awarrior's heart To view such mockery of his

art!

The knot-grass fetteredthere the hand Which once could burst aniron band;

Beneath the broad and amplebone, That bucklered heart to fear

unknown, A feeble and a timorousguest,



The fieldfare framed herlowly nest; There the slow blindwormleft his slime On the fleet limbs thatmocked at time; And there, too, lay theleader's skull Still wreathed with chaplet,flushed and full,

For heath-bell with her

purple bloom Supplied the bonnet and theplume. All night, in this sad glen

the maid Sat shrouded in her mantle'sshade:

She said no shepherd soughther side, No hunter's hand her snood



untied. Yet ne'er again to braid herhair The virgin snood did Alivewear; Gone was her maiden glee andsport, Her maiden girdle all tooshort, Nor sought she, from that

fatal night,

Or holy church or blessedrite But locked her secret in herbreast,

And died in travail,unconfessed. VI.

Alone, among his youngcompeers,



Was Brian from his infantyears; A moody and heart-brokenboy, Estranged from sympathy andjoy Bearing each taunt whichcareless tongue On his mysterious lineageflung.

Whole nights he spent by

moonlight pale To wood and stream his teal,to wail, Till, frantic, he as truth

received What of his birth the crowdbelieved,

And sought, in mist andmeteor fire, To meet and know his Phantom



Sire! In vain, to soothe hiswayward fate, The cloister oped herpitying gate; In vain the learning of theage Unclasped the sable-letteredpage; Even in its treasures he

could find

Food for the fever of hismind. Eager he read whatever tells Of magic, cabala, and

spells, And every dark pursuitallied

To curious and presumptuouspride; Till with fired brain and



nerves o'erstrung, And heart with mystichorrors wrung, Desperate he soughtBenharrow's den, And hid him from the hauntsof men. VII.

The desert gave him visions

wild,

Such as might suit thespectre's child. Where with black cliffs thetorrents toil,

He watched the wheelingeddies boil, Jill from their foam his

dazzled eyes Beheld the River Demon rise: The mountain mist took form



and limb Of noontide hag or goblingrim; The midnight wind came wildand dread, Swelled with the voices ofthe dead; Far on the future battle-heath His eye beheld the ranks of

death:

Thus the lone Seer, frommankind hurled, Shaped forth a disembodiedworld.

One lingering sympathy ofmind Still bound him to the

mortal kind; The only parent he couldclaim



Of ancient Alpine's lineagecame. Late had he heard, inprophet's dream, The fatal Ben-Shie's bodingscream; Sounds, too, had come inmidnight blast Of charging steeds,careering fast

Along Benharrow's shingly

side, Where mortal horseman ne'ermight ride; The thunderbolt had split

the pine,— All augured ill to Alpine'sline.

He girt his loins, and cameto show The signals of impending



woe, And now stood prompt tobless or ban, As bade the Chieftain of hisclan. VIII.

'T was all prepared;—andfrom the rock A goat, the patriarch of the

flock,

Before the kindling pile waslaid, And pierced by Roderick'sready blade.

Patient the sickening victimeyed The life-blood ebb in

crimson tide Down his clogged beard andshaggy limb,



Till darkness glazed hiseyeballs dim. The grisly priest, withmurmuring prayer, A slender crosslet framedwith care, A cubit's length in measuredue; The shaft and limbs wererods of yew,

Whose parents in Inch-

Cailliach wave Their shadows o'er Clan-

lpine's grave, And, answering Lomond's

breezes deep, Soothe many a chieftain'sendless sleep.

The Cross thus formed heheld on high, With wasted hand and haggard



eye, And strange and mingledfeelings woke, While his anathema he spoke:

IX.

'Woe to the clansman whoshall view This symbol of sepulchral

yew,

Forgetful that its branchesgrew Where weep the heavens theirholiest dew

On Alpine's dwellinglow! Deserter of his Chieftain's

trust, He ne'er shall mingle withtheir dust,

f hi i d



But, from his sires andkindred thrust, Each clansman's execrationjust Shall doom him wrathand woe.' He paused;—the word thevassals took, With forward step and fierylook,

On high their naked brands

they shook, Their clattering targetswildly strook; And first in murmur

low, Then like the billow in hiscourse,

That far to seaward findshis source, And flings to shore hismustered force,



Burst with loud roar theiranswer hoarse, 'Woe to the traitor, woe!' Ben-an's gray scalp theaccents knew, The joyous wolf from covertdrew, The exulting eagle screamedafar,—

They knew the voice of

lpine's war. X.

The shout was hushed on lake

and fell, The Monk resumed hismuttered spell:

Dismal and low its accentscame, The while he scathed theCross with flame;



And the few words thatreached the air, Although the holiest namewas there, Had more of blasphemy thanprayer. But when he shook above thecrowd Its kindled points, he spoke

aloud:—

'Woe to the wretch who fails

to rear At this dread sign the readyspear!

For, as the flames thissymbol sear, His home, the refuge of his

fear, A kindred fate shallknow; Far o'er its roof the



volumed flame Clan-Alpine's vengeanceshall proclaim, While maids and matrons onhis name Shall call down wretchednessand shame, And infamy and woe.' Then rose the cry of

females, shrill

As goshawk's whistle on the

hill, Denouncing misery and ill, Mingled with childhood's

babbling trill Of curses stammeredslow;

Answering with imprecationdread, 'Sunk be his home in embersred!



And cursed be the meanestshed That o'er shall hide thehouseless head We doom to want andwoe!' A sharp and shrieking echogave, Coir-Uriskin, thy goblin

cave!



The crosslet's points of

sparkling wood He quenched among thebubbling blood.

And, as again the sign hereared, Hollow and hoarse his voice

was heard: 'When flits this Cross fromman to man, Vich-Alpine's summons to hisl



clan, Burst be the ear that failsto heed! Palsied the foot that shunsto speed! May ravens tear the carelesseyes, Wolves make the coward hearttheir prize!

As sinks that blood-stream

in the earth,

So may his heart's-blooddrench his hearth! As dies in hissing gore the

spark, Quench thou his light,Destruction dark!

And be the grace to himdenied, Bought by this sign to allbeside!

H d h g



He ceased; no echo gaveagain The murmur of the deep Amen. XII.

Then Roderick with impatientlook From Brian's hand the symboltook:

'Speed, Malise, speed' he



When it had neared the

mainland hill; And from the silver beach'sside

Still was the prow threefathom wide, When lightly bounded to the

land The messenger of blood andbrand. XIII.



Speed, Malise, speed! thedun deer's hide On fleeter foot was nevertied. Speed, Malise, speed! such

cause of haste Thine active sinews neverbraced.

Bend 'gainst the steepy hill

thy breast,

Burst down like torrent fromits crest; With short and springing

footstep pass The trembling bog and falsemorass;

Across the brook likeroebuck bound, And thread the brake likequesting hound;

The crag is high the scaur



The crag is high, the scauris deep, Yet shrink not from thedesperate leap: Parched are thy burning lipsand brow,

Yet by the fountain pausenot now; Herald of battle, fate, and

fear,

Stretch onward in thy fleet

career! The wounded hind thoutrack'st not now,

Pursuest not maid throughgreenwood bough, Nor priest thou now thy

flying pace With rivals in the mountainrace; But danger, death, andwarrior deed



warrior deed Are in thy course—speed,Malise, speed! XIV.

Fast as the fatal symbol

flies, In arms the huts and hamletsrise;

From winding glen, from

upland brown,

They poured each hardytenant down. Nor slacked the messenger

his pace; He showed the sign, he namedthe place,

And, pressing forward likethe wind, Left clamor and surprisebehind.

The fisherman forsook the



The fisherman forsook thestrand, The swarthy smith took dirkand brand; With changed cheer, themower blithe

Left in the half-cut swathhis scythe; The herds without a keeper

strayed,

The plough was in mid-furrow

staved, The falconer tossed his hawkaway,

The hunter left the stag athay; Prompt at the signal of

alarms, Each son of Alpine rushed toarms; So swept the tumult andaffray



affray Along the margin of Achray. Alas, thou lovely lake! thate'er Thy banks should echo soundsof fear!

The rocks, the boskythickets, sleep So stilly on thy bosom deep,

The lark's blithe carol from

the cloud

Seems for the scene toogayly loud.



XV.

Speed, Malise, speed! Thelake is past,

Duncraggan's huts appear atlast, And peep, like moss-grown

rocks, half seen Half hidden in the copse sogreen; There mayst thou rest, thylabor done,



, Their lord shall speed thesignal on.— As stoops the hawk upon hisprey, The henchman shot him down

the way. What woful accents load thegale?

The funeral yell, the female

wail!

A gallant hunter's sport iso'er, A valiant warrior fights no

more. Who, in the battle or thechase,

At Roderick's side shallfill his place!— Within the hall, wheretorch's ray Supplies the excluded beams



ppof day, Lies Duncan on his lowlybier, And o'er him streams hiswidow's tear.

His stripling son standsmournful by, His youngest weeps, but

knows not why;

The village maids and

matrons round The dismal coronach resound. XVI.

Coronach.

He is gone on the mountain, He is lost to theforest, Like a summer-driedfountain,



When our need was thesorest. The font, reappearing, From the rain-dropsshall borrow,

But to us comes no cheering, To Duncan no morrow!

The hand of the reaper

Takes the ears that are

hoary, But the voice of the weeper Wails manhood in glory.

The autumn winds rushing Waft the leaves thatare searest,

But our flower was influshing, When blighting wasnearest.



Fleet foot on the correi, Sage counsel in cumber, Red hand in the foray, How sound is thyslumber!

Like the dew on themountain, Like the foam on the

river,



dead,

But headlong haste or deadlyfear Urge the precipitate career.

All stand aghast:—unheedingall, The henchman bursts into the

hall; Before the dead man's bierhe stood, Held forth the Crossbesmeared with blood;



'The muster-place is Lanrickmead; Speed forth the signal!clansmen, speed!' XVIII,

Angus, the heir of Duncan'sline,

Sprung forth and seized the

fatal sign.

In haste the stripling tohis side His father's dirk and

broadsword tied; But when he saw his mother'seye

Watch him in speechlessagony, Back to her opened arms heflew Pressed on her lips a fond



adieu,— 'Alas' she sobbed,—'and yetbe gone, And speed thee forth, likeDuncan's son!'

One look he cast upon thebier, Dashed from his eye the

gathering tear,

Breathed deep to clear his

laboring breast, And tossed aloft his bonnetcrest,

Then, like the high-bredcolt when, freed, First he essays his fire and

speed, He vanished, and o'er moorand moss Sped forward with the FieryCross.



Suspended was the widow'stear While yet his footsteps shecould hear; And when she marked the

henchman's eye Wet with unwonted sympathy, 'Kinsman,' she said, 'his

race is run

That should have sped thine

errand on. The oak teas fallen?—thesapling bough Is all

Duncraggan's shelter now Yet trust I well, his dutydone,

The orphan's God will guardmy son.— And you, in many a dangertrue At Duncan's hest your bladesh d



that drew, To arms, and guard thatorphan's head! Let babes and women wail thedead.'

Then weapon-clang andmartial call Resounded through the

funeral hall,

While from the walls the

attendant band Snatched sword and targewith hurried hand;

And short and flittingenergy Glanced from the mourner's

sunken eye, As if the sounds to warriordear Might rouse her Duncan fromhis bier.

B f d d h b d



But faded soon that borrowedforce; Grief claimed his right, andtears their course. XIX.

Benledi saw the Cross ofFire,

It glanced like lightning up

Strath-Ire.

O'er dale and hill thesummons flew, Nor rest nor pause young

ngus knew; The tear that gathered inhis eye He deft the mountain-breezeto dry; Until, where Teith's youngwaters roll Betwixt him and a woodedk ll



knoll That graced the sable strathwith green, The chapel of Saint Bridewas seen.

Swoln was the stream, remotethe bridge, But Angus paused not on the

edge;

Though the clerk waves

danced dizzily, Though reeled hissympathetic eye,

He dashed amid the torrent'sroar: His right hand high thecrosslet bore, His left the pole-axegrasped, to guide And stay his footing in thetide.

He stumbled twice the foam



He stumbled twice,—the foamsplashed high, With hoarser swell thestream raced by; And had he fallen,—forever

there, Farewell Duncraggan's orphanheir!

But still, as if in parting



dame;

And plaided youth, with jestand jeer Which snooded maiden would

not hear: And children, that,unwitting why, Lent the gay shout theirshrilly cry; And minstrels, that inmeasures vied Before the young and bonnybride



bride, Whose downcast eye and cheekdisclose The tear and blush ofmorning rose.

With virgin step and bashfulhand She held the kerchief's

snowy band.



stood,

The fatal sign of fire andsword Held forth, and spoke the

appointed word: 'The muster-place is Lanrickmead; Speed forth the signal!Norman, speed!' And must he change so soonthe hand Just linked to his by holyband



band, For the fell Cross of bloodand brand? And must the day so blithethat rose,

And promised rapture in theclose, Before its setting hour,

divide

The bridegroom from the

plighted bride? O fatal doom'—it must! itmust!

Clan-Alpine's cause, herChieftain's trust, Her summons dread, brook nodelay; Stretch to the race,—away!away! XXII.

Yet slow he laid his plaid



Yet slow he laid his plaidaside, And lingering eyed hislovely bride, Until he saw the starting

tear Speak woe he might not stopto cheer:

Then, trusting not a second

look,

In haste he sped hind up thebrook, Nor backward glanced till on

the heath Where Lubnaig's lakesupplies the Teith,— What in the racer's bosomstirred? The sickening pang of hopedeferred, And memory with a torturingtrain



Of all his morning visionsvain. Mingled with love'simpatience, came

The manly thirst for martialfame; The stormy joy of

mountaineers

Ere yet they rush upon the

spears; And zeal for Clan andChieftain burning,

And hope, from well-foughtfield returning, With war's red honors on hiscrest, To clasp his Mary to hisbreast. Stung by such thoughts, o'erbank and brae, Like fire from flint he



glanced away,

While high resolve andfeeling strong Burst into voluntary song.

XXIII.

Song.

The heath this night must be

my bed, The bracken curtain for myhead,

My lullaby the warder'stread, Far, far, from love andthee, Mary; To-morrow eve, more stillylaid, My couch may be my bloodyplaid, My vesper song thy wail,



y p g ysweet maid!

It will not waken me,Mary!

I may not, dare not, fancynow The grief that clouds thy

lovely brow,

I dare not think upon thy

vow, And all it promised me,Mary.

No fond regret must Normanknow; When bursts Clan-Alpine onthe foe, His heart must be likebended bow, His foot like arrowfree, Mary.



A time will come with

feeling fraught, For, if I fall in battlefought,

Thy hapless lover's dyingthought Shall be a thought on

thee, Mary.

And if returned from

conquered foes, How blithely will theevening close,

How sweet the linnet singrepose, To my young bride andme, Mary! XXIV.

Not faster o'er thy heatherybraes Balquidder, speeds the



midnight blaze,

Rushing in conflagrationstrong Thy deep ravines and dells

along, Wrapping thy cliffs inpurple glow,

And reddening the dark lakes

below;

Nor faster speeds it, nor sofar, As o'er thy heaths the voice

of war. The signal roused to martialcoil The sullen margin of LochVoil, Waked still Loch Doine, andto the source Alarmed, Balvaig, thy swampycourse;



Thence southward turned its

rapid road Adown Strath-Gartney'svalley broad

Till rose in arms each manmight claim A portion in Clan-Alpine's

name,

From the gray sire, whose

trembling hand Could hardly buckle on hisbrand,

To the raw boy, whose shaftand bow Were yet scarce terror tothe crow. Each valley, eachsequestered glen, Mustered its little horde ofmen That met as torrents from



the height

In Highland dales theirstreams unite Still gathering, as they

pour along, A voice more loud, a tidemore strong,

Till at the rendezvous they

stood

By hundreds prompt for blowsand blood, Each trained to arms since

life began, Owning no tie but to hisclan, No oath but by hischieftain's hand, No law but Roderick Dhu'scommand. XXV.



That summer morn had

Roderick Dhu Surveyed the skirts ofBenvenue,

And sent his scouts o'erhill and heath, To view the frontiers of

Menteith.

All backward came with news

of truce; Still lay each martialGraeme and Bruce,

In Rednock courts nohorsemen wait, No banner waved on Cardrossgate, On Duchray's towers nobeacon shone, Nor scared the herons fromLoch Con; All seemed at peace.—Now wot



ye wily

The Chieftain with suchanxious eye, Ere to the muster he repair,

This western frontierscanned with care?— In Benvenue's most darksome

cleft,

A fair though cruel pledge

was left; For Douglas, to his promisetrue,

That morning from the islewithdrew, And in a deep sequestereddell Had sought a low and lonelycell. By many a bard in Celtictongue Has Coir-nan-Uriskin been



sung

A softer name the Saxonsgave, And called the grot the

Goblin Cave. XXVI.

It was a wild and strange

retreat,

As e'er was trod by outlaw'sfeet. The dell, upon the

mountain's crest, Yawned like a gash onwarrior's breast; Its trench had stayed fullmany a rock, Hurled by primevalearthquake shock From Benvenue's gray summitwild,

A d h i d i



And here, in random ruin

piled, They frowned incumbent o'erthe spot

And formed the rugged sylvan"rot. The oak and birch with

mingled shade

At noontide there a twilight

made, Unless when short and suddenshone

Some straggling beam oncliff or stone, With such a glimpse asprophet's eye Gains on thy depth,Futurity. No murmur waked the solemnstill, Save tinkling of a fountainill



rill;

But when the wind chafedwith the lake, A sullen sound would upward

break, With dashing hollow voice,that spoke

The incessant war of wave

and rock.

Suspended cliffs withhideous sway Seemed nodding o'er the

cavern gray. From such a den the wolf hadsprung, In such the wild-cat leavesher young; Yet Douglas and his daughterfair Sought for a space theirsafety there.

Gray Superstition's whisper



Gray Superstition s whisper

dread Debarred the spot to vulgartread;

For there, she said, didfays resort, And satyrs hold their sylvan

court,

By moonlight tread their

mystic maze, And blast the rashbeholder's gaze.

XXVII.

Now eve, with westernshadows long, Floated on Katrine brightand strong, When Roderick with a chosenfew Repassed the heights ofBenvenue



Benvenue.

Above the Goblin Cave theygo, Through the wild pass of

Beal-nam-bo; The prompt retainers speedbefore,

To launch the shallop from

the shore,

For 'cross Loch Katrine lieshis way To view the passes of

chray, And place his clansmen inarray. Yet lags the Chief in musingmind, Unwonted sight, his menbehind. A single page, to bear hissword,

Alone attended on his lord;



Alone attended on his lord;

The rest their way throughthickets break, And soon await him by the

lake. It was a fair and gallantsight

To view them from the



Their Chief with step

reluctant still Was lingering on the craggyhill, Hard by where turned apartthe road To Douglas's obscure abode. It was but with that dawningmorn That Roderick Dhu hadproudly sworn To drown his love in war'swild roar,

Nor think of Ellen Douglas



Nor think of Ellen Douglas

more; But he who stems a streamwith sand,

And fetters flame withflaxen band, Has yet a harder task to

prove,—

By firm resolve to conquer

love! Eve finds the Chief, likerestless ghost, Still hovering near histreasure lost; For though his haughty heartdeny A parting meeting to his eye Still fondly strains hisanxious ear The accents of her voice tohear,

And inly did he curse the



And inly did he curse the

breeze That waked to sound therustling trees.

But hark! what mingles inthe strain? It is the harp of Allan-

bane,

That wakes its measure slow

and high, Attuned to sacredminstrelsy. What melting voice attendsthe strings? 'Tis Ellen, or an angel,sings. XXIX.

Hymn to the Virgin.

Ave. Maria! maiden mild! Listen to a maiden's



prayer! Thou canst hear though fromthe wild,

Thou canst save amiddespair. Safe may we sleep beneath

thy care,

Though banished,

outcast, and reviled— Maiden! hear a maiden'sprayer; Mother, hear asuppliant child!

ve Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled! The flinty couch we nowmust share Shall seem with down ofeider piled,



p ,

If thy protection hoverthere. The murky cavern's heavy air

Shall breathe of balmif thou hast smiled; Then, Maiden! hear a

maiden's prayer,

Mother, list a

suppliant child! ve Maria!

Ave. Maria! stainlessstyled! Foul demons of theearth and air, From this their wonted hauntexiled, Shall flee before thypresence fair. We bow us to our lot of



care, Beneath thy guidancereconciled:

Hear for a maid a maiden'sprayer, And for a father hear a

child!

ve Maria! XXX.

Died on the harp the closinghymn,— Unmoved in attitude andlimb, As listening still, Clan-

lpine's lord Stood leaning on his heavysword, Until the page with humblesign



Twice pointed to the sun'sdecline. Then while his plaid he

round him cast, 'It is the last time—'tisthe last,'

He muttered thrice,—'the

last time e'er

That angel-voice shallRoderick hear'' It was a goading thought,— his stride Hied hastier down themountain-side; Sullen he flung him in theboat An instant 'cross the lakeit shot. They landed in that silverybay, And eastward held their



hasty way Till, with the latest beamsof light,

The band arrived on Lanrickheight' Where mustered in the valebelow



there, a blade

Or lance's point a glimmermade, Like glow-worm twinklingthrough the shade. But when, advancing throughthe gloom, They saw the Chieftain'seagle plume, Their shout of welcome,shrill and wide,

Shook the steep mountain'ssteady side. Thrice it arose, and lake



and fell Three times returned themartial yell;

It died upon Bochastle'splain, And Silence claimed herevening reign.



CANTO FOURTH.

The Prophecy. I.

The rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,

And hope is brightestwhen it dawns from fears; The rose is sweetest washed



with morning dew And love is loveliestwhen embalmed in tears. O wilding rose, whom fancythus endears, I bid your blossoms in mybonnet wave,

Emblem of hope and love

through future years!' Thus spoke young Norman,heir of Armandave, What time the sun arose onVennachar's broad wave. II.

Such fond conceit, halfsaid, half sung, Love prompted to the

bridegroom's tongue. All while he stripped thewild-rose spray,



His axe and bow beside himlay, For on a pass 'twixt lake

and wood A wakeful sentinel he stood. Hark!—on the rock a footsteprung,

And instant to his arms he

sprung. 'Stand, or thou diest!—What,Malise?—soon Art thou returned from Braesof Doune. By thy keen step and glanceI know, Thou bring'st us tidings ofthe foe.'— For while the Fiery Cross

tried on, On distant scout had Malisegone.—



'Where sleeps the Chief?'the henchman said. 'Apart, in yonder misty

glade; To his lone couch I'll beyour guide.'— Then called a slumberer by

his side,

And stirred him with hisslackened bow,— 'Up, up, Glentarkin! rousethee, ho! We seek the Chieftain; onthe track Keep eagle watch till I comeback.' III.

Together up the pass theysped: 'What of the foeman?' Norman



said.— 'Varying reports from nearand far;

This certain,—that a band ofwar Has for two days been readyboune,

At prompt command to march

from Doune; King James the while, withprincely powers, Holds revelry in Stirlingtowers. Soon will this dark andgathering cloud Speak on our glens inthunder loud. Inured to bide such bitter

bout, The warrior's plaid may bearit out;



But, Norman, how wilt thouprovide A shelter for thy bonny

bride?''— 'What! know ye not thatRoderick's care To the lone isle hath caused

repair

Each maid and matron of theclan, And every child and aged man Unfit for arms; and givenhis charge, Nor skiff nor shallop, boatnor barge, Upon these lakes shall floatat large, But all beside the islet

moor, That such dear pledge mayrest secure?'—



IV.

''T is well advised,—the

Chieftain's plan Bespeaks the father of hisclan. But wherefore sleeps Sir

Roderick Dhu

Apart from all his followerstrue?' 'It is because last evening-tide Brian an augury hath tried, Of that dread kind whichmust not be Unless in dread extremity, The Taghairm called; bywhich, afar,

Our sires foresaw the eventsof war. Duncraggan's milk-white bull



they slew,'—

Malise.

'Ah! well the gallant bruteI knew! The choicest of the prey we

had

When swept our merrymenGallangad. His hide was snow, his hornswere dark, His red eye glowed likefiery spark; So fierce, so tameless, andso fleet, Sore did he cumber ourretreat,

And kept our stoutest kernsin awe, Even at the pass of Beal



'maha. But steep and flinty was theroad,

And sharp the hurryingpikeman's goad, And when we came to Dennan'sRow

A child might scathless

stroke his brow.' V.

Norman.

'That bull was slain; hisreeking hide They stretched the cataractbeside, Whose waters their wild

tumult toss Adown the black and craggyboss



Of that huge cliff whoseample verge Tradition calls the Hero's

Targe. Couched on a shelf beneathits brink, Close where the thundering

torrents sink,

Rocking beneath theirheadlong sway, And drizzled by theceaseless spray, Midst groan of rock and roarof stream, The wizard waits propheticdream. Nor distant rests the Chief;

but hush!

See, gliding slow throughmist and bush, The hermit gains yon rock,

d d



and stands To gaze upon our slumberingbands.

Seems he not, Malise, dike aghost, That hovers o'er aslaughtered host?



unfurled,

The curtain of the futureworld. Yet, witness every quakinglimb, My sunken pulse, mineeyeballs dim, My soul with harrowinganguish torn, This for my Chieftain have Iborne!—

The shapes that sought myfearful couch A human tongue may ne'er

avouch;



avouch; No mortal man—save he, who,bred

Between the living and thedead, Is gifted beyond nature'slaw

Had e'er survived to say he

saw. At length the fateful answercame In characters of livingflame! Not spoke in word, norblazed in scroll, But borne and branded on mysoul:— WHICH SPILLS THE FOREMOST

FOEMAN'S LIFE, THAT PARTY CONQUERS IN THESTRIFE.'

VII



VII.

'Thanks, Brian, for thy zeal

and care! Good is thine augury, andfair. Clan-Alpine ne'er in battle

stood But first our broadswordstasted blood. A surer victim still I know, Self-offered to theauspicious blow: A spy has sought my landthis morn,— No eve shall witness hisreturn! My followers guard each

pass's mouth, To east, to westward, and tosouth;

Red Murdoch bribed to be



Red Murdoch, bribed to behis guide, Has charge to lead his steps

aside, Till in deep path or dinglebrown He light on those shall

bring him clown. But see, who comes his newsto show! Malise! what tidings of thefoe?' VIII.

'At Doune, o'er many a spearand glaive Two Barons proud theirbanners wave.

I saw the Moray's silverstar, And marked the sable pale of

Mar '



Mar. 'By Alpine's soul, hightidings those!

I love to hear of worthyfoes. When move they on?' 'To-morrow's noon



household fire, Father for child, and sonfor sire Lover for maid beloved!—But why Is it the breeze affectsmine eye? Or dost thou come, ill-omened tear! A messenger of doubt orfear? No! sooner may the Saxon

lance Unfix Benledi from hisstance,

Than doubt or terror can



Than doubt or terror canpierce through The unyielding heart of

Roderick Dhu! 'tis stubborn as his trustytarge. Each to his post!—all know

their charge.' The pibroch sounds, thebands advance, The broadswords gleam, thebanners dance' Obedient to the Chieftain'sglance.— I turn me from the martialroar And seek Coir-Uriskin oncemore.

IX.

Where is the Douglas?—he is

gone;



gone; And Ellen sits on the graystone

Fast by the cave, and makesher moan, While vainly Allan's wordsof cheer

Are poured on her unheedingear. 'He will return—dear lady,trust!— With joy return;—he will—hemust. Well was it time to seekafar Some refuge from impendingwar, When e'en Clan-Alpine's

rugged swarm Are cowed by the approachingstorm.

I saw their boats with manyli h



saw t e boats w t a ya light, Floating the livelong

yesternight, Shifting like flashes dartedforth By the red streamers of the

north; I marked at morn how closethey ride, Thick moored by the loneislet's side, Like wild ducks couching inthe fen When stoops the hawk uponthe glen. Since this rude race darenot abide

The peril on the mainlandside, Shall not thy noble father's

care S f t t f th



Some safe retreat for theeprepare?' X.

Ellen.

'No, Allan, no' Pretext sokind My wakeful terrors could notblind. When in such tender tone,yet grave, Douglas a parting blessinggave, The tear that glistened inhis eye Drowned not his purpose

fixed and high. My soul, though feminine andweak,

Can image his; e'en as thelake



g ;lake, Itself disturbed byslightest stroke. Reflects the invulnerablerock. He hears report of battle

rife, He deems himself the causeof strife. I saw him redden when thetheme Turned, Allan, on thine idledream Of Malcolm Graeme in fetters

bound, Which I, thou saidst, abouthim wound.

Think'st thou he bowed thineomen aught? O no' 't was apprehensive

thought For the kind youth for



g For the kind youth,—forRoderick too— Let me be just—that friendso true; In danger both, and in ourcause!

Minstrel, the Douglas darenot pause. Why else that solemn warninggiven, 'If not on earth, we meet inheaven!' Why else, to Cambus-kenneth's fane,

If eve return him not again, Am I to hie and make meknown?

Alas! he goes to Scotland'sthrone, Buys his friends' safety

with his own;He goes to do what I had



He goes to do—what I haddone, Had Douglas' daughter beenhis son!' XI.

'Nay, lovely Ellen!—dearest,nay! If aught should his returndelay, He only named yon holy fane As fitting place to meetagain. Be sure he's safe; and for

the Graeme,— Heaven's blessing on hisgallant name!—

My visioned sight may yetprove true, Nor bode of ill to him or

you. When did my gifted dream



When did my gifted dreambeguile? Think of the stranger at theisle, And think upon the harpingsslow

That presaged thisapproaching woe! Sooth was my prophecy offear; Believe it when it augurscheer. Would we had left thisdismal spot!

Ill luck still haunts afairy spot! Of such a wondrous tale I

know— Dear lady, change that lookof woe,

My harp was wont thy griefto cheer '



to cheer.

Ellen.

'Well, be it as thou wilt; I hear, But cannot stop the

bursting tear.' The Minstrel tried hissimple art, Rut distant far was Ellen'sheart.



XII.

Ballad.

Alice Brand.

Merry it is in the goodgreenwood,

When the mavis andmerle are singing, When the deer sweeps by, and

the hounds are in cry, And the hunter's hornis ringing.

'O Alice Brand, my native



O Alice Brand, my nativeland Is lost for love ofyou; And we must hold by wood andword,

As outlaws wont to do.

'O Alice, 't was all for thylocks so bright, And 't was all forthine eyes so blue, That on the night of ourluckless flight

Thy brother bold Islew.

'Now must I teach to hew thebeech The hand that held the

glaive, For leaves to spread our



plowly bed, And stakes to fence ourcave.

'And for vest of pall, thy

fingers small, That wont on harp tostray, A cloak must shear from theslaughtered deer, To keep the cold away.'

'O Richard! if my brother

died, 'T was but a fatalchance;

For darkling was the battletried, And fortune sped the

lance.



'If pall and vair no more Iwear, Nor thou the crimsonsheen As warm, we'll say, is the

russet gray, As gay the forest-green.

'And, Richard, if our lot behard, And lost thy nativeland,

Still Alice has her ownRichard, And he his Alice

Brand.' XIII.

Ballad Continued.



'tis merry, 'tis merry, ingood greenwood; So blithe Lady Alice issinging; On the beech's pride, and

oak's brown side, Lord Richard's axe isringing.

Up spoke the moody ElfinKing, Who woned within thehill,—

Like wind in the porch of aruined church, His voice was ghostly

shrill.

'Why sounds yon stroke on

beech and oak, Our moonlight circle's



screen? Or who comes here to chasethe deer, Beloved of our ElfinQueen?

Or who may dare on wold towear The fairies' fatalgreen?

'Up, Urgan, up! to yonmortal hie, For thou wert

christened man; For cross or sign thou wiltnot fly,

For muttered word orban.

'Lay on him the curse of thewithered heart,



The curse of thesleepless eye; Till he wish and pray thathis life would part, Nor yet find leave to

die.' XIV.

Ballad Continued.

'Tis merry, 'tis merry, ingood greenwood, Though the birds have

stilled their singing; The evening blaze cloth

lice raise,

And Richard is fagotsbringing.

Up Urgan starts, thathideous dwarf,



Before Lord Richardstands, And, as he crossed andblessed himself, 'I fear not sign,'



Then forward stepped she,lice Brand,

And made the holy sign,

'And if there's blood onRichard's hand, A spotless hand is

mine.

'And I conjure thee, demon

elf, By Him whom demonsfear,

To show us whence thou artthyself,



And what thine errandhere?' XV.

Ballad Continued.

"Tis merry, 'tis merry, inFairy-land, When fairy birds aresinging, When the court cloth ride bytheir monarch's side, With bit and bridle

ringing:

'And gayly shines the Fairy-

land— But all is glisteningshow,

Like the idle gleam thatDecember's beam



Can dart on ice andsnow.

'And fading, like thatvaried gleam,

Is our inconstantshape, Who now like knight and ladyseem, And now like dwarf andape.

'It was between the night

and day, When the Fairy King haspower,

That I sunk down in a sinfulfray, And 'twixt life and death

was snatched away To the joyless Elfinb



bower.

'But wist I of a woman bold, Who thrice my browdurst sign,

I might regain my mortalmould, As fair a form asthine.'

She crossed him once—shecrossed him twice— That lady was so brave;

The fouler grew his goblinhue, The darker grew the

cave.

She crossed him thrice, that

lady bold; He rose beneath herh d



hand The fairest knight onScottish mould, Her brother, EthertBrand!

Merry it is in goodgreenwood, When the mavis andmerle are singing, But merrier were they inDunfermline gray, When all the bells were

ringing. XVI.

Just as the minstrel soundswere stayed, A stranger climbed the

steepy glade; His martial step, hisstatel mien



stately mien, His hunting-suit of Lincolngreen, His eagle glance,remembrance claims—

'Tis Snowdoun's Knight, 'tisJames Fitz-James. Ellen beheld as in a dream, Then, starting, scarcesuppressed a scream: 'O stranger! in such hour offear What evil hap has brought

thee here?' 'An evil hap how can it be That bids me look again on

thee? By promise bound, my formerguide

Met me betimes this morning-tide,And marshalled over bank and



And marshalled over bank andbourne The happy path of myreturn.' 'The happy path!—what! said

he naught Of war, of battle to befought, Of guarded pass?' 'No, by myfaith! Nor saw I aught could augurscathe.' 'O haste thee, Allan, to the

kern: Yonder his tartars Idiscern;

Learn thou his purpose, andconjure That he will guide the

stranger sure!— What prompted thee, unhappyman?



man? The meanest serf inRoderick's clan Had not been bribed, by loveor fear,

Unknown to him to guide theehere.' XVII.

'Sweet Ellen, dear my lifemust be, Since it is worthy care fromthee;

Yet life I hold but idlebreath When love or honor's weighed

with death. Then let me profit by mychance,

And speak my purpose bold atonce.I come to bear thee from a



I come to bear thee from awild Where ne'er before suchblossom smiled, By this soft hand to lead

thee far From frantic scenes of feudand war. Near Bochastle my horseswait; They bear us soon toStirling gate. I'll place thee in a lovely

bower, I'll guard thee like atender flower—'

'O hush, Sir Knight! 't werefemale art, To say I do not read thyheart; Too much, before, my selfishear



ear Was idly soothed my praiseto hear. That fatal bait hath luredthee back,

In deathful hour, o'erdangerous track; And how, O how, can I atone The wreck my vanity broughton!— One way remains—I'll tellhim all— Yes! struggling bosom, forth

it shall! Thou, whose light follybears the blame,

Buy thine own pardon withthy shame! But first—my father is a man Outlawed and exiled, underban;

The price of blood is on his



The price of blood is on hishead, With me 't were infamy towed. Still wouldst thou speak?—

then hear the truth! Fitz-James, there is a nobleyouth— If yet he is!—exposed for me And mine to dread extremity— Thou hast the secret of mybears; Forgive, be generous, and

depart!' XVIII.

Fitz-James knew every wilytrain A lady's fickle heart togain, But here he knew and feltthem vain.



them vain. There shot no glance fromEllen's eye, To give her steadfast speechthe lie;

In maiden confidence shestood, Though mantled in her cheekthe blood And told her love with such

a sigh Of deep and hopeless agony, As death had sealed her

Malcolm's doom And she sat sorrowing on histomb.

Hope vanished from Fitz-James's eye, But not with hope fledsympathy. He proffered to attend herside,



, As brother would a sisterguide. 'O little know'st thouRoderick's heart!

Safer for both we go apart. O haste thee, and from Allanlearn If thou mayst trust yon wilykern.'

With hand upon his foreheadlaid, The conflict of his mind to

shade, A parting step or two hemade;

Then, as some thought hadcrossed his brain He paused, and turned, andcame again. XIX.



'Hear, lady, yet a partingword!— It chanced in fight that mypoor sword

Preserved the life ofScotland's lord. This ring the gratefulMonarch gave, And bade, when I had boon to

crave, To bring it back, and boldlyclaim

The recompense that I wouldname. Ellen, I am no courtly lord,

But one who lives by lanceand sword, Whose castle is his helm andshield, His lordship the embattledfield.



What from a prince can Idemand, Who neither reck of statenor land?

Ellen, thy hand—the ring isthine; Each guard and usher knowsthe sign. Seek thou the King without

delay; This signet shall secure thyway:

And claim thy suit, whate'erit be, As ransom of his pledge to

me.' He placed the golden circleton, Paused—kissed her hand—andthen was gone. The aged Minstrel stood



aghast, So hastily Fitz-James shotpast. He joined his guide, and

wending down The ridges of the mountainbrown, Across the stream they tooktheir way

That joins Loch Katrine tochray.

XX

All in the Trosachs' glenwas still,

Noontide was sleeping on thehill: Sudden his guide whoopedloud and high— 'Murdoch! was that a signalcry?'—



He stammered forth, 'I shoutto scare Yon raven from his daintyfare.'

He looked—he knew theraven's prey, His own brave steed: 'Ah!gallant gray! For thee—for me, perchance

't were well We ne'er had seen theTrosachs' dell.—

Murdoch, move first—-butsilently; Whistle or whoop, and thou

shalt die!' Jealous and sullen on theyfared, Each silent, each upon hisguard. XXI.



Now wound the path its dizzyledge Around a precipice's edge,

When lo! a wasted femaleform, Blighted by wrath of sun andstorm, In tattered weeds and wild

array, Stood on a cliff beside theway,

And glancing round herrestless eye, Upon the wood, the rock, the

sky, Seemed naught to mark, yetall to spy. Her brow was wreathed withgaudy broom; With gesture wild she waved



a plume Of feathers, which theeagles fling To crag and cliff from dusky

wing; Such spoils her desperatestep had sought, Where scarce was footing forthe goat.

The tartan plaid she firstdescried, And shrieked till all the

rocks replied; As loud she laughed whennear they drew,

For then the Lowland garbshe knew; And then her hands shewildly wrung, And then she wept, and thenshe sung—



She sung!—the voice, inbetter time, Perchance to harp or lutemight chime;



pray That Heaven would close mywintry day!

'Twas thus my hair they bade

me braid, They made me to thechurch repair;

It was my bridal morn theysaid, And my true love would

meet me there. But woe betide the cruelguile That drowned in blood themorning smile! And woe betide the fairyd !



dream! I only waked to sob andscream. XXIII.

'Who is this maid? whatmeans her lay? She hovers o'er the hollowway,

And flutters wide her mantlegray, As the lone heron spreads

his wing, By twilight, o'er a hauntedspring.'

''Tis Blanche of Devan,'Murdoch said, 'A crazed and captiveLowland maid, Ta'en on the morn she was abride,

Wh R d i k f d D



When Roderick forayed Devan-side. The gay bridegroomresistance made,

And felt our Chief'sunconquered blade. I marvel she is now atlarge, But oft she 'scapes from

Maudlin's charge.— Hence, brain-sick fool!'—Heraised his bow:—

'Now, if thou strik'st herbut one blow, I'll pitch thee from the

cliff as far As ever peasant pitched abar!' 'Thanks, champion, thanks'the Maniac cried, And pressed her to Fitz-James's side



James's side. 'See the gray pennons Iprepare, To seek my true love through

the air! I will not lend that savagegroom, To break his fall, one downyplume!

No!—deep amid disjointedstones, The wolves shall batten on

his bones, And then shall his detestedplaid,

By bush and brier in mid-airstayed, Wave forth a banner fail andfree, Meet signal for theirrevelry.'

XXIV



XXIV

'Hush thee, poor maiden, andbe still!'

'O! thou look'st kindly, andI will. Mine eye has dried andwasted been, But still it loves the

Lincoln green; And, though mine ear is allunstrung,

Still, still it loves theLowland tongue.

'For O my sweet William wasforester true, He stole poor Blanche'sheart away! His coat it was all of thegreenwood hue,

And so blithely he



And so blithely hetrilled the Lowland lay!

'It was not that I meant to

tell... But thou art wise andguessest well.' Then, in a low and brokentone,

And hurried note, the songwent on. Still on the Clansman

fearfully She fixed her apprehensiveeye,

Then turned it on theKnight, and then Her look glanced wildly o'erthe glen. XXV.

'The toils are pitched and



The toils are pitched, andthe stakes are set,— Ever sing merrily,merrily;

The bows they bend, and theknives they whet, Hunters live socheerily.

It was a stag, a stag often, Bearing its branches

sturdily; He came stately down theglen,—

Ever sing hardily,hardily.

'It was there he met with awounded doe, She was bleedingdeathfully;



deathfully; She warned him of the toilsbelow, O. so faithfully,

faithfully!

'He had an eye, and he couldheed,— Ever sing warily,

warily; He had a foot, and he couldspeed,—

Hunters watch sonarrowly.' XXVI.

Fitz-James's mind waspassion-tossed, When Ellen's hints and fearswere lost; But Murdoch's shoutsuspicion wrought,



suspicion wrought, And Blanche's songconviction brought. Not like a stag that spies

the snare, But lion of the hunt aware, He waved at once his bladeon high, 'Disclose thy treachery, or

die!' Forth at hell speed theClansman flew,

But in his race his bow hedrew. The shaft just grazed Fitz-

James's crest, And thrilled in Blanche'sfaded breast.— Murdoch of Alpine! prove thyspeed, For ne'er had Alpine's sonsuch need;



such need; With heart of fire, and footof wind, The fierce avenger is

behind! Fate judges of the rapidstrife— The forfeit death—the prizeis life;

Thy kindred ambush liesbefore, Close couched upon the

heathery moor; Them couldst thou reach!—itmay not be

Thine ambushed kin thoune'er shalt see, The fiery Saxon gains onthee!— Resistless speeds the deadlythrust, As lightning strikes the



g gpine to dust; With foot and hand Fitz-James must strain

Ere he can win his bladeagain. Bent o'er the fallen withfalcon eye, He grimly smiled to see him

die, Then slower wended back hisway,

Where the poor maidenbleeding lay. XXVII.

She sat beneath the birchentree, Her elbow resting on herknee; She had withdrawn the fatalshaft,



, And gazed on it, and feeblylaughed; Her wreath of broom and

feathers gray, Daggled with blood, besideher lay. The Knight to stanch thelife-stream tried,—

'Stranger, it is in vain!'she cried. 'This hour of death has

given me more Of reason's power than yearsbefore;

For, as these ebbing veinsdecay, My frenzied visions fadeaway. A helpless injured wretch Idie, And something tells me in



thine eye That thou wert mine avengerborn.

Seest thou this tress?—O.still I 've worn This little tress of yellowhair, Through danger, frenzy, and

despair! It once was bright and clearas thine,

But blood and tears havedimmed its shine. I will not tell thee when 'twas shred, Nor from what guiltlessvictim's head,— My brain would turn!—but itshall wave Like plumage on thy helmetbrave,



Till sun and wind shallbleach the stain, And thou wilt bring it me

again. I waver still.—O God! morebright Let reason beam her partinglight!—

O. by thy knighthood'shonored sign, And for thy life preserved

by mine, When thou shalt see adarksome man, Who boasts him Chief of

lpine's Clan, With tartars broad andshadowy plume, And hand of blood, and browof gloom Be thy heart bold, thy



weapon strong, And wreak poor Blanche ofDevan's wrong!—

They watch for thee by passand fell...

Avoid the path... O God!...farewell.' XXVIII.

A kindly heart had braveFitz-James;

Fast poured his eyes atpity's claims; And now, with mingled griefand ire, He saw the murdered maidexpire. 'God, in my need, be myrelief, As I wreak this on yonderChief!'



A lock from Blanche'stresses fair He blended with her

bridegroom's hair; The mingled braid in blood

he dyed, And placed it on his bonnet-side:

'By Him whose word is truth,I swear, No other favour will I wear,

Till this sad token I imbrue In the best blood ofRoderick Dhu!— But hark! what means yonfaint halloo? The chase is up,—but theyshall know, The stag at bay 's adangerous foe.' Barred from the known but



guarded way, Through copse and cliffsFitz-James must stray,

And oft must change hisdesperate track,

By stream and precipiceturned back. Heartless, fatigued, and

faint, at length, From lack of food and lossof strength

He couched him in a thickethoar And thought his toils andperils o'er:— 'Of all my rash adventurespast, This frantic feat must provethe last! Who e'er so mad but mighthave guessed



That all this Highlandhornet's nest Would muster up in swarms so

soon As e'er they heard of bands

at Doune?— Like bloodhounds now theysearch me out,—

Hark, to the whistle and theshout!— If farther through the wilds

I go, I only fall upon the foe: I'll couch me here tillevening gray, Then darkling try mydangerous way.' XXIX.

The shades of eve comeslowly down,



The woods are wrapt indeeper brown, The owl awakens from her

dell, The fox is heard upon the

fell; Enough remains of glimmeringlight

To guide the wanderer'ssteps aright, Yet not enough from far to

show His figure to the watchfulfoe. With cautious step and earawake, He climbs the crag andthreads the brake; And not the summer solsticethere Tempered the midnight



mountain air, But every breeze that sweptthe wold

Benumbed his drenched limbswith cold.

In dread, in danger, andalone, Famished and chilled,

through ways unknown, Tangled and steep, hejourneyed on;

Till, as a rock's huge pointhe turned, A watch-fire close beforehim burned. XXX.

Beside its embers red andclear Basked in his plaid amountaineer;



And up he sprung with swordin hand,— 'Thy name and purpose!

Saxon, stand!' 'A stranger.' 'What dost

thou require?' 'Rest and a guide, and foodand fire

My life's beset, my path islost, The gale has chilled my

limbs with frost.' 'Art thou a friend toRoderick?' 'No.' 'Thou dar'st not callthyself a foe?' 'I dare! to him and all theband He brings to aid hismurderous hand.' 'Bold words!—but, though the

f



beast of game The privilege of chase mayclaim,

Though space and law thestag we lend

Ere hound we slip or bow webend Who ever recked, where, how,

or when, The prowling fox was trappedor slain?

Thus treacherous scouts,—yetsure they lie Who say thou cam'st a secretspy!'— 'They do, by heaven!—comeRoderick Dhu And of his clan the boldesttwo And let me but till morningrest,

I i h f l h d



I write the falsehood ontheir crest.' If by the blaze I mark

aright Thou bear'st the belt and

spur of Knight.' 'Then by these tokens maystthou know

Each proud oppressor'smortal foe.' 'Enough, enough; sit down

and share A soldier's couch, asoldier's fare.' XXXI..

He gave him of his Highlandcheer, The hardened flesh ofmountain deer; Dry fuel on the fire he

l id



laid, And bade the Saxon share hisplaid.

He tended him like welcomeguest,

Then thus his further speechaddressed:— 'Stranger, I am to Roderick

Dhu A clansman born, a kinsmantrue;

Each word against his honourspoke Demands of me avengingstroke; Yet more,—upon thy fate,'tis said, A mighty augury is laid. It rests with me to wind myhorn,— Thou art with numbers

b



overborne; It rests with me, here,brand to brand,

Worn as thou art, to bidthee stand:

But, not for clan, norkindred's cause, Will I depart from honour's

laws; To assail a wearied man wereshame,

And stranger is a holy name; Guidance and rest, and foodand fire, In vain he never mustrequire. Then rest thee here tilldawn of day; Myself will guide thee onthe way, O'er stock and stone,

through watch and ward



through watch and ward, Till past Clan-Alpine'soutmost guard,

As far as Coilantogle'sford;

From thence thy warrant isthy sword.' 'I take thy courtesy, by

heaven, As freely as 'tis noblygiven!'

Well, rest thee; for thebittern's cry Sings us the lake's wildlullaby.' With that he shook thegathered heath, And spread his plaid uponthe wreath; And the brave foemen, sideby side,

Lay peaceful down like



Lay peaceful down likebrothers tried, And slept until the dawning



CANTO FIFTH.The Combat.

I.

Fair as the earliest beam ofeastern light, When first, by thebewildered pilgrim spied, It smiles upon the drearybrow of night

And silvers o'er thetorrent's foaming tide And lights the fearful path

on mountain-side —



on mountain-side,— Fair as that beam,although the fairest far,

Giving to horror grace, todanger pride,

Shine martial Faith,and Courtesy's bright star Through all the wreckful

storms that cloud the brow ofWar. II.

That early beam, so fair andsheen, Was twinkling through thehazel screen When, rousing at its glimmerred, The warriors left theirlowly bed, Looked out upon the dappled

sky



sky, Muttered their soldiermatins try,

And then awaked their fire,to steal,

As short and rude, theirsoldier meal. That o'er, the Gael around

him threw His graceful plaid of variedhue,

And, true to promise, ledthe way, By thicket green andmountain gray. A wildering path!—theywinded now Along the precipice's brow, Commanding the rich scenesbeneath, The windings of the Forth

and Teith



and Teith, And all the vales betweenthat lie.



stern and steep, The hill sinks down upon the

deep. Here Vennachar in silverflows,

There, ridge on ridge,Benledi rose; Ever the hollow path twined

on, Beneath steep hank andthreatening stone; A hundred men might hold thepost With hardihood against ahost. The rugged mountain's scantycloak Was dwarfish shrubs of birch

and oak



With shingles bare, andcliffs between

And patches bright ofbracken green,

And heather black, thatwaved so high, It held the copse in

rivalry. But where the lake sleptdeep and still

Dank osiers fringed theswamp and hill; And oft both path and hillwere torn Where wintry torrent downhad borne And heaped upon the cumberedland Its wreck of gravel, rocks,and sand.

So toilsome was the road to



trace The guide, abating of his

pace, Led slowly through the

pass's jaws And asked Fitz-James by whatstrange cause

He sought these wilds,traversed by few Without a pass from Roderick

Dhu. IV.

'Brave Gael, my pass, indanger tried Hangs in my belt and by myside Yet, sooth to tell,' theSaxon said, 'I dreamt not now to claim

its aid.



When here, but three dayssince,

I came Bewildered in pursuitof game,

All seemed as peaceful andas still As the mist slumbering on

yon hill; Thy dangerous Chief was thenafar,

Nor soon expected back fromwar. Thus said, at least, mymountain-guide, Though deep perchance thevillain lied.' 'Yet why a second venturetry?' 'A warrior thou, and ask mewhy!—

Moves our free course by



such fixed cause As gives the poor mechanic

laws? Enough, I sought to drive

away The lazy hours of peacefulday;

Slight cause will thensuffice to guide A Knight's free footsteps

far and wide,— A falcon flown, a greyhoundstrayed, The merry glance of mountainmaid; Or, if a path be dangerousknown, The danger's self is lurealone.' V.

h k



'Thy secret keep, I urgethee not;—

Yet, ere again ye soughtthis spot,

Say, heard ye naught ofLowland war, Against Clan-Alpine, raised

by Mar?' 'No, by my word;—of bandsprepared To guard King James's sportsI heard; Nor doubt I aught, but, whenthey hear This muster of themountaineer, Their pennons will abroad beflung, Which else in Doune hadpeaceful hung.'

'Free be they flung! for wel h



were loath Their silken folds should

feast the moth. Free be they flung!—as free

shall wave Clan-Alpine's pine in bannerbrave.

But, stranger, peacefulsince you came, Bewildered in the mountain-game, Whence the bold boast bywhich you show Vich-Alpine's vowed andmortal foe?' 'Warrior, but yester-morn Iknew Naught of thy Chieftain,Roderick Dhu, Save as an outlawed

desperate man,Th hi f f b lli



The chief of a rebelliousclan,

Who, in the Regent's courtand sight,

With ruffian dagger stabbeda knight; Yet this alone might from

his part Sever each true and loyalheart.' VI.

Wrathful at such arraignmentfoul, Dark lowered the clansman'ssable scowl. A space he paused, thensternly said, 'And heardst thou why hedrew his blade?

Heardst thou that shamefulword and blow



word and blow Brought Roderick's vengeance

on his foe? What recked the Chieftain if

he stood On Highland heath or Holy-Rood?

He rights such wrong whereit is given, If it were in the court ofheaven.' 'Still was it outrage;—yet,'tis true, Not then claimed sovereigntyhis due; While Albany with feeblehand Held borrowed truncheon ofcommand, The young King, mewed in

Stirling tower,Was stranger to respect and



Was stranger to respect andpower.

But then, thy Chieftain'srobber life!—

Winning mean prey bycauseless strife, Wrenching from ruined

Lowland swain His herds and harvest rearedin vain,— Methinks a soul like thineshould scorn The spoils from such foulforay borne.' VII.

The Gael beheld him grim thewhile, And answered with disdainfulsmile:

'Saxon, from yonder mountainhigh



high, I marked thee send delighted

eye Far to the south and east,

where lay, Extended in succession gay, Deep waving fields and

pastures green, With gentle slopes andgroves between:— These fertile plains, thatsoftened vale, Were once the birthright ofthe Gael; The stranger came with ironhand, And from our fathers reftthe land. Where dwell we now? See,rudely swell

Crag over crag, and fello'er fell



o er fell. Ask we this savage hill we

tread For fattened steer or

household bread, Ask we for flocks theseshingles dry,

And well the mountain mightreply,— "To you, as to your sires ofyore, Belong the target andclaymore! I give you shelter in mybreast, Your own good blades mustwin the rest." Pent in this fortress of theNorth, Think'st thou we will not

sally forth,To spoil the spoiler as we



To spoil the spoiler as wemay,

And from the robber rend theprey?

Ay, by my soul!—While on yonplain The Saxon rears one shock of

grain, While of ten thousand herdsthere strays But one along yon river'smaze,— The Gael, of plain and riverheir, Shall with strong handredeem his share. Where live the mountainChiefs who hold That plundering Lowlandfield and fold

Is aught but retributiontrue?



true? Seek other cause 'gainst

Roderick Dhu.'



VIII.

Answered Fitz-James: 'And,if I sought, Think'st thou no other could

be brought? What deem ye of my pathwaylaid? My life given o'er toambuscade?' 'As of a meed to rashnessdue: Hadst thou sent warning fairand true,— I seek my hound or falcon

strayed, I seek, good faith, aHighland maid,—

Free hadst thou been to comeand go;



g ; But secret path marks secret

foe. Nor yet for this, even as a

spy, Hadst thou, unheard, beendoomed to die,

Save to fulfil an augury.' 'Well, let it pass; nor willI now Fresh cause of enmity avow To chafe thy mood and cloudthy brow. Enough, I am by promise tied To match me with this man ofpride: Twice have I sought Clan-

lpine's glen In peace; but when I comeagain,

I come with banner, brand,and bow,



As leader seeks his mortal

foe. For love-lore swain in

lady's bower Ne'er panted for theappointed hour

As I, until before me stand This rebel Chieftain and hisband!' IX.

'Have then thy wish!'—Hewhistled shrill And he was answered from thehill; Wild as the scream of the

curlew, From crag to crag the signalflew.

Instant, through copse andheath, arose



Bonnets and spears and

bended bows On right, on left, above,

below, Sprung up at once thelurking foe;

From shingles gray theirlances start, The bracken bush sends forththe dart, The rushes and the willow-wand Are bristling into axe andbrand, And every tuft of broomgives life

'To plaided warrior armedfor strife. That whistle garrisoned the

glen At once with full five



hundred men,

As if the yawning hill toheaven

A subterranean host hadgiven. Watching their leader's beck

and will, All silent there they stoodand still. Like the loose crags whosethreatening mass Lay tottering o'er thehollow pass, As if an infant's touchcould urge Their headlong passage down

the verge, With step and weapon forwardflung,

Upon the mountain-side theyhung.



The Mountaineer cast glance

of pride Along Benledi's living side,

Then fixed his eye and sablebrow Full on Fitz-James: 'How

say'st thou now? These are Clan-Alpine'swarriors true; And, Saxon,—I am RoderickDhu!' X.

Fitz-James was brave:—thoughto his heart The life-blood thrilled with

sudden start, He manned himself withdauntless air,

Returned the Chief hishaughty stare,



His back against a rock he

bore, And firmly placed his foot

before:— 'Come one, come all! thisrock shall fly

From its firm base as soonas I.' Sir Roderick marked,—and inhis eyes Respect was mingled withsurprise, And the stern joy whichwarriors feel In foeman worthy of theirsteel.

Short space he stood—thenwaved his hand: Down sunk the disappearing

band; Each warrior vanished where



he stood,

In broom or bracken, heathor wood;

Sunk brand and spear andbended bow, In osiers pale and copses

low; It seemed as if their motherEarth Had swallowed up her warlikebirth. The wind's last breath hadtossed in air Pennon and plaid and plumagefair,— The next but swept a lone

hill-side Where heath and fern werewaving wide:

The sun's last glance wasglinted back



From spear and glaive, from

targe and jack,— The next, all unreflected,

shone On bracken green and coldgray stone.

XI.

Fitz-James looked round,—yetscarce believed The witness that his sightreceived; Such apparition well mightseem Delusion of a dreadfuldream.

Sir Roderick in suspense heeyed, And to his look the Chief

replied: 'Fear naught—nay, that I

d



need not say

But—doubt not aught frommine array.

Thou art my guest;—I pledgedmy word As far as Coilantogle ford:

Nor would I call aclansman's brand For aid against one valianthand, Though on our strife layevery vale Rent by the Saxon from theGael. So move we on;—I only meant To show the reed on which

you leant, Deeming this path you mightpursue

Without a pass from RoderickDhu.'

Th d I id Fi



They moved;—I said Fitz-



his plaid, And to the Lowland warrior

said: 'Bold Saxon! to his promisejust,

Vich-Alpine has dischargedhis trust. This murderous Chief, thisruthless man, This head of a rebelliousclan, Hath led thee safe, throughwatch and ward, Far past Clan-Alpine'soutmost guard.

Now, man to man, and steelto steel, A Chieftain's vengeance thou

shalt feel. See, here all vantageless Istand



stand,

Armed like thyself withsingle brand;

For this is Coilantogleford, And thou must keep thee withthy sword.' XIII.

The Saxon paused: 'I ne'erdelayed, When foeman bade me draw myblade; Nay more, brave Chief, Ivowed thy death; Yet sure thy fair and

generous faith, And my deep debt for lifepreserved,

A better meed have welldeserved:

Can naught but blood our



Can naught but blood our

feud atone? Are there no means?'—' No,

stranger, none! And hear,—to fire thyflagging zeal,— The Saxon cause rests on thysteel; For thus spoke Fate byprophet bred Between the living and thedead:" Who spills the foremostfoeman's life, His party conquers in thestrife."'

'Then, by my word,' theSaxon said, "The riddle is already read.

Seek yonder brake beneaththe cliff,—

There lies Red Murdoch



There lies Red Murdoch,

stark and stiff. Thus Fate hath solved her

prophecy; Then yield to Fate, and notto me. To James at Stirling let usgo, When, if thou wilt be stillhis foe, Or if the King shall notagree To grant thee grace andfavor free, I plight mine honor, oath,and word

That, to thy nativestrengths restored, With each advantage shalt

thou stand That aids thee now to guardthy land.'



thy land.

XIV.

Dark lightning flashed fromRoderick's eye: 'Soars thy presumption,then, so high, Because a wretched kern yeslew, Homage to name to RoderickDhu? He yields not, he, to mannor Fate! Thou add'st but fuel to myhate;— My clansman's blood demands

revenge. Not yet prepared?—By heaven,I change

My thought, and hold thyvalor light As that of some vain carpet



p



heath, or cairn, Start at my whistle clansmen

stern, Of this small horn onefeeble blast Would fearful odds againstthee cast. But fear not—doubt not—whichthou wilt— We try this quarrel hilt tohilt.' Then each at once hisfalchion drew, Each on the ground hisscabbard threw

Each looked to sun andstream and plain As what they ne'er might see

again; Then foot and point and eyeopposed,



pp

In dubious strife theydarkly closed.

XV.

Ill fared it then withRoderick Dhu, That on the field his targehe threw, Whose brazen studs and toughbull-hide Had death so often dashedaside; For, trained abroad his armsto wield Fitz-James's blade was sword

and shield. He practised every pass andward,

To thrust, to strike, tofeint, to guard; While less expert, though



stronger far, The Gael maintained unequal

war. Three times in closingstrife they stood And thrice the Saxon bladedrank blood; No stinted draught, noscanty tide, The gushing flood thetartars dyed. Fierce Roderick felt thefatal drain, And showered his blows likewintry rain;

And, as firm rock or castle-roof Against the winter shower is

proof, The foe, invulnerable still, Foiled his wild rage by



steady skill; Till, at advantage ta'en,

his brand Forced Roderick's weaponfrom his hand, And backward borne upon thelea, Brought the proud Chieftainto his knee. XVI.

Now yield thee, or by Himwho made The world, thy heart's blooddyes my blade!;

'Thy threats, thy mercy, Idefy! Let recreant yield, who

fears to die.' Like adder darting from hiscoil,



Like wolf that dashesthrough the toil,

Like mountain-cat who guardsher young, Full at Fitz-James's throathe sprung; Received, but recked not ofa wound, And locked his arms hisfoeman round. Now, gallant Saxon, holdthine own!

No maiden's hand is roundthee thrown! That desperate grasp thy

frame might feel Through bars of brass andtriple steel!

They tug, they strain! down,down they go, The Gael above, Fitz-James



below. The Chieftain's gripe his

throat compressed, His knee was planted on hisbreast; His clotted locks hebackward threw, Across his brow his hand hedrew, From blood and mist to clearhis sight, Then gleamed aloft his

dagger bright! But hate and fury illsupplied

The stream of life'sexhausted tide, And all too late the

advantage came, To turn the odds of deadlygame;



For, while the daggergleamed on high,

Reeled soul and sense,reeled brain and eye. Down came the blow! but inthe heath The erring blade foundbloodless sheath. The struggling foe may nowunclasp The fainting Chief'srelaxing grasp;

Unwounded from the dreadfulclose, But breathless all, Fitz-

James arose. XVII.

He faltered thanks to Heavenfor life, Redeemed, unhoped, from



desperate strife; Next on his foe his look he

cast, Whose every gasp appearedhis last In Roderick's gore he dippedthe braid,— 'Poor Blanche! thy wrongsare dearly paid; Yet with thy foe must die,or live, The praise that faith and

valor give.' With that he blew a buglenote,

Undid the collar from histhroat, Unbonneted, and by the wave

Sat down his brow and handsto rave. Then faint afar are heard



the feet Of rushing steeds in gallop

fleet; The sounds increase, and noware seen Four mounted squires inLincoln green; Two who bear lance, and twowho lead By loosened rein a saddledsteed; Each onward held his

headlong course, And by Fitz-James reined uphis horse,—

With wonder viewed thebloody spot,— 'Exclaim not, gallants'

question not.— You, Herbert and Luffness,alight



And bind the wounds ofyonder knight;

Let the gray palfrey bearhis weight, We destined for a fairerfreight, And bring him on to Stirlingstraight; I will before at betterspeed, To seek fresh horse andfitting weed.

The sun rides high;—I mustbe boune To see the archer-game at

noon; But lightly Bayard clearsthe lea.—

De Vaux and Herries, followme. XVIII.



'Stand, Bayard, stand!'—the

steed obeyed, With arching neck and bendedhead, And glancing eye andquivering ear, As if he loved his lord tohear. No foot Fitz-James instirrup stayed, No grasp upon the saddle

laid, But wreathed his left handin the mane,

And lightly bounded from theplain, Turned on the horse his

armed heel, And stirred his courage withthe steel.



Bounded the fiery steed inair,

The rider sat erect andfair, Then like a bolt from steelcrossbow Forth launched, along theplain they go. They dashed that rapidtorrent through, And up Carhonie's hill theyflew;

Still at the gallop prickedthe Knight, His merrymen followed as

they might. Along thy banks, swiftTeith! they ride,

And in the race they mockthy tide; Torry and Lendrick now are



With plash, with scramble,and with bound.

Right-hand they leave thycliffs, Craig-Forth! And soon the bulwark of theNorth, Gray Stirling, with hertowers and town, Upon their fleet careerlooked clown. XIX.

As up the flinty path theystrained, Sudden his steed the leader

reined; A signal to his squire heflung,

Who instant to his stirrupsprung:— 'Seest thou, De Vaux, yon



woodsman gray, Who townward holds the rocky

way, Of stature tall and poorarray? Mark'st thou the firm, yetactive stride, With which he scales themountain-side? Know'st thou from whence hecomes, or whom?' 'No, by my word;—a burly

groom He seems, who in the fieldor chase

A baron's train would noblygrace—' 'Out, out, De Vaux! can fear

supply, And jealousy, no sharpereye?



Afar, ere to the hill hedrew,

That stately form and step Iknew; Like form in Scotland is notseen, Treads not such step onScottish green. 'Tis James of Douglas, bySaint Serle! The uncle of the banishedEarl.

Away, away, to court, toshow The near approach of dreaded

foe: The King must stand upon hisguard;

Douglas and he must meetprepared.' Then right-hand wheeled



their steeds, and straight They won the Castle's

postern gate. XX.

The Douglas, who had benthis way From Cambus-kenneth's abbeygray, Now, as he climbed the rockyshelf, Held sad communion with

himself:— 'Yes! all is true my fearscould frame;

A prisoner lies the nobleGraeme, And fiery Roderick soon will

feel The vengeance of the royalsteel.



I, only I, can ward theirfate,—

God grant the ransom comenot late! The Abbess hath her promisegiven, My child shall be the brideof Heaven;— Be pardoned one repiningtear! For He who gave her knowshow dear,

How excellent!—but that isby, And now my business is—to

die.— Ye towers! within whosecircuit dread

A Douglas by his sovereignbled; And thou, O sad and fatal



mound! That oft hast heard the

death-axe sound. As on the noblest of theland Fell the stern headsmen'sbloody hand,— The dungeon, block, andnameless tomb Prepare—for Douglas seekshis doom! But hark! what blithe and

jolly peal Makes the Franciscan steeplereel?

And see! upon the crowdedstreet, In motley groups what

masquers meet! Banner and pageant, pipe anddrum,



And merry morrice-dancerscome. I guess, by all this quaintarray, The burghers hold theirsports to-day. James will be there; heloves such show, Where the good yeoman bendshis bow, And the tough wrestler foilshis foe,

As well as where, in proudcareer, The high-born filter shivers

spear. I'll follow to the Castle-park,

And play my prize;—KingJames shall mark If age has tamed these



sinews stark, Whose force so oft inhappier days His boyish wonder loved topraise.' XXI.

The Castle gates were openflung, The quivering drawbridgerocked and rung, And echoed loud the flinty

street Beneath the coursers'clattering feet,

As slowly down the steepdescent Fair Scotland's King and

nobles went, While all along the crowdedway



Was jubilee and loud huzza. And ever James was bendinglow To his white jennet'ssaddle-bow, Doffing his cap to citydame, Who smiled and blushed forpride and shame. And well the simperer mightbe vain,— He chose the fairest of the

train. Gravely he greets each citysire,

Commends each pageant'squaint attire, Gives to the dancers thanks

aloud, And smiles and nods upon thecrowd,



Who rend the heavens withtheir acclaims,— 'Long live the Commons'King, King James!' Behind the King throngedpeer and knight, And noble dame and damselbright, Whose fiery steeds illbrooked the stay Of the steep street andcrowded way.

But in the train you mightdiscern Dark lowering brow and

visage stern; There nobles mourned theirpride restrained,

And the mean burgher's joysdisdained; And chiefs, who, hostage for



their clan, Were each from home abanished man, There thought upon their owngray tower, Their waving woods, theirfeudal power, And deemed themselves ashameful part Of pageant which they cursedin heart. XXII.

Now, in the Castle-park,drew out

Their checkered bands thejoyous rout. There morricers, with bell

at heel And blade in hand, theirmazes wheel;



But chief, beside the butts,there stand Bold Robin Hood and all hisband,— Friar Tuck with quarterstaffand cowl, Old Scathelocke with hissurly scowl, Maid Marian, fair as ivorybone, Scarlet, and Mutch, andLittle John;

Their bugles challenge allthat will, In archery to prove their

skill. The Douglas bent a bow ofmight,—

His first shaft centred inthe white, And when in turn he shot



again, His second split the firstin twain. From the King's hand mustDouglas take A silver dart, the archers'stake; Fondly he watched, withwatery eye, Some answering glance ofsympathy,— No kind emotion made reply!

Indifferent as to archerwight, The monarch gave the arrow

bright. XXIII.

Now, clear the ring! for,hand to hand, The manly wrestlers take



their stand. Two o'er the rest superiorrose, And proud demanded mightierfoes,— Nor called in vain, forDouglas came.— For life is Hugh of Larbertlame; Scarce better John of

lloa's fare, Whom senseless home his

comrades bare. Prize of the wrestlingmatch, the King

To Douglas gave a goldenring, While coldly glanced his eyeof blue, As frozen drop of wintrydew.

D l ld k b i



Douglas would speak, but inhis breast His struggling soul hiswords suppressed; Indignant then he turned himwhere Their arms the brawny yeomenbare, To hurl the massive bar in

air. When each his utmoststrength had shown,

The Douglas rent an earth-fast stone From its deep bed, then

heaved it high, And sent the fragmentthrough the sky A rood beyond the farthestmark; And still in Stirling's

l k



royal park, The gray-haired sires, whoknow the past, To strangers point theDouglas cast, And moralize on the decay Of Scottish strength inmodern day. XXIV.

The vale with loud applausesrang,

The Ladies' Rock sent backthe clang. The King, with look unmoved,

bestowed A purse well filled withpieces broad. Indignant smiled the Douglasproud, And threw the gold among the

d



crowd, Who now with anxious wonderscan, And sharper glance, the darkgray man; Till whispers rose among thethrong, That heart so free, and handso strong,

Must to the Douglas bloodbelong. The old men marked and shook

the head, To see his hair with silverspread,

And winked aside, and toldeach son Of feats upon the Englishdone, Ere Douglas of the stalwarthand

Was exiled from his native



Was exiled from his nativeland. The women praised hisstately form, Though wrecked by many awinter's storm; The youth with awe andwonder saw His strength surpassing

Nature's law. Thus judged, as is theirwont, the crowd

Till murmurs rose toclamours loud. But not a glance from that

proud ring Of peers who circled roundthe King With Douglas held communionkind, Or called the banished man

to mind;



to mind; No, not from those who atthe chase Once held his side thehonoured place, Begirt his board, and in thefield Found safety underneath hisshield;

For he whom royal eyesdisown, When was his form to

courtiers known! XXV.

The Monarch saw the gambolsflag And bade let loose a gallantstag, Whose pride, the holiday tocrown,

Two favorite greyhounds



Two favorite greyhoundsshould pull down, That venison free andBourdeaux wine Might serve the archery todine. But Lufra,—whom fromDouglas' side Nor bribe nor threat could

e'er divide, The fleetest hound in allthe North,—

Brave Lufra saw, and dartedforth. She left the royal hounds

midway, And dashing on the antleredprey, Sunk her sharp muzzle in hisflank, And deep the flowing life-

blood drank



blood drank. The King's stout huntsmansaw the sport By strange intruder brokenshort, Came up, and with his leashunbound In anger struck the noblehound.

The Douglas had endured,that morn, The King's cold look, the

nobles' scorn, And last, and worst tospirit proud,

Had borne the pity of thecrowd; But Lufra had been fondlybred, To share his board, to watchhis bed,

And oft would Ellen Lufra's



And oft would Ellen Lufra sneck In maiden glee with garlandsdeck; They were such playmatesthat with name Of Lufra Ellen's image came. His stifled wrath isbrimming high,

In darkened brow andflashing eye; As waves before the bark

divide, The crowd gave way beforehis stride;

Needs but a buffet and nomore, The groom lies senseless inhis gore. Such blow no other handcould deal,

Though gauntleted in glove



Though gauntleted in gloveof steel. XXVI.

Then clamored loud the royaltrain, And brandished swords andstaves amain, But stern the Baron's

warning: 'Back! Back, on your lives,ye menial pack!

Beware the Douglas.—Yes!behold, King James! The Douglas,

doomed of old, And vainly sought for nearand far, A victim to atone the war, A willing victim, nowattends,

Nor craves thy grace but for



y ghis friends.—' 'Thus is my clemency repaid? Presumptuous Lord!' theMonarch said: 'Of thy misproud ambitiousclan, Thou, James of Bothwell,wert the man,

The only man, in whom a foe My woman-mercy would notknow;

But shall a Monarch'spresence brook Injurious blow and haughty

look?— What ho! the Captain of ourGuard! Give the offender fittingward.— Break off the sports!'—for

tumult rose,



, And yeomen 'gan to bendtheir bows, 'Break off the sports!' hesaid and frowned, 'And bid our horsemen clearthe ground.' XXVII.

Then uproar wild andmisarray Marred the fair form of

festal day. The horsemen pricked amongthe crowd,

Repelled by threats andinsult loud; To earth are borne the oldand weak, The timorous fly, the womenshriek;

With flint, with shaft, with



staff, with bar, The hardier urge tumultuouswar. At once round Douglas darklysweep The royal spears in circledeep, And slowly scale the pathway

steep, While on the rear in thunderpour

The rabble with disorderedroar With grief the noble Douglas

saw The Commons rise against thelaw, And to the leading soldiersaid: 'Sir John of Hyndford, 'twas

my blade



That knighthood on thyshoulder laid; For that good deed permit methen A word with these misguidedmen.— XXVIII,

'Hear, gentle friends, ereyet for me Ye break the bands of

fealty. My life, my honour, and mycause,

I tender free to Scotland'slaws. Are these so weak as mustrequire 'Fine aid of your misguidedire?

Or if I suffer causeless



wrong, Is then my selfish rage sostrong, My sense of public weal solow, That, for mean vengeance ona foe, Those cords of love I should

unbind Which knit my country and mykind?

O no! Believe, in yondertower It will not soothe my

captive hour, To know those spears ourfoes should dread For me in kindred gore arered: 'To know, in fruitless brawl

begun,



For me that mother wails herson, For me that widow's mateexpires, For me that orphans weeptheir sires, That patriots mourn insultedlaws,

And curse the Douglas forthe cause. O let your patience ward

such ill, And keep your right to loveme still!'

XXIX.

The crowd's wild fury sunkagain In tears, as tempests meltin rain.

With lifted hands and eyes,



they prayed For blessings on hisgenerous head Who for his country feltalone, And prized her blood beyondhis own. Old men upon the verge of

life Blessed him who stayed thecivil strife;

And mothers held their babeson high, The self-devoted Chief to

spy, Triumphant over wrongs andire, To whom the prattlers owed asire. Even the rough soldier's

heart was moved;



As if behind some bierbeloved, With trailing arms anddrooping head, The Douglas up the hill heled, And at the Castle's battledverge,

With sighs resigned hishonoured charge. XXX.

The offended Monarch rodeapart,

With bitter thought andswelling heart, And would not now vouchsafeagain Through Stirling streets tolead his train.

'O Lennox, who would wish to



rule This changeling crowd, thiscommon fool? Hear'st thou,' he said, 'theloud acclaim With which they shout theDouglas name? With like acclaim the vulgar

throat Strained for King Jamestheir morning note;

With like acclaim theyhailed the day When first I broke the

Douglas sway; And like acclaim wouldDouglas greet If he could hurl me from myseat. Who o'er the herd would wish

to reign,F i fi kl fi



Fantastic, fickle, fierce,and vain? Vain as the leaf upon thestream, And fickle as a changefuldream; Fantastic as a woman's mood, And fierce as Frenzy's

fevered blood. Thou many-headed monster-thing,

O who would wish to be thyking?— XXXI..

'But soft! what messenger ofspeed Spurs hitherward his pantingsteed? I guess his cognizance afar—

What from our cousin, Johnf M ?'



of Mar?' 'He prays, my liege, yoursports keep bound Within the safe and guardedground; For some foul purpose yetunknown,— Most sure for evil to the

throne,— The outlawed Chieftain,Roderick Dhu,

Has summoned his rebelliouscrew; 'Tis said, in James of

Bothwell's aid These loose banditti standarrayed. The Earl of Mar this mornfrom Doune To break their muster

marched, and soonY G ill h f



Your Grace will hear ofbattle fought; But earnestly the Earlbesought, Till for such danger heprovide, With scanty train you willnot ride.'

XXXII.

'Thou warn'st me I have done

amiss,— I should have earlier lookedto this;

I lost it in this bustlingday.— Retrace with speed thyformer way; Spare not for spoiling ofthy steed,

The best of mine shall bethy meed



thy meed. Say to our faithful Lord ofMar, We do forbid the intendedwar; Roderick this morn in singlefight Was made our prisoner by a

knight, And Douglas hath himself andcause

Submitted to our kingdom'slaws. The tidings of their leaderslost Will soon dissolve themountain host, Nor would we that the vulgarfeel, For their Chief's crimes,

avenging steel.Bear Mar our message Braco



Bear Mar our message, Braco,fly!' He turned his steed,—'Myliege, I hie, Yet ere I cross this lilylawn I fear the broadswords willbe drawn.'

The turf the flying courserspurned, And to his towers the King

returned. XXXIII.

Ill with King James's moodthat day Suited gay feast andminstrel lay; Soon were dismissed thecourtly throng,



laid,Or pointed to his dagger



Or pointed to his daggerblade. But jaded horsemen from thewest At evening to the Castle

pressed, And busy talkers said theybore

Tidings of fight onKatrine's shore; At noon the deadly fray

begun, And lasted till the set ofsun. Thus giddy rumor shook thetown, Till closed the Night herpennons brown.



CANTO SIXTH.

The Guard-room.

I.

The sun, awakening, throughthe smoky air Of the dark city casts asullen glance, Rousing each caitiff to histask of care, Of sinful man the sadinheritance; Summoning revellers from thelagging dance, Scaring the prowlingrobber to his den;

Gilding on battled tower thewarder's lance,



, And warning student paleto leave his pen, And yield his drowsy eyes tothe kind nurse of men.

What various scenes, and O,what scenes of woe,

Are witnessed by thatred and struggling beam! The fevered patient, from

his pallet low, Through crowded hospitalbeholds it stream; The ruined maiden tremblesat its gleam, The debtor wakes tothought of gyve and jail, 'The love-lore wretch startsfrom tormenting dream:

The wakeful mother, bythe glimmering pale,



g g p , Trims her sick infant'scouch, and soothes his feeblewail. II.

At dawn the towers ofStirling rang

With soldier-step andweapon-clang, While drums with rolling

note foretell Relief to weary sentinel. Through narrow loop andcasement barred, The sunbeams sought theCourt of Guard, And, struggling with thesmoky air, Deadened the torches' yellow

glare. In comfortless alliance



shone The lights through arch ofblackened stone, And showed wild shapes in

garb of war, Faces deformed with beardand scar,

All haggard from themidnight watch, And fevered with the stern

debauch; For the oak table's massiveboard, Flooded with wine, withfragments stored, And beakers drained, andcups o'erthrown, Showed in what sport thenight had flown.

Some, weary, snored on floorand bench;



Some labored still theirthirst to quench; Some, chilled with watching,spread their hands

O'er the huge chimney'sdying brands, While round them, or beside

them flung, At every step their harnessrung.

III.

These drew not for theirfields the sword, Like tenants of a feudallord, Nor owned the patriarchalclaim Of Chieftain in their

leader's name; Adventurers they, from far



who roved, To live by battle which theyloved. There the Italian's clouded

face, The swarthy Spaniard's thereyou trace;

The mountain-loving Switzerthere More freely breathed in

mountain-air; The Fleming there despisedthe soil That paid so ill thelabourer's toil; Their rolls showed Frenchand German name; And merry England's exilescame,

To share, with ill-concealeddisdain,



Of Scotland's pay the scantygain. All brave in arms, welltrained to wield

The heavy halberd, brand,and shield; In camps licentious, wild,

and bold; In pillage fierce anduncontrolled;

And now, by holytide andfeast, From rules of disciplinereleased. IV.

'They held debate of bloodyfray, Fought 'twixt Loch Katrine

and Achray. Fierce was their speech, and



mid their words 'Their hands oft grappled totheir swords; Nor sunk their tone to spare

the ear Of wounded comrades groaningnear,

Whose mangled limbs andbodies gored Bore token of the mountain

sword, Though, neighbouring to theCourt of Guard, Their prayers and feverishwails were heard,— Sad burden to the ruffianjoke, And savage oath by furyspoke!—

At length up started John ofBrent,



A yeoman from the banks ofTrent; A stranger to respect orfear,

In peace a chaser of thedeer, In host a hardy mutineer,

But still the boldest of thecrew When deed of danger was to

do. He grieved that day theirgames cut short, And marred the dicer'sbrawling sport, And shouted loud, 'Renew thebowl! And, while a merry catch Itroll,

Let each the buxom chorusbear,



Like brethren of the brandand spear.' V.

Soldier's Song.

Our vicar still preaches

that Peter and Poule Laid a swinging long curseon the bonny brown bowl,

That there 's wrath anddespair in the jolly black-jack, And the seven deadly sins ina flagon of sack; Yet whoop, Barnaby! off withthy liquor, Drink upsees out, and a figfor the vicar!

Our vicar he calls itdamnation to sip

Th i dd d f



The ripe ruddy dew of awoman's dear lip, Says that Beelzebub lurks inher kerchief so sly,

And Apollyon shoots dartsfrom her merry black eye; Yet whoop, Jack! kiss

Gillian the quicker, Till she bloom like a rose,and a fig for the vicar!

Our vicar thus preaches,—andwhy should he not? For the dues of his cure arethe placket and pot; And 'tis right of his officepoor laymen to lurch Who infringe the domains ofour good Mother Church.

Yet whoop, bully-boys! offwith your liquor,

S t M j i ' th d



Sweet Marjorie 's the wordand a fig for the vicar! VI.

The warder's challenge,heard without, Stayed in mid-roar the merry

shout. A soldier to the portalwent,—

'Here is old Bertram, sirs,of Ghent; And—beat for jubilee thedrum!— A maid and minstrel with himcome.' Bertram, a Fleming, gray andscarred, Was entering now the Court



friend? such spoil As theirs must needs rewardthy toil



thy toil. Old dost thou wax, and warsgrow sharp; Thou now hast glee-maiden

and harp! Get thee an ape, and trudgethe land,

The leader of a jugglerband.' VII.

'No, comrade;—no suchfortune mine. After the fight these soughtour line, That aged harper and thegirl, And, having audience of theEarl,

Mar bade I should purveythem steed,

And bring them hitherward



And bring them hitherwardwith speed. Forbear your mirth and rudealarm,

For none shall do them shameor harm.— 'Hear ye his boast?' cried

John of Brent, Ever to strife and janglingbent;

'Shall he strike doe besideour lodge, And yet the jealous niggardgrudge To pay the forester his fee? I'll have my share howe'erit be, Despite of Moray, Mar, orthee.'

Bertram his forward stepwithstood;

And burning in his vengeful



And, burning in his vengefulmood, Old Allan, though unfit forstrife,

Laid hand upon his dagger-knife; But Ellen boldly stepped

between, And dropped at once thetartan screen:—

So, from his morning cloud,appears The sun of May throughsummer tears. The savage soldiery, amazed, As on descended angel gazed; Even hardy Brent, abashedand tamed, Stood half admiring, half

ashamed. VIII.



Boldly she spoke: 'Soldiers,attend! My father was the soldier's

friend, Cheered him in camps, inmarches led,

And with him in the battlebled. Not from the valiant or the

strong Should exile's daughtersuffer wrong.' Answered De Brent, mostforward still In every feat or good orill: 'I shame me of the part Iplayed;

And thou an outlaw's child,poor maid!

An outlaw I by forest laws,



An outlaw I by forest laws, And merry Needwood knows thecause. Poor Rose,—if Rose be living

now,'— He wiped his iron eye andbrow,—

'Must bear such age, Ithink, as thou.— Hear ye, my mates! I go to

call The Captain of our watch tohall: There lies my halberd on thefloor; And he that steps my halberdo'er, To do the maid injuriouspart,

My shaft shall quiver in hisheart!

Beware loose speech, or



Beware loose speech, orjesting rough; Ye all know John de Brent.Enough.'

IX.

Their Captain came, a

gallant young,— Of Tullibardine's house hesprung,—

Nor wore he yet the spurs ofknight; Gay was his mien, his humorlight And, though by courtesycontrolled, Forward his speech, hisbearing bold. The high-born maiden ill

could brook The scanning of his curiouslook



And dauntless eye:—and yet,in sooth Young Lewis was a generous

youth; But Ellen's lovely face andmien

Ill suited to the garb andscene, Might lightly bearconstruction strange, And give loose fancy scopeto range. 'Welcome to Stirling towers,fair maid! Come ye to seek a champion'said, On palfrey white, withharper hoar,

Like errant damosel of yore? Does thy high quest a knightrequire,



q , Or may the venture suit asquire?' Her dark eye flashed;—she

paused and sighed:— 'O what have I to do withpride!—

Through scenes of sorrow,shame, and strife, A suppliant for a father'slife, I crave an audience of theKing. Behold, to back my suit, aring, The royal pledge of gratefulclaims, Given by the Monarch toFitz-James.'

X.

The signet-ring young Lewis



g g y g

took With deep respect andaltered look,

And said: 'This ring ourduties own; And pardon, if to worth

unknown, In semblance mean obscurelyveiled, Lady, in aught my follyfailed. Soon as the day flings widehis gates, The King shall know whatsuitor waits. Please you meanwhile infitting bower Repose you till his waking

hour. Female attendance shall obey Your hest, for service or



array. Permit I marshal you theway.'

But, ere she followed, withthe grace And open bounty of her race,

She bade her slender pursebe shared Among the soldiers of theguard. The rest with thanks theirguerdon took, But Brent, with shy andawkward look, On the reluctant maiden'shold Forced bluntly back theproffered gold:—

'Forgive a haughty Englishheart, And O, forget its ruder



part!

The vacant purse shall be my

share, Which in my barrel-cap I'llbear,

Perchance, in jeopardy ofwar, Where gayer crests may keepafar.' With thanks—'twas all shecould—the maid His rugged courtesy repaid. XI.

When Ellen forth with Lewiswent, Allan made suit to John of



Teach the youth tales offight, and grace His earliest feat of field



or chase; In peace, in war, our rankwe keep,

We cheer his board, wesoothe his sleep, Nor leave him till we pour

our verse— A doleful tribute!—o'er hishearse. Then let me share hiscaptive lot; It is my right,—deny itnot!' 'Little we reck,' said Johnof Brent, 'We Southern men, of longdescent; Nor wot we how a name—a word

Makes clansmen vassals to alord:



Yet kind my noble landlord'spart,— God bless the house of

Beaudesert! And, but I loved to drivethe deer

More than to guide thelabouring steer, I had not dwelt an outcasthere. Come, good old Minstrel,follow me; Thy Lord and Chieftain shaltthou see.' XII.

Then, from a rusted ironhook,

A bunch of ponderous keys hetook, Lighted a torch, and Allan



led Through grated arch andpassage dread.

Portals they passed, where,deep within, Spoke prisoner's moan and

fetters' din; Through rugged vaults,where, loosely stored, Lay wheel, and axe, andheadsmen's sword, And many a hideous enginegrim, For wrenching joint andcrushing limb, By artists formed who deemed

it shame And sin to give their work a

name. They halted at a Iow-browedporch,



And Brent to Allan gave thetorch, While bolt and chain he

backward rolled, And made the bar unhasp itshold.

They entered:—'twas aprison-room Of stern security and gloom, Yet not a dungeon; for theday Through lofty gratings foundits way, And rude and antiquegarniture Decked the sad walls and

oaken floor, Such as the rugged days of

old Deemed fit for captivenoble's hold.



'Here,' said De Brent, 'thoumayst remain Till the Leech visit him

again. Strict is his charge, thewarders tell,

To tend the noble prisonerwell.' Retiring then the bolt hedrew, And the lock's murmursgrowled anew. Roused at the sound, fromlowly bed A captive feebly raised hishead.

The wondering Minstrellooked, and knew—

Not his dear lord, butRoderick Dhu! For, come from where Clan-



lpine fought, They, erring, deemed theChief he sought.

XIII.

As the tall ship, whose

lofty prore Shall never stem the billowsmore, Deserted by her gallantband, Amid the breakers liesastrand,— So on his couch lay RoderickDhu! And oft his fevered limbs he

threw In toss abrupt, as when her

sides Lie rocking in the advancingtides,



That shake her frame withceaseless beat, Yet cannot heave her from

her seat;— O, how unlike her course atsea!

Or his free step on hill andlea!— Soon as the Minstrel hecould scan,— 'What of thy lady?—of myclan?— My mother?—Douglas?—tell meall! Have they been ruined in myfall?

Ah, yes! or wherefore artthou here?



or fell, Has never harp of minstreltold

Of b f h d



Of combat fought so true andbold. Thy stately Pine is yet

unbent, Though many a goodly boughis rent.'

XIV.

The Chieftain reared hisform on high, And fever's fire was in hiseye; But ghastly, pale, and lividstreaks Checkered his swarthy browand cheeks.

'Hark, Minstrel! I haveheard thee play,

With measure bold on festalday, In yon lone isle,—again

h '



where ne'er Shall harper play or warriorhear!—

That stirring air that pealson high, O'er Dermid's race our

victory.— Strike it!—and then,—forwell thou canst,— Free from thy minstrel-spirit glanced, Fling me the picture of thefight, When met my clan the Saxonmight. I'll listen, till my fancy

hears The clang of swords' the

crash of spears! These grates, these walls,shall vanish then

F th f i fi ld f



For the fair field offighting men, And my free spirit burst

away, As if it soared from battlefray.'

The trembling Bard with aweobeyed,— Slow on the harp his hand helaid; But soon remembrance of thesight He witnessed from themountain's height, With what old Bertram toldat night,

Awakened the full power ofsong,

And bore him in careeralong;— As shallop launched on

river's tide



river's tide, 'That slow and fearfulleaves the side,

But, when it feels themiddle stream, Drives downward swift as

lightning's beam. XV.

Battle of Beal' An Duine.

'The Minstrel came once moreto view The eastern ridge ofBenvenue, For ere he parted he would

say Farewell to lovely loch

chray Where shall he find, inforeign land,

So lone a lake so sweet a



So lone a lake, so sweet astrand!— There is no breeze upon the

fern, No ripple on the lake, Upon her eyry nods the erne,

The deer has sought thebrake; The small birds will notsing aloud, The springing troutlies still, So darkly glooms yonthunder-cloud, That swathes, as with apurple shroud,

Benledi's distant hill. Is it the thunder's solemn

sound That mutters deep anddread,

Or echoes from the groaning



Or echoes from the groaningground The warrior's measured

tread? Is it the lightning'squivering glance

That on the thicketstreams, Or do they flash on spearand lance The sun's retiringbeams?— I see the dagger-crest ofMar, I see the Moray's silverstar,

Wave o'er the cloud of Saxonwar,

That up the lake comeswinding far!

To hero boune for



To hero boune forbattle-strife, Or bard of martial

lay, 'Twere worth ten yearsof peaceful life,

One glance attheir array! XVI.

'Their light-armed archersfar and near Surveyed the tangledground, Their centre ranks, withpike and spear,

A twilight forestfrowned,

Their barded horsemen in therear The stern battalia

crowned



crowned. No cymbal clashed, noclarion rang,

Still were the pipe anddrum; Save heavy tread, and

armor's clang, The sullen march wasdumb. There breathed no wind theircrests to shake, Or wave their flagsabroad; Scarce the frail aspenseemed to quake That shadowed o'er

their road. Their vaward scouts no

tidings bring, Can rouse no lurkingfoe,

Nor spy a trace of living



Nor spy a trace of livingthing, Save when they stirred

the roe; The host moves like a deep-sea wave,

Where rise no rocks itspride to brave High-swelling, dark,and slow. The lake is passed, and nowthey gain A narrow and a broken plain, Before the Trosachs' ruggedjaws; And here the horse and

spearmen pause While, to explore the

dangerous glen Dive through the pass thearcher-men.

XVII.



XVII.

'At once there rose so wild

a yell Within that dark and narrowdell,

As all the fiends fromheaven that fell Had pealed the banner-cry ofhell! Forth from the pass intumult driven, Like chaff before thewind of heaven, The archeryappear:

For life! for life!their flight they ply—

And shriek, and shout,and battle-cry, And plaids and bonnets

waving high,



g g , And broadswordsflashing to the sky,

Are maddening inthe rear. Onward they drive indreadful race, Pursuers andpursued; Before that tide offlight and chase, How shall it keep itsrooted place, The spearmen'stwilight wood?—" "Down, down," cried

Mar, "your lances down' Bear back both

friend and foe! "— Like reeds before thetempest's frown,

That serried grove of



glances brown At once lay

levelled low; And closely shoulderingside to side, The bristling ranks theonset bide.—" "We'll quell the savagemountaineer, As their Tinchelcows the game! They come as fleet asforest deer, We'll drive themback as tame."

XVIII.

'Bearing before them intheir course The relics of the archer

force,f



Like wave with crest ofsparkling foam,

Right onward did Clan-Alpinecome. Above the tide, eachbroadsword bright Was brandishing likebeam of light, Each targe wasdark below; And with the ocean'smighty swing, When heaving to thetempest's wing, They hurled them

on the foe. I heard the lance's



the broom;

Their steeds are stout,

their swords are out,Th k



They soon makelightsome room.

Clan-Alpine's best arebackward borne— Where, where wasRoderick then! One blast upon his bugle-horn Were worth a thousandmen. And refluent through thepass of fear The battle's tide waspoured; Vanished the Saxon's

struggling spear, Vanished the mountain-

sword. As Bracklinn's chasm, soblack and steep,

Receives her roaringli



linn As the dark caverns of the

deep Suck the wild whirlpoolin, So did the deep and darksomepass Devour the battle's mingledmass; None linger now upon theplain Save those who ne'er shallfight again. XIX.

'Now westward rolls thebattle's din,

That deep and doubling passwithin.— Minstrel, away! the work of

fateIs bearing on; its issue



Is bearing on; its issuewait,

Where the rude Trosachs'dread defile Opens on Katrine's lake andisle. Gray Benvenue I soonrepassed, Loch Katrine lay beneath mecast. The sun is set;—theclouds are met, The lowering scowlof heaven An inky hue of livid

blue To the deep lake

has given; Strange gusts of wind frommountain glen

Swept o'er the lake, thensunk again



sunk again. I heeded not the eddying

surge, Mine eye but saw theTrosachs' gorge, Mine ear but heard thatsullen sound, Which like an earthquakeshook the ground, And spoke the stern anddesperate strife That parts not but withparting life, Seeming, to minstrel ear, totoll

The dirge of many a passingsoul.



like tattered sail, That flings itsfragments to the gale,

And broken arms anddisarray



disarray Marked the fell havoc

of the day. XX.

'Viewing the mountain'sridge askance, The Saxons stood in sullentrance, Till Moray pointed with hislance, And cried: "Behold yon

isle!— See! none are left to guardits strand

But women weak, that wringthe hand:



purpose knew, And to their clamorsBenvenue

A mingled echo gave;The Saxons shout, their mate



The Saxons shout, their mateto cheer,

The helpless females screamfor fear And yells for rage themountaineer. 'T was then, as by theoutcry riven, Poured down at once thelowering heaven: A whirlwind swept LochKatrine's breast,

Her billows reared theirsnowy crest. Well for the swimmer swelled

they high, To mar the Highland

marksman's eye; For round him showered, midrain and hail,

The vengeful arrows of theGael.



In vain.—He nears the isle—

and lo! His hand is on a shallop'sbow. Just then a flash oflightning came, It tinged the waves andstrand with flame; I marked Duncraggan'swidowed dame, Behind an oak I saw her

stand, A naked dirk gleamed in herhand:—

It darkened,—but amid themoan

Of waves I heard a dyinggroan;— Another flash!—the spearman

floats A weltering corse beside the



gboats,

And the stern matron o'erhim stood, Her hand and daggerstreaming blood. XXI.

"'Revenge! revenge!" theSaxons cried, The Gaels' exulting shoutreplied.

Despite the elemental rage, Again they hurried toengage;

But, ere they closed indesperate fight,

Bloody with spurring came aknight, Sprung from his horse, and

from a crag Waved 'twixt the hosts a



milk-white flag.

Clarion and trumpet by hisside Rung forth a truce-note highand wide, While, in the Monarch'sname, afar A herald's voice forbade thewar, For Bothwell's lord andRoderick bold

Were both, he said, incaptive hold.'— But here the lay made sudden

stand, The harp escaped the

Minstrel's hand! Oft had he stolen a glance,to spy

How Roderick brooked hisminstrelsy:



At first, the Chieftain, to

the chime, With lifted hand kept feebletime; That motion ceased,—yetfeeling strong Varied his look as changedthe song; At length, no more hisdeafened ear The minstrel melody can

hear; His face grows sharp,—hishands are clenched'

As if some pang his heart-strings wrenched;



Thy foeman's dread, thypeople's aid, Breadalbane's boast, Clan-

lpine's shade! For thee shall none a



requiem say?—

For thee, who loved theminstrel's lay, For thee, of Bothwell'shouse the stay, The shelter of her exiledline, E'en in this prison-house ofthine, I'll wail for Alpine'shonored Pine!

'What groans shall yondervalleys fill!

What shrieks of grief shallrend yon hill!

What tears of burning rageshall thrill, When mourns thy tribe thy

battles done, Thy fall before the race was



won,

Thy sword ungirt ere set ofsun! There breathes not clansmanof thy line, But would have given hislife for thine. O, woe for Alpine's honouredPine!

'Sad was thy lot on mortal

stage!— The captive thrush may brookthe cage,

The prisoned eagle dies forrage.

Brave spirit, do Dot scornmy strain! And, when its notes awake

again, Even she, so long beloved in



vain,

Shall with my harp her voicecombine, And mix her woe and tearswith mine, To wail Clan-Alpine'shonoured Pine.' XXIII.

Ellen the while, withbursting heart,

Remained in lordly bowerapart, Where played, with many-

coloured gleams, Through storied pane the

rising beams. In vain on gilded roof theyfall,

And lightened up atapestried wall,

d f h l



And for her use a menial

train A rich collation spread invain. The banquet proud, thechamber gay, Scarce drew one curiousglance astray; Or if she looked, 't was butto say, With better omen dawned the

day In that lone isle, wherewaved on high

The dun-deer's hide forcanopy;

Where oft her noble fathershared The simple meal her care

prepared, While Lufra, crouching byh id



her side,

Her station claimed withjealous pride, And Douglas, bent onwoodland game, Spoke of the chase toMalcolm Graeme, Whose answer, oft at randommade, The wandering of histhoughts betrayed.

Those who such simple joyshave known Are taught to prize them

when they 're gone. But sudden, see, she lifts

her head; The window seeks withcautious tread.

What distant music has thepowerT i h i thi f l



To win her in this woful

hour? 'T was from a turret thato'erhung Her latticed bower, thestrain was sung. XXIV.

Lay of the ImprisonedHuntsman.

'My hawk is tired of perchand hood, My idle greyhound loathes

his food, My horse is weary of his

stall, And I am sick of captivethrall.

I wish I were as I havebeen,H nting the hart in forest



Hunting the hart in forestgreen, With bended bow andbloodhound free, For that's the life is meetfor me.

I hate to learn the ebb oftime From yon dull steeple'sdrowsy chime,

Or mark it as the sunbeamscrawl, Inch after inch, along the

wall. The lark was wont my matins

ring, The sable rook my vesperssing;

These towers, although aking's they be,Have not a hall of joy for



Have not a hall of joy forme.

No more at dawning morn Irise, And sun myself in Ellen'seyes, Drive the fleet deer theforest through, And homeward wend withevening dew;

A blithesome welcomeblithely meet, And lay my trophies at her

feet, While fled the eve on wing

of glee,— That life is lost to loveand me!'



XXV.

The heart-sick lay was

hardly said, The listener had not turnedher head



her head, It trickled still, thestarting tear, When light a footstep struckher ear, And Snowdoun's gracefulKnight was near. She turned the hastier, lestagain The prisoner should renewhis strain.

'O welcome, brave Fitz-James!' she said; 'How may an almost orphan

maid Pay the deep debt—' 'O say

not so! To me no gratitude you owe. Not mine, alas! the boon to

give, And bid thy noble fatherlive;



live; I can but be thy guide,sweet maid, With Scotland's King thysuit to aid. No tyrant he, though ire andpride May lay his better moodaside. Come, Ellen, come! 'tis morethan time,

He holds his court atmorning prime.' With heating heart, and

bosom wrung, As to a brother's arm she

clung. Gently he dried the fallingtear,

And gently whispered hopeand cheer;Her faltering steps half



Her faltering steps halfled, half stayed, Through gallery fair andhigh arcade, Till at his touch its wingsof pride A portal arch unfolded wide. XXVI.

Within 't was brilliant alland light,

A thronging scene of figuresbright; It glowed on Ellen's dazzled

sight, As when the setting sun has

given Ten thousand hues to summereven,

And from their tissue fancyframesAerial knights and fairy



Aerial knights and fairydames. Still by Fitz-James herfooting staid; A few faint steps sheforward made, Then slow her drooping headshe raised, And fearful round thepresence gazed; For him she sought who owned

this state, The dreaded Prince whosewill was fate!—

She gazed on many a princelyport

Might well have ruled aroyal court; On many a splendid garb she

gazed,— Then turned bewildered andamazed,



, For all stood bare; and inthe room Fitz-James alone wore capand plume. To him each lady's look waslent, On him each courtier's eyewas bent; Midst furs and silks andjewels sheen,

He stood, in simple Lincolngreen, The centre of the glittering

ring,— And Snowdoun's Knight is

Scotland's King! XXVII.

As wreath of snow onmountain-breast Slides from the rock that



gave it rest, Poor Ellen glided from herstay, And at the Monarch's feetshe lay; No word her choking voicecommands,— She showed the ring,—sheclasped her hands. O, not a moment could he

brook, The generous Prince, thatsuppliant look!

Gently he raised her,—and,the while,

Checked with a glance thecircle's smile; Graceful, but grave, her

brow he kissed, And bade her terrors bedismissed:—



'Yes, fair; the wanderingpoor Fitz-James The fealty ofScotland claims. To him thy woes, thy wishes,bring; He will redeem his signet

ring. Ask naught for Douglas;— yester even,

His Prince and he have muchforgiven; Wrong hath he had from

slanderous tongue, I, from his rebel kinsmen,

wrong. We would not, to the vulgarcrowd,

Yield what they craved withclamor loud; Calmly we heard and judged



his cause, Our council aided and ourlaws. I stanched thy father'sdeath-feud stern With stout De Vaux and grayGlencairn;

And Bothwell's Lordhenceforth we own The friend and bulwark of

our throne.— But, lovely infidel, hownow?

What clouds thy misbelievingbrow?

Lord James of Douglas, lendthine aid; Thou must confirm this

doubting maid.' XXVIII.



Then forth the noble Douglassprung, And on his neck his daughterhung. The Monarch drank, thathappy hour, The sweetest, holiest

draught of Power,— When it can say with godlikevoice,

Arise, sad Virtue, andrejoice! Yet would not James the

general eye On nature's raptures long

should pry; He stepped between—' Nay,Douglas, nay,

Steal not my proselyte away! The riddle 'tis my right toread,



That brought this happychance to speed. Yes, Ellen, when disguised Istray In life's more low buthappier way, 'Tis under name which veils

my power Nor falsely veils,—forStirling's tower

Of yore the name of Snowdounclaims, And Normans call me James

Fitz-James. Thus watch I o'er insulted

laws, Thus learn to right theinjured cause.'

Then, in a tone apart andlow,— 'Ah, little traitress! none



must know What idle dream, whatlighter thought What vanity full dearlybought, Joined to thine eye's darkwitchcraft, drew

My spell-bound steps toBenvenue In dangerous hour, and all

but gave Thy Monarch's life tomountain glaive!'

Aloud he spoke: 'Thou stilldost hold

That little talisman ofgold, Pledge of my faith, Fitz-

James's ring,— What seeks fair Ellen of theKing?'



XXIX.

Full well the consciousmaiden guessed He probed the weakness ofher breast; But with that consciousness

there came A lightening of her fearsfor Graeme,

And more she deemed theMonarch's ire Kindled 'gainst him who for

her sire Rebellious broadsword boldly

drew; And, to her generous feelingtrue,

She craved the grace ofRoderick Dhu. 'Forbear thy suit;—the King

f k



of kings Alone can stay life'sparting wings. I know his heart, I know hishand, Have shared his cheer, andproved his brand;

My fairest earldom would Igive To bid Clan-Alpine's

Chieftain live!— Hast thou no other boon tocrave?

No other captive friend tosave?'

Blushing, she turned herfrom the King, And to the Douglas gave the

ring, As if she wished her sire tospeak

Th i h i d h



The suit that stained herglowing cheek. 'Nay, then, my pledge haslost its force, And stubborn justice holdsher course. Malcolm, come forth!'—and,

at the word, Down kneeled the Graeme toScotland's Lord.

'For thee, rash youth, nosuppliant sues, From thee may Vengeance

claim her dues, Who, nurtured underneath our

smile, Hast paid our care bytreacherous wile,

And sought amid thy faithfulclan A refuge for an outlawed



man, Dishonoring thus thy loyalname.— Fetters and warder for theGraeme!' His chain of gold the Kingunstrung,

The links o'er Malcolm'sneck he flung, Then gently drew the

glittering band, And laid the clasp onEllen's hand.

Harp of the North, farewell!

The hills grow dark, On purple peaks adeeper shade descending;

In twilight copse the glow-worm lights her spark, The deer, half seen,are to the covert wending



are to the covert wending. Resume thy wizard elm! thefountain lending, And the wild breeze,thy wilder minstrelsy; Thy numbers sweet withnature's vespers blending,

With distant echo fromthe fold and lea, And herd-boy's evening pipe,

and hum of housing bee.

Yet, once again, farewell,

thou Minstrel Harp! Yet, once again,

forgive my feeble sway, And little reck I of thecensure sharp

May idly cavil at anidle lay. Much have I owed thy strainson life's long way



on life s long way, Through secret woes theworld has never known, When on the weary nightdawned wearier day, And bitterer was thegrief devoured alone.—

That I o'erlive such woes,Enchantress! is thine own.

Hark! as my lingeringfootsteps slow retire, Some Spirit of the Air

has waked thy string! 'Tis now a seraph bold, with

touch of fire, 'Tis now the brush ofFairy's frolic wing.

Receding now, the dyingnumbers ring Fainter and fainterdown the rugged dell;



down the rugged dell; And now the mountain breezesscarcely bring A wandering witch-noteof the distant spell— And now, 'tis silent all!— Enchantress, fare thee well!

ABBREVIATIONS USED

IN THE NOTES.



Cf. (confer), compare. F.Q.,Spenser's Faerie Queene. Fol.following. Id. (idem), the same.Lockhart, J. G. Lockhart's editioof Scott's poems (various issues).P.L., Milton's Paradise Lost.Taylor, R. W. Taylor's edition of

The Lady of the Lake (London1875). Wb., Webster's Dictionar

(revised quarto edition of 1879).

Worc., Worcester's Dictionary(quarto edition). The abbreviations

of the names of Shakespeare's plays will be readily understood.The line-numbers are those of th



The line numbers are those of th"Globe" edition.

The references to Scott's Lay othe Last Minstrel are to canto anline; those to Marmion and othe

poems to canto and stanza.

NOTES.



Introduction.

The Lady of the Lake was firspublished in 1810, when Scott was



published in 1810, when Scott wasthirty-nine, and it was dedicated to"the most noble John JamesMarquis of Abercorn." Eighthousand copies were sold between

June 2d and September 22d, 1810and repeated editions were

subsequently called for. In 1830,the following "Introduction" was prefixed to the poem by the author:

After the success of Marmion,felt inclined to exclaim with

Ulysses in the Odyssey: [Greek Letters] Odys. X.5.



"One venturous game my handhas won to-day—

Another, gallants, yetremains to play."

The ancient manners, the habitsand customs of the aboriginal race

by whom the Highlands o

Scotland were inhabited, hadalways appeared to me peculiarly

adapted to poetry. The change in

their manners, too, had taken placealmost within my own time, or at

least I had learned many particularsconcerning the ancient state of theHighlands from the old men of th



glast generation. I had alwaysthought the old Scottish Gaehighly adapted for poeticalcomposition. The feuds and

political dissensions which, half acentury earlier, would have

rendered the richer and wealthier part of the kingdom indisposed tocountenance a poem, the scene owhich was laid in the Highlands,

were now sunk in the generouscompassion which the English,

more than any other nation, feel for the misfortunes of an honourablefoe. The Poems of Ossian had b



their popularity sufficiently shownthat, if writings on Highlandsubjects were qualified to interestthe reader, mere national prejudices

were, in the present day, veryunlikely to interfere with their

success.I had also read a great deal, seen

much, and heard more, of that

romantic country where I was inthe habit of spending some time

every autumn; and the scenery oLock Katrine was connected witthe recollection of many a dear



yfriend and merry expedition oformer days. This poem, the actionof which lay among scenes so

beautiful and so deeply imprinted

on my recollections, was a labour of love, and it was no less so to

recall the manners and incidentsintroduced. The frequent custom oJames IV., and particularly oJames V., to walk through their

kingdom in disguise, afforded methe hint of an incident which never

fails to be interesting if managedwith the slightest address or dexterity.



I may now confess, however,that the employment, thoughattended with great pleasure, wasnot without its doubts andanxieties. A lady, to whom I wasnearly related, and with whom I

lived, during her whole life, on themost brotherly terms of affection,

was residing with me at the time

when the work was in progress,and used to ask me, what I could

possibly do to rise so early in themorning (that happening to be themost convenient to me for



composition). At last I told her thsubject of my meditations; and Ican never forget the anxiety andaffection expressed in her reply.

"Do not be so rash," she said, "mdearest cousin. 2 You are already

popular,—more so, perhaps, thanyou yourself will believe, or thaneven I, or other partial friends, canfairly allow to your merit. You

stand high,—do not rashly attemptto climb higher, and incur the risk

of a fall; for, depend upon it, afavourite will not be permittedeven to stumble with impunity." I



replied to this affectionateexpostulation in the words oMontrose,— "'He either fears his fate too

much, Or his deserts are small, Who dares not put it to thetouch To gain or lose it all.'

"If I fail," I said, for the dialogu

is strong in my recollection, "it is a

sign that I ought never to havsucceeded, and I will write pros

for life: you shall see no change inmy temper, nor will I eat a singlemeal the worse. But if I succeed,



'Up with the bonnie bluebonnet, The dirk, and the feather,and a'!'"

Afterwards I showed maffectionate and anxious critic thefirst canto of the poem, which

reconciled her to my imprudence. Nevertheless, although I answere

thus confidently, with the obstinacy

often said to be proper to thosewho bear my surname, I

acknowledge that my confidencewas considerably shaken by thewarning of her excellent taste and



unbiased friendship. Nor was Imuch comforted by her retractionof the unfavourable judgment,when I recollected how likely

natural partiality was to effect thatchange of opinion. In such cases,

affection rises like a light on thecanvas, improves any favourabletints which it formerly exhibited,and throws its defects into the



with me at Ashestiel one day, Itook the opportunity of reading to

him the first canto of The Lady othe Lake, in order to ascertain theffect the poem was likely to



produce upon a person who was but too favourable a representativeof readers at large. It is of course to

be supposed that I determined

rather to guide my opinion by whatmy friend might appear to feel,

than by what he might think fit tosay. His reception of my recitation,or prelection, was rather singular.He placed his hand across his

brow, and listened with greatattention through the whole

account of the stag-hunt, till thedogs threw themselves into the laketo follow their master, who



embarks with Ellen Douglas. Hthen started up with a suddenexclamation, struck his hand on thetable, and declared, in a voice o

censure calculated for the occasion,that the dogs must have been totally

ruined by being permitted to takethe water after such a severe chase.I own I was much encouraged bthe species of revery which had

possessed so zealous a follower othe sports of the ancient Nimrod,

who had been completely surprisedout of all doubts of the reality othe tale. Another of his remarks

l l d d



gave me less pleasure. He detectedthe identity of the King with thwandering knight, Fitz-Jameswhen he winds his bugle to

summon his attendants. He was probably thinking of the lively, but

somewhat licentious, old ballad, inwhich the denouement of a royalintrigue takes place as follows: "He took a bugle frae his

side, He blew both loud andshrill, And four and twenty beltedknights Came skipping over thehill;

Then he took out a little



Then he took out a littleknife, Let a' his duddies fa',

And he was the brawestgentleman That was amang them a'.

And we'll go no more aroving," etc.

This discovery, as Mr. Pepyssays of the rent in his camlet cloak,was but a trifle, yet it troubled me;and I was at a good deal of pains to

efface any marks by which Ithought my secret could be traced

before the conclusion, when Irelied on it with the same hope o producing effect, with which theI i h b i id



Irish post-boy is said to reserve"trot for the avenue."

I took uncommon pains to verif the accuracy of the localcircumstances of this story. Irecollect, in particular, that to

ascertain whether I was telling probable tale, I went into

Perthshire, to see whether Kin

James could actually have riddenfrom the banks of Loch Vennachar

to Stirling Castle within the timsupposed in the poem, and had the pleasure to satisfy myself that it

it ti bl



was quite practicable.After a considerable delay, Th

Lady of the Lake appeared in June1810; and its success was certainlyso extraordinary as to induce mefor the moment to conclude that I

had at last fixed a nail in the proverbially inconstant wheel o

Fortune, whose stability in behal

of an individual who had so boldlycourted her favours for three

successive times had not as yet been shaken. I had attained, perhaps, that degree of reputationat hich pr dence or certainl



at which prudence, or certainlytimidity, would have made a halt,and discontinued efforts by which Iwas far more likely to diminish my

fame than to increase it. But, as thcelebrated John Wilkes is said to

have explained to his late Majesty,that he himself, amid his full tide o popularity, was never a Wilkite, soI can, with honest truth, exculpat

myself from having been at anytime a partisan of my own poetry,

even when it was in the highestfashion with the million. It musnot be supposed that I was eitheso ungrateful or so



so ungrateful, or sosuperabundantly candid, as todespise or scorn the value of thosewhose voice had elevated me so

much higher than my own opiniontold me I deserved. I felt, on th

contrary, the more grateful to the public, as receiving that from partiality to me, which I could nohave claimed from merit; and I

endeavoured to deserve the partiality, by continuing such

exertions as I was capable of fotheir amusement.

It may be that I did not in thii d f ibbli



It may be that I did not, in thicontinued course of scribbling,consult either the interest of the

public or my own. But the formehad effectual means of defending

themselves, and could, by their coldness, sufficiently check any

approach to intrusion; and for myself, I had now for several years

dedicated my hours so much to

literary labour that I should havfelt difficulty in employing mysel

otherwise; and so, like Dogberry, Igenerously bestowed all mytediousness on the public,comforting myself with the



comforting myself with thereflection that, if posterity shouldthink me undeserving of the favour with which I was regarded by m

contemporaries, "they could not but say I had the crown," and had

enjoyed for a time that popularitywhich is so much coveted.

I conceived, however, that I held

the distinguished situation I hadobtained, however unworthily,

rather like the champion o pugilism, 3 on the condition o being always ready to show proofsof my skill than in the manner o



of my skill, than in the manner othe champion of chivalry, who

performs his duties only on rareand solemn occasions. I was in an

case conscious that I could not longhold a situation which the caprice,

rather than the judgment, of the public, had bestowed upon me, and preferred being deprived of my precedence by some more worthy

rival, to sinking into contempt for my indolence, and losing my

reputation by what Scottish lawyerscall the negative prescription.Accordingly, those who choose tolook at the Introduction to Rokeby



look at the Introduction to Rokeby,will be able to trace the steps bywhich I declined as a poet to figur as a novelist; as the ballad says,

Queen Eleanor sunk at CharinCross to rise again at Queenhithe.

It only remains for me to sathat, during my short pre-eminence

of popularity, I faithfully observed

the rules of moderation which Ihad resolved to follow before I

began my course as a man oletters. If a man is determined tomake a noise in the world, he is assure to encounter abuse and



sure to encounter abuse andridicule, as he who gallopsfuriously through a village mustreckon on being followed by the

curs in full cry. Experienced persons know that in stretching to

flog the latter, the rider is very aptto catch a bad fall; nor is an attemptto chastise a malignant criticattended with less danger to the

author. On this principle, I le parody, burlesque, and squibs find

their own level; and while the latter hissed most fiercely, I was cautiousnever to catch them up, asschoolboys do to throw them back



schoolboys do, to throw them back against the naughty boy who firedthem off, wisely remembering thatthey are in such cases apt to

explode in the handling. Let madd, that my reign 4 (since Byron

has so called it) was marked bysome instances of good-nature aswell as patience. I never refusedliterary person of merit such

services in smoothing his way tothe public as were in my power;

and I had the advantage, rather anuncommon one with our irritablerace, to enjoy general favour without incurring permanent ill-



without incurring permanent illwill, so far as is known to me,among any of my contemporaries. W.S. Abbotsford, April, 1830.

Our limits do not permit us toadd any extended selections fromthe many critical notices of the

poem. The verdict of Jeffrey, in thEdinburgh Review, on its firs

appearance, has been generallyendorsed:—

"Upon the whole, we are inclinedto think more highly of The Ladof the Lake than of either of itsauthor's former publications [the



author s former publications [theLay and Marmion]. We are mor sure, however, that it has fewer faults than that it has greater

beauties; and as its beauties bear astrong resemblance to those with

which the public has been alreadymade familiar in these celebratedworks, we should not be surprised

if its popularity were less splendidand remarkable. For our own parts,

however, we are of opinion that itwill be oftener read hereafter thaneither of them; and that, if it hadappeared first in the series, their



pp ,reception would have been lessfavourable than that which it hasexperienced. It is more polished in

its diction, and more regular in itsversification; the story is

constructed with infinitely moreskill and address; there is a greater proportion of pleasing and tender passages, with much less

antiquarian detail; and, upon thewhole, a larger variety o

characters, more artfully andudiciously contrasted. There isnothing so fine, perhaps, as the

battle in Marmion, or so



, picturesque as some of thescattered sketches in the Lay; buthere is a richness and a spirit in the

whole piece which does not pervade either of those poems,—a

profusion of incident and a shifting brilliancy of colouring that remindsus of the witchery of Ariosto, and aconstant elasticity and occasional

energy which seem to belong more peculiarly to the author now before

us."



branches of the tree were used inthe olden time as divining-rods,

and riding switches from it weresupposed to insure good luck on aourney. In the closing stanzas o

the poem (vi. 846) it is called the



"wizard elm." Tennyson (In

Memoriam, 89) refers to "Witch-elms that counterchangethe floor Of this flat lawn withdusk and bright."

Saint Fillan was a Scotch abboof the seventh century who becamefamous as a saint. He had two



on the road to Tyndrum. In thisHoly Pool, as it is called, insanfolk were dipped with certainceremonies, and then left bound allnight in the open air. If they werefound loose the next morning, they



were supposed to have been cured.

This treatment was practised as latas 1790, according to Pennant, who

adds that the patients weregenerally found in the morning

relieved of their troubles—bydeath. Another writer, in 1843, saysthat the pool is still visited, not by

people of the vicinity, who have no

faith in its virtue, but by those fromdistant places. Scott alludes to thisspring in Marmion, i. 29: "Thence to Saint Fillan'sblessed well,

Whose springs can frenzieddreams dispel,



And the crazed brainrestore."

3. And down the fitful breeze,etc. The original MS. reads: "And on the fitful breeze thynumbers flung, Till envious ivy, with herverdant ring, Mantled and muffled eachmelodious string,— O Wizard Harp, still must

thine accents sleep?"

10. Caledon. Caledonia, thRoman name of Scotland.

14. Each according pause. Thais, each pause in the singing. InMarmion, ii. 11, according is used



of music that fills the intervals oother music: "Soon as they neared histurrets strong, The maidens raised SaintHilda's song, And with the sea-wave andthe wind Their voices, sweetlyshrill, combined,

And made harmonious close;

Then, answering from thesandy shore, Half-drowned amid thebreakers' roar, According chorus rose."

The MS. reads here: "At each according pause thouspokest aloud



p Thine ardent sympathy

sublime and high."28. The stag at eve had drunk his

fill. The metre of the poem propeis iambic, that is, with the accent onthe even syllables, and octosyllabic,or eight syllables to the line.

29. Monan's rill. St. Monan was aScotch martyr of the fourth

century. We can find no mention oany rill named for him.

31. Glenartney. A valley to thenorth-east of Callander, withBenvoirlich (which rises to thheight of 3180 feet) on the north,



and Uam-Var (see 53 below) on thesouth, separating it from the valleyof the Teith. It takes its name from

the Artney, the stream flowingthrough it.

32. His beacon red. The figure ian appropriate one in describing

this region, where fires on the hill-

tops were so often used as signalsin the olden time. Cf. the Lay, iii.379: "And soon a score of fires, Iween,

From height, and hill, andcliff, were seen,E h ith lik tidi



Each with warlike tidingsfraught; Each from each the signalcaught," etc.

34. Deep-mouthed. Cf.Shakespeare, 1 Hen. VI. ii. 4. 12"Between two dogs, which hath thdeeper mouth;" and T. of S. ind. 1.18: "the deep-mouthed brach" (thatis, hound).

The MS. reads: "The bloodhound's notes ofheavy bass

Resounded hoarsely up thepass."

35. Resounded... rocky. The poeoften avails himself of "apt



alliteration's artful aid," as here,and in the next two lines; mostfrequently in pairs of words.

38. As Chief, etc. Note here, aoften, the simile put BEFORE tha

which it illustrates,—an effectiverhetorical, though not the logical,

arrangement.

45. Beamed frontlet. Antleredforehead.

46. Adown. An instance of a purely poetical word, notadmissible in prose.

49. Chase. Here put for thos



engaged in the chase; as in 101 and171, below. One of its regular meanings is the OBJECT of thchase, or the animal pursued.

53. Uam-Var. "Ua-Var, as thename is pronounced, or more

properly Uaigh-mor, is a mountain

to the north-east of the village o

Callander, in Menteith, deriving itsname, which signifies the greatden, or cavern, from a sort oretreat among the rocks on thesouth side, said, by tradition, tohave been the abode of a giant. Inl tt ti it th f



latter times, it was the refuge o

robbers and banditti, who have been only extirpated within these

forty or fifty years. Strictlspeaking, this stronghold is not acave, as the name would imply, buta sort of small enclosure, or recess,surrounded with large rocks andopen above head. It may have been

originally designed as a toil for deer, who might get in from theoutside, but would find it difficultto return. This opinion prevailsamong the old sportsmen and deer-stalkers in the neighborhood"(S tt)



(Scott).

54. Yelled. Note the emphaticforce of the inversion, as in 59

below. Cf. 38 above.Opening. That is, barking o

view or scent of the game; ahunting term. Cf. Shakespeare, M.

W. iv. 2. 209: "If I bark out thus

upon no trail never trust me when Iopen again."

The description of the echowhich follows is very spirited.

66. Cairn. Literally, a heap ostones; here put poetically for the



rocky point which the falcon takesas a look-out.

69. Hurricane. A metaphor for the wild rush of the hunt.

71. Linn. Literally, a deep pool but often = cataract, as inBracklinn, ii. 270 below (cf. vi.

488), and sometimes = precipice.

73. On the lone wood. Note thmusical variation in the measurehere; the 1st, 3d, and 4th syllables

being accented instead of the 2dand 4th. It is occasionallintroduced into iambic metre withadmirable effect Cf 85 and 9



admirable effect. Cf. 85 and 9

below.76. The cavern, etc. See on 5

above.80. Perforce. A poetical word.

See on 46 above.84. Shrewdly. Severely, keenly; a

sense now obsolete. Shrewd

originally meant evil, mischievous.Cf. Shakespeare, A. Y. L. v. 4. 179,where it is said that those "That have endur'd shrewd daysand nights with us Shall share the good of ourreturned fortune."

I Ch (T l f M lib



In Chaucer (Tale of Melibocuswe find, "The prophete saith: Fleshrewdnesse, and do goodnesse"

(referring to Ps. xxxiv. 14).89. Menteith. The district in th

southwestern part of Perthshire,watered by the Teith.

91. Mountain and meadow, etc.

See on 35 above. Moss is used ithe North-of-England sense of boggy or peaty district, like thefamous Chat Moss betweeLiverpool and Manchester.

93. Lochard. Loch Ard isb tif l l k l t b t fi il



beautiful lakelet, about five milessouth of Loch Katrine. On iteastern side is the scene of Helen

Macgregor's skirmish with thKing's troops in Rob Roy; and nea

its head, on the northern side, is awaterfall, which is the original oFlora MacIvor's favorite retreat i

Waverley. Aberfoyle is a villageabout a mile and a half to the eastof the lake.

95. Loch Achray. A lake betweenLoch Katrine and Loch Vennachar,lying just beyond the pass of theT h



Trosachs.97. Benvenue. A mountain, 2386

feet in height, on the southern sideof Loch Katrine.

98. With the hope. The MS. ha

"with the THOUGHT," and "flyinHOOF" in the next line.

102. 'Twere. It would be. Cf.

Shakespeare, Macb. ii. 2. 73: "Toknow my deed, 't were best notknow myself."

103. Cambusmore. The estate oa family named Buchanan, whoScott frequently visited in hisyounger days It is about two miles



younger days. It is about two milesfrom Callander, on the wooded

banks of the Keltie, a tributary o

the Teith.105. Benledi. A mountain, 2882

feet high, northwest fromCallander. The name is said to

mean "Mountain of God."

106. Bochastle's heath. A moor between the east end of LochVennachar and Callander. See alsoon v. 298 below.

107. The flooded Teith. ThTeith is formed by streams fromLoch Voil and from Loch Katrin



Loch Voil and from Loch Katrin(by way of Loch Achray and LocVennachar), which unite at

Callander. It joins the Forth neaStirling.

111. Vennachar. As the mapshows, this "Lake of the Fai

Valley" is the most eastern of the

three lakes around which thescenery of the poem lies. It is aboufive miles long and a mile and ahalf wide.

112. The Brigg of Turk. Thi brig, or bridge (cf. Burns's poem oThe Brigs of Ayr) is over a stream



The Brigs of Ayr), is over a streamthat comes down from Glenfinlasand flows into the one connecting

Lochs Achray and Vennachar.According to Graham, it is "th

scene of the death of a wild boar famous in Celtic tradition."

114. Unbated. Cf. Shakespeare

M. of V. ii. 6. 11: "Where is the horse that dothuntread again

His tedious measures withthe unbated fire That he did pace them

first?"115. Scourge and steel. Whip



and spur. Steel is often used for thesword (as in v. 239 below: "foemanworthy of their steel"), the figure

being of the same sort as here"the material put for the thing

made of it." Cf. v. 479 below.117. Embossed. An old hunting

term. George Turbervile, in his

Noble Art of Venerie or Hunting(A.D. 1576), says: "When the har is foamy at the mouth, we say, thathe is emboss'd." Cf. ShakespeareT. of S. ind. 1. 17: "BrachMerriman, the poor cur, isemboss'd;" and A. and C. iv. 13. 3:



; "the boar of Thessaly Was never so emboss'd."

120. Saint Hubert's breed. Scotquotes Turbervile here: "Thhounds which we call SainHubert's hounds are commonly al

blacke, yet neuertheless, the race is

so mingled at these days, that we

find them of all colours. These ar the hounds which the abbots of St.Hubert haue always kept some otheir race or kind, in honour or remembrance of the saint, whichwas a hunter with S. Eustace.Whereupon we may conceiue tha



p y

(by the grace of God) all goodhuntsmen shall follow them into

paradise."127. Quarry. The animal hunted

another technical term.Shakespeare uses it in the sense oa heap of slaughtered game; as in

Cor. i. 1. 202: "Would the nobility lay asidetheir ruth,

And let me use my sword, I'dmake a quarry With thousands of these

quarter'd slaves," etc.Cf. Longfellow, Hiawatha:



"Seldom stoops the soaringvulture O'er his quarry in thedesert."

130. Stock. Tree-stump. Cf. Jobxiv. 8.

133. Turn to bay. Like stand at bay, etc., a term used when thestag, driven to extremity, turns

round and faces his pursuers. Cf.Shakespeare, 1. Hen. VI. iv. 2. 52where it is used figuratively (as invi. 525 below): "Turn on the bloody hounds

with heads of steel, And make the cowards standaloof at bay;"



y

and T. of S. v. 2. 56: "'T isthought your deer does hold you at

a bay," etc.137. For the death-wound, etc.

Scott has the following note here:"When the stag turned to bay, the

ancient hunter had the perilous task

of going in upon, and killing or disabling, the desperate animal. Atcertain times of the year this washeld particularly dangerous, awound received from a stag's horn

being then deemed poisonous, andmore dangerous than one from the



tusks of a boar, as the old rhymetestifies:

'If thou be hurt with hart, itbring thee to thy bier, But barber's hand will boar'shurt heal, therefore thou need'st not fear.'

At all times, however, the task

was dangerous, and to be

adventured upon wisely andwarily, either by getting behind thestag while he was gazing on thehounds, or by watching anopportunity to gallop roundly inupon him, and kill him with thesword. See many directions to this



purpose in the Booke of Huntingchap. 41. Wilson, the historian, has

recorded a providential escapewhich befell him in the hazardoussport, while a youth, and follower of the Earl of Essex:

'Sir Peter Lee, of Lime, i

Cheshire, invited my lord onsummer to hunt the stagg. Andhaving a great stagg in chase, andmany gentlemen in the pursuit, thestag took soyle. And divers,whereof I was one, alighted, andstood with swords drawne, to have



a cut at him, at his coming out othe water. The staggs there being

wonderfully fierce and dangerous,made us youths more eager to be athim. But he escaped us all. And iwas my misfortune to be hinderedof my coming nere him, the way

being sliperie, by a falle; which

gave occasion to some, who didnot know mee, to speak as if I hadfalne for feare. Which being toldmee, I left the stagg, and followedthe gentleman who [first] spake it.But I found him of that coltemper, that it seems his words



made an escape from him; as by hisdenial and repentance it appeared.

But this made mee more violent inthe pursuit of the stagg, to recover my reputation. And I happened to

be the only horseman in, when thedogs sett him up at bay; andapproaching near him on

horsebacke, he broke through thedogs, and run at mee, and tore myhorse's side with his hornes, close

by my thigh. Then I quitted mhorse, and grew more cunning (for the dogs had sette him up againe),stealing behind him with my



sword, and cut his hamstrings; andthen got upon his back, and cut his

throate; which, as I was doing, thcompany came in, and blamed myrashness for running such a hazard'(Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, ii.464)."

138. Whinyard. A short stoutsword or knife; the same as thewhinger of the Lay of LasMinstrel, v. 7: "And whingers, now in

friendship bare The social meal to part andshare,



Had found a bloodysheath."

142. Turned him. In Elizabethanand still more in earlier English,

personal pronouns were often used

reflexively; and this, like manyother old constructions, is still used

in poetry.

145. Trosachs. "The rough o bristled territory" (Graham); thwild district between Lochs Katrinand Vennachar. The name is nowespecially applied to the pass

between Lochs Katrine and Achray.147. Close couched. That is, a



he lay close couched, or hidden.Such ellipses are common in

poetry.150. Amain. With main, or full

force. We still say "with might andmain."

151. Chiding. Not a mer

figurative use of chide as we nowunderstand it (cf. 287 below), butan example of the old sense of theword as applied to any oft-repeatednoise. Shakespeare uses it of th

barking of dogs in M. N. D. iv. 1.120:



"never did I hear Such gallant chiding;"

of the wind, as in A. Y. L. ii. 1.

7: "And churlish chiding of thwinter's wind;" and of the sea, as in

1 Hen. IV. iii. 1. 45: "thesea



That chides the banks ofEngland;"

and Hen. VIII. iii. 2. 197: "thchiding flood."

163. The banks of Seine. Jamevisited France in 1536, and suedfor the hand of Magdalen, daughteof Francis I. He married her th

following spring, but she died afew months later. He then marriedMary of Guise, whom he hadoubtless seen while in France.

166. Woe worth the chase. Thatis, woe be to it. This worth is frothe A. S. weorthan, to become. Cf.



Spenser, F. Q. ii. 6. 32: "Wo worth the man, That first did teach thecursed steele to bight In his owne flesh, and makeway to the living spright!"

See also Ezek. xxx. 2.

180. And on the hunter, etc. The

MS. reads: "And on the hunter hied hispace,

To meet some comrades of thechase;"

and the 1st ed. retains "pace" and"chase."

184. The western waves, etc.



This description of the Trosachswas written amid the scenery it

delineates, in the summer of 1809.The Quarterly Review (May, 1810

says of the poet: "He seeseverything with a painter's eye.Whatever he represents has

character of individuality, and isdrawn with an accuracy andminuteness of discrimination whichwe are not accustomed to expectfrom mere verbal description. It is

because Mr. Scott usualldelineates those objects with which



he is perfectly familiar that histouch is so easy, correct, and

animated. The rocks, the ravines,and the torrents which he exhibitsare not the imperfect sketches of ahurried traveller, but the finishedstudies of a resident artist." Sealso on 278 below.

Ruskin (Modern Painters, iii.278) refers to "the love of color" asa leading element in Scott's love o

beauty. He might have quoted the present passage among theillustrations he adds.

195. The native bulwarks, etc.



The MS. has "The mimic castles othe pass."

196. The tower, etc. Cf. Gen. xi.1-9.

198. The rocky. The 1st ed. has"Their rocky," etc.

204. Nor were, etc. The MS

reads: "Nor were these might bulwarks bare."208. Dewdrop sheen. No

"dewdrops sheen," or "dewdrops'sheen," as sometimes printed.Sheen = shining, bright; as in v. 10

below. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. ii. 1. 10:



"So faire and sheene;" Id. iii. 4. 51:"in top of heaven sheene," etc. Se

Wb. The MS. has here: "Brighglistening with the dewdropsheen."

212. Boon. Bountiful. Cf. MiltonP. L. iv. 242:

"Flowers worthy of Paradise,which not nice art In beds and curious knots,but nature boon

Pour'd forth profuse onhill, and dale, and plain."

See also P. L. ix. 793: "jocundand boon."

217. Bower. In the old sense o



chamber, lodging-place; as in iv.413 and vi. 218 below. Cf. Spenser,F. Q. iii. 1. 58: "Eftesoones long waxentorches weren light Unto their bowres to guydenevery guest."

For clift (= cleft), the reading o

the 1st ed. and unquestionablywhat Scott wrote, every otheedition that we have seen reads"cliff."

219. Emblems of punishmenand pride. See on iii. 19 below.

222, 223. Note the imperfec



rhyme in breath and beneath. Cf.224-25, 256-57, 435-36, 445-46

below. Such instances arecomparatively rare in Scott's

poetry. Some rhymes that appear to be imperfect are to be explained by peculiarities of Scottish

pronunciation. See on 363 below.227. Shaltered. The MS. ha"scathed;" also "rugged armsathwart the sky" in 229, and"twinkling" for glistening in 231.The 1st ed. has "scattered" foshattered; corrected in the Errata.



231. Streamers. Of ivy or othevines.

238. Affording, etc. The MS.reads: "Affording scarce suchbreadth of flood As served to float the wild-

duck's brood."

247. Emerging, etc. The MS. ha"Emerging dry-shod from thwood."

254. And now, to issue from theglen, etc. "Until the present roadwas made through the romantic

pass which I have presumptuousl



attempted to describe in the preceding stanzas, there was no

mode of issuing out of the defilecalled the Trosachs, excepting by asort of ladder, composed of the

branches and roots of trees"(Scott).

263. Loch Katrine. In a note tThe Fair Maid of Perth, Scotderives the name from theCatterans, or Highland robbers, thaonce infested the shores of the

lake. Others make it "the Lake othe Battle," in memory of som



prehistoric conflict.267. Livelier. Because in motion

like living gold above.270. Benvenue. See on 97 above.

271. Down to. Most editionmisprint "down on."

272. Confusedly. A trisyllable; as

in ii. 161 below, and in the Lay, iii.337: "And helms and plumes,confusedly tossed."

274. Wildering. Bewildering. Cf.Dryden, Aurungzebe, i. 1: "wilder'din the way," etc. See also 434 andv. 22 below.



275. His ruined sides, etc. ThMS. reads: "His ruined sides andfragments hoar, While on the north to middle

air."277. Ben-an. This mountain

1800 feet high, is north of the

Trosachs, separating that pass fromGlenfinlas.

278. From the steep, etc. ThMS. reads: "From the high promontory

gazed The stranger, awe-struck andamazed."



The Critical Review (Aug. 1820remarks of this portion of the poem

(184 fol.): "Perhaps the art olandscape-painting in poetry has

never been displayed in higher perfection than in these stanzas, towhich rigid criticism might

possibly object that the picture issomewhat too minute, and that thecontemplation of it detains thetraveller somewhat too long fromthe main purpose of his pilgrimage,

but which it would be an act of thegreatest injustice to break into

f d b



fragments and present by piecemeal. Not so the magnificen

scene which bursts upon the bewildered hunter as he emerges atlength from the dell, andcommands at one view the

beautiful expanse of Loch Katrine."



preferred.294. While the deep peal's. Fo

the measure, see on 73 above.300. To friendly feast, etc. The

MS. has "To hospitable feast andhall."

302. Beshrew. May evil befal( h dl 84 b ) ild



(see on shrewdly, 84 above); a mildimprecation, often used playfullyand even tenderly. Cf.Shakespeare, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 3. 45:

"Beshrew your heart, Fair daughter, you do draw my

spirits from me

With new lamenting ancient

oversights!"

305. Some mossy bank, etc. Th

MS. reads: "And hollow trunk of some oldtree

My chamber for the nightmust be."

313 Hi hl d l d "Th



313. Highland plunderers. "Thclans who inhabited the romanticregions in the neighborhood oLoch Katrine were, even until a lat

period, much addicted to predatory

excursions upon their Lowlandneighbors" (Scott).

317. Fall the worst. If the wors

befall that can happen. Cf.Shakespeare, M. of V. i. 2. 96: "anthe worst fall that ever fell, I hope Ishall make shift to go withouthim."

319. But scarce again, etc. ThMS. reads:

"The bugle shrill again he



The bugle shrill again hewound, And lo! forth starting at

the sound;"and below:

"A little skiff shot to thebay. The hunter left his airystand, And when the boat had

touched the sand,

Concealed he stood amid thebrake, To view this Lady of the

Lake."

336. Strain. The 1st ed. has

comma after strain, and a periodafter art in 340. The ed. of 1821 points as in the text.



342. Naiad. Water nymph.

343. And ne'er did Grecianchisel, etc. The MS. reads: "A finer form, a fairer face, Had never marble Nymph orGrace, That boasts the Grecian

chisel's trace;"

and in 359 below, "a stranger tongue."

353. Measured mood. Thformal manner required by courtetiquette.

360. Dear. This is the reading othe 1st ed. and almost every other that we have seen We are inclined



that we have seen. We are inclined,however, to believe that Scott

wrote "clear." The facsimiles of hishandwriting show that his d's and

cl's might easily be confounded bya compositor.

363. Snood. The fillet or ribbo

with which the Scotch maidens bound their hair. See on iii. 114 below. It is the rich materials osnood, plaid, and brooch that

betray her birth.

The rhyme of plaid with maidand betrayed is not imperfect, the

Scottish pronunciation of plaid



Scottish pronunciation of plaid being like our played.

385. One only. For the inversion,cf. Shakespeare, J. C. i. 2. 157

"When there is in it but one onlman;" Goldsmith, D. V. 39: "Ononly master grasps the whole

domain," etc.393. Awhile she paused, etc. The

MS. reads: "A space she paused, noanswer came,— 'Alpine, was thine theblast?' the name Less resolutely utteredfell,

The echoes could not catch



The echoes could not catchthe swell. 'Nor foe nor friend,' the

stranger said, Advancing from the hazelshade.

The startled maid, withhasty oar, Pushed her light shallop

from the shore."

and just below: "So o'er the lake the swanwould spring, Then turn to prune itsruffled wing."

404. Prune. Pick out damagefeathers and arrange the plumagewith the bill. Cf. Shakespeare

Cymb v 4 118:



Cymb. v. 4. 118: "his royal bird Prunes the immortal wing,"etc.

408. Wont. Are wont, or

accustomed; now used only in the participle. The form here is the pas

tense of the obsolete won, or wone,

to dwell. The present is found inMilton, P. L. vii. 457: "As from his lair the wild

beast, where he wons In forest wild, in thicket,brake, or den."

Cf. Spenser, Virgil's Gnat: "Of Poets Prince, whether wewoon beside

Faire Xanthus sprincled with



Faire Xanthus sprincled withChimaeras blood, Or in the woods of Asteryabide;"

and Colin Clouts Come Hom

Againe: "I weened sure he was out Godalone, And only woond in fields and

forests here."

See also iv. 278 and 298 below.409. Middle age. As James die

at the age of thirty (in 1542), this isnot strictly true, but the portrait in

other respects is quite accurate. Hwas fond of going about disguised,

and some of his freaks of this kind



and some of his freaks of this kindare pleasantly related in Scott's

Tales of a Grandfather. See on vi.740 below.425. Slighting, etc. "Treatin

lightly his need of food andshelter."

432. At length. The 1st ed. has"at last."

433. That Highland halls wereetc. The MS. has "Her father's halwas," etc.

434. Wildered. See on 274above.

438 A couch That is the



438. A couch. That is, theheather for it. Cf. 666 below.

441. Mere. Lake; as iWindermere, etc.

443. Rood. Cross, or crucifix. Bthe rood was a common oath; so by

the holy rood, as in Shakespeare,

Rich. III. iii. 2. 77, iv. 4. 165. Cf the name of Holyrood Palace iEdinburgh. See ii. 221 below.

451. Romantic. The MS. ha"enchanting."

457. Yesternight. We have lostthis word, though we retainyesterday Cf yester-morn in v



yesterday. Cf. yester morn in v.104 below. As far = as far back as.

460. Was on, etc. The MS. reads:"Is often on the future bent." I

force of evidence could authorizeus to believe facts inconsistent withthe general laws of nature, enough

might be produced in favor of theexistence of the second-sight. It iscalled in Gaelic Taishitaraugh, fromTaish, an unreal or shadowyappearance; and those possessed o

the faculty are called Taishatrin,which may be aptly translated

visionaries. Martin, a steadb li i h d i h i



visionaries. Martin, a stead believer in the second-sight, givesthe following account of it:—

'The second-sight is a singulafaculty of seeing an otherwiseinvisible object without any

previous means used by the person

that uses if for that end: the visionmakes such a lively impressionupon the seers, that they neither seenor think of any thing else, exceptthe vision, as long as it continues;

and then they appear pensive or ovial, according to the object that

was represented to them.



was represented to them.'At the sight of a vision, th

eyelids of the person are erected,and the eyes continue staring untilthe object vanish. This is obviousto others who are by when the

persons happen to see a vision, and

occurred more than once to myown observation, and to others thatwere with me....

'If a woman is seen standing atman's left hand, it is a presage thatshe will be his wife, whether they

be married to others, or unmarried

at the time of the apparition.



pp'To see a spark of fire fall upon

one's arm or breast is a forerunner of a dead child to be seen in the

arms of those persons; of whichthere are several fresh instances....'To see a seat empty at the time

of one's sitting in it, is a presage othat person's death soon after'(Martin's Description of thWestern Islands, 1716, 8vo, p. 300,et seq.).

"To these particularsinnumerable examples might be

added, all attested by grave andd bl h d



, y gcredible authors. But, in despite o

evidence which neither Bacon,Boyle, nor Johnson were able tresist, the Taish, with all itsvisionary properties, seems to benow universally abandoned to the

use of poetry. The exquisitely beautiful poem of Lochiel will aonce occur to the recollection oevery reader" (Scott).

462. Birchen. Shaded by birches.Cf. Milton's "cedarn alleys" iComus, 990.

464. Lincoln green. A cloth made



gin Lincoln, much worn by hunters.

467. Heron. The early eds. hav"heron's."

475. Errant-knight. Knight-errant.

476. Sooth. True. We find

soothest in Milton, Comus, 823.The noun sooth (truth) is mor common, and still survives insoothsayer (teller of hidden truth).Cf. v. 64 below.

478. Emprise. Enterprise. Cf.Spenser, F. Q. ii. 7. 39: "But giv

me leave to follow my emprise,"



y p ,etc.

485. His noble hand. The MShas "This gentle hand;" and in th

next line, "the oars he drew."490. Frequent. Often; one of thmany instances of the adjective

used adverbially in the poem.492. The rocky isle. It is stil

known as Ellen's Isle. "It is rathehigh, and irregularly pyramidal. Iis mostly composed of dark-grayrocks, mottled with pale and graylichens, peeping out here and there

amid trees that mantle them,— hi fl li ht f l bi h



chiefly light, graceful birches,

intermingled with red-berriedmountain ashes and a few dark-green, spiry pines. The landing is

beneath an aged oak; and, as didthe Lady and the Knight, th

traveller now ascends 'a clamberingunsuspected road,' by rude steps, tothe small irregular summit of theisland. A more poetic, romanticretreat could hardly be imagined: it

is unique. It is completely hidden,not only by the trees, but also by an

undergrowth of beautiful andabundant ferns and the loveliest o



abundant ferns and the loveliest oheather" (Hunnewell's Lands oScott).

500. Winded. Wound; used for the sake of the measure, as in v. 22

below. We find the participle

winded in Much Ado, i. 1. 243; buit is = blown. The verb in thasense is derived from the nounwind (air in motion), and has noconnection with wind, to turn. Cf.

Wb.504. Here for retreat, etc. Scot

has the following note here: "ThCeltic chieftains whose lives wer



Celtic chieftains, whose lives wer

continually exposed to peril, hadusually, in the most retired spot otheir domains, some place of retreatfor the hour of necessity, which, ascircumstances would admit, was a

tower, a cavern, or a rustic hut, in astrong and secluded situation. Onof these last gave refuge to theunfortunate Charles Edward, in hi

perilous wanderings after the battle

of Culloden."It was situated in the face of

very rough, high, and rockymountain called Letternilichk stil



mountain, called Letternilichk, stil

a part of Benalder, full of greatstones and crevices, and somescattered wood interspersed. Thhabitation called the Cage, in thface of that mountain, was within a

small thick bush of wood. Ther were first some rows of trees laiddown, in order to level the floor for a habitation; and as the placewas steep, this raised the lower side

to an equal height with the other:and these trees, in the way of joists

or planks, were levelled with earthand gravel. There were betwixt th



and gravel. There were betwixt thtrees, growing naturally on their own roots, some stakes fixed in theearth, which, with the trees, wereinterwoven with ropes, made oheath and birch twigs, up to the top

of the Cage, it being of a round o

rather oval shape; and the wholethatched and covered over withfog. The whole fabric hung, as iwere, by a large tree, whichreclined from the one end, all along

the roof, to the other, and whichgave it the name of the Cage; and

by chance there happened to betwo stones at a small distance from



two stones at a small distance fromone another, in the side next the

precipice, resembling the pillars oa chimney, where the fire was

placed. The smoke had its vent ouhere, all along the fall of the rock,

which was so much of the same

color, that one could discover nodifference in the clearest day'(Home's History of the RebellionLond. 1802, 4to, p. 381)."

525. Idoean vine. Some havtaken this to refer to the "redwhortleberry," the botanical name

of which is Vaccinium vitis Idoea;but as that is not a climber it is



but as that is not a climber, it is

more probably that the commonvine is here meant. Idoean is froIda, a mountain near ancient Tro(there was another in Crete),famous for its vines.

526. Clematis. The Climativitalba, one of the popular Englishnames of which is virgin-bower.

528. And every favored plantcould bear. That is, which couldendure. This ellipsis of the relativwas very common in Elizabethan

English. Cf. Shakespeare, M. foM ii 2 23: "I have a brother i



M. ii. 2. 23: I have a brother i

condemned to die;" Rich. II. ii. 2.128: "The hate of those love not thking," etc. See also John, iii. 11,etc.

532. On heaven and on thy lad

call. This is said gayly, or sportively, as keeping up the ideaof a knight-errant. Cf. 475 above.

542. Careless. See on 490 above.546. Target. Buckler; the targe o

iii. 445, etc. See Scott's note on v.380 below.

548. Store. Stored, laid up; ab l dj i Cf iii 3 b l



obsolete adjective. Cf. iii. 3 below,

and see also on vi. 124.551. And there the wild-cat's, etc.

The MS. reads: "There hung the wild-cat'sbrindled hide, Above the elk's branched

brow and skull,

And frontlet of the forestbull."

559. Garnish forth. Cf. furnisforth in 442 above.

566. Brook. Bear, endure; noseldom used except with referenceto what is endured against one'swill or inclination. It seems to befavorite word with Scott



favorite word with Scott.

573. Ferragus or Ascabart."These two sons of Anak

flourished in romantic fable. Thfirst is well known to the admirers

of Ariosto by the name of Ferrau.

He was an antagonist of Orlandoand was at length slain by him insingle combat.... Ascapart, or Ascabart, makes a very materiafigure in the History of Bevis o

Hampton, by whom he wasconquered. His effigies may b

seen guarding one side of the gateat Southampton, while the other is



occupied by Bevis himself" (Scott).580. To whom, though more

than kindred knew. The MS. reads: "To whom, though more remoteher claim, Young Ellen gave a mother's

name."

She was the maternal aunt oEllen, but was loved as a mother b

her, or more than (such) kindred(usually) knew (in way o

affection).585. Though all unasked, etc.

"The Highlanders, who carriehospitality to a punctilious excess,



p y pare said to have considered it aschurlish to ask a stranger his nameor lineage before he had takenrefreshment. Feuds were sofrequent among them, that a

contrary rule would in many cases

have produced the discovery osome circumstance which mighthave excluded the guest from the

benefit of the assistance he stood inneed of" (Scott).

591. Snowdoun. An old name oStirling Castle. See vi. 789 below.

592. Lord of a barren heritage."By the misfortunes of the earlie



By the misfortunes of the earlie

Jameses, and the internal feuds othe Scottish chiefs, the kingl power had become little more thana name. Each chief was a petty kinin his own district, and gave just so

much obedience to the king'sauthority as suited hisconvenience" (Taylor).

596. Wot. Knows; the present othe obsolete wit (the infinitive to

wit is still use in legal forms), notof weet, as generally stated. Se

Matzner, Eng. Gram. i. 382. Cf.Shakespeare, Rich. III. ii. 3. 18



p ,

"No, no, good friends, God wot."He also uses wots (as in Hen. V. iv.1. 299) and a participle wotting (inW. T. iii. 2. 77).

602. Require. Request, ask; as i

Elizanethan English. Cf.Shakespeare, Hen. VIII. ii. 4. 144"In humblest manner I require youhighness," etc.

603. The elder lady's mien. Th

MS. has "the mother's easy mien."606. Ellen, though more, etc. Th

MS. reads: "Ellen, though more her looks



, gbetrayed The simple heart of mountainmaid, In speech and gesture, form

and grace, Showed she was come ofgentle race;

'T was strange, in birth so



clairschoes of their own fashion.The strings of the clairschoes ar made of brasse wire, and thestrings of the harps of sinews;which strings they strike either with

their nayles, growing long, or elsewith an instrument appointed for

that use. They take great pleasure todecke their harps and clairschoes



with silver and precious stones; the poore ones that cannot attaynehereunto, decke them with christall.They sing verses prettilcompound, contayning (for the

most part) prayses of valiant men.

There is not almost any otheargument, whereof their rhymesintreat. They speak the ancienFrench language, altered a little." 6

"The harp and chairschoes ar

now only heard of in the Highlandsin ancient song. At what period

these instruments ceased to beused, is not on record; and tradition



is silent on this head. But, as Irisharpers occasionally visited theHighlands and Western Isles tillately, the harp might have beenextant so late as the middle of the

present century. Thus far we know,that from remote times down to the

present, harpers were received aswelcome guests, particularly in theHighlands of Scotland; and so lat

as the latter end of the sixteenthcentury, as appears by the above

quotations, the harp was incommon use among the natives oh l i h d



the Western Isles. How it happenedthat the noisy and inharmonious

bagpipe banished the soft andexpressive harp, we cannot say; butcertain it is, that the bagpipe is now

the only instrument that obtains

universally in the Highland districts'(Campbell's Journey through NortBritain. London, 1808, 4to, i. 175).

"Mr. Gunn, of Edinburgh, halately published a curious Essa

upon the Harp and Harp Music othe Highlands of Scotland. That th

instrument was once in commonuse there, is most certain. Cleland



numbers an acquaintance with itamong the few accomplishmentswhich his satire allows to theHighlanders:— 'In nothing they're accounted

sharp,

Except in bagpipe or in

harm.'"624. Soldier, rest! etc. The metr

of this song is trochaic; that is, theaccents fall regularly on the oddsyllables.

631. In slumber dewing. That is bedewing. For the metaphor, cf.Shakespeare, Rich. III. iv. 1. 84"the golden dew of sleep;" and J C



the golden dew of sleep; and J. C.ii. 1. 230: "the honey-heavy dew oslumber."

635. Morn of toil, etc. The MShas "noon of hunger, night o

waking;" and in the next line,



657. Reveille. The call to roustroops or huntsmen in the morning.

669. Forest sports. The MS. ha"mountain chase."

672. Not Ellens' spell. That isnot even Ellen's spell. On th

passage, cf. Rokeby, i. 2: "Sleep came at length, butwith a train

Of feelings true and fancies



Of feelings true and fancies

vain, Mingling, in wild disordercast,

The expected future with thepast."

693. Or is it all a vision now?

Lockhart quotes here Thomson'Castle of Indolence: "Ye guardian spirits, to whom

man is dear, From these foul demonsshield the midnight gloom: Angels of fancy and love, benear. And o'er the blank of sleepdiffuse a bloom: Evoke the sacred shades ofGreece and Rome,

A d l t th i t ith



And let them virtue with alook impart; But chief, awhile, O! lendus from the tomb

Those long-lost friends forwhom in love we smart, and fill with pious awe and

joy-mixt woe the heart.

"Or are you sportive?—bid themorn of youth Rise to new light, and beam

afresh the days Of innocence, simplicity,and truth; To cares estranged, andmanhood's thorny ways. What transport, to retraceour boyish plays, Our easy bliss, when eachthing joy supplied;

The woods the mountains



The woods, the mountains,

and the warbling maze Of the wild books!"

The Critical Review says of thfollowing stanza (xxxiv): "Suchstrange and romantic dream as may

be naturally expected to flow fromthe extraordinary events of the day.It might, perhaps, be quoted as on

of Mr. Scott's most successfuefforts in descriptive poetry. Some

few lines of it are indeed unrivalledfor delicacy and melancholytenderness."

704. Grisly. Grim, horrible; anb l t d h d i ld



obsolete word, much used in old poetry. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. i. 5. 30:"her darke griesly looke;"Shakespeare, 1 Hen. VI. i. 4. 47"My grisly countenance mad

others fly," etc. See also iv. 322,etc. below.

723. Played, etc. The MS. reads: "Played on/ the bosoms of thelake, / Lock Katrine'sstill expanse; The birch, the wild rose,and the broom

Wasted around their richperfume... The birch-trees wept in



p

balmy dew; The aspen slept on Benvenue; Wild were the heart whose

passions' power Defied the influence of thehour."

724. Passion's. The reading o

the 1st ed. and that of 1821; somerecent eds. have "passions'."

738. Orisons. The 1st ed. ha"orison" both here and in 740 (theed. of 1821 only in the latter); but

the word is almost invariably plural, both in poetry and prose—

always in Shakespeare and Milton.



Canto Second.

7. A minstrel gray. "ThatHighland chieftains, to a lat

period, retained in their service the bard, as a family officer, admits overy easy proof. The author of thLetters from the North of Scotlandan officer of engineers, quartered at



an officer of engineers, quartered atInverness about 1720, whocertainly cannot be deemed a

favorable witness, gives thefollowing account of the office,

and of a bard, whom he heard

exercise his talent of recitation:'The bard is killed in th

genealogy of all the Highland

families, sometimes preceptor tothe young laird, celebrates in Irish

verse the original of the tribe, thefamous warlike actions of thesuccessive heads, and sings hisown lyricks as an opiate to thechief, when indisposed for sleep;



chief, when indisposed for sleep; but poets are not equally esteemedand honored in all countries. I

happened to be a witness of thedishonour done to the muse, at the

house of one of the chiefs, where

two of these bards were set at agood distance, at the lower end of along table, with a parcel o

Highlanders of no extraordinar appearance, over a cup of ale. Poo

inspiration! They were not asked todrink a glass of wine at our table,though the whole companyconsisted only of the great man,one of his near relations, and



o e o s ea e at o s, a dmyself. After some little time, thechief ordered one of them to sing

me a Highland song. The bar readily obeyed, and with a hoarse

voice, and in a tune of few various

notes, began, as I was told, one ohis own lyricks; and when he had

proceeded to the fourth of fifth

stanza, I perceived, by the names oseveral persons, glens, and

mountains, which I had known oheard of before, that it was anaccount of some clan battle. But inhis going on, the chief (who piqueshimself upon his school-learning)



p g)at some particular passage, bid himcease, and cryed out, "There's

nothing like that in Virgil or Homer." I bowed, and told him I

believed so. This you may believ

was very edifying and delightful'"(Scott).

15. Than men, etc. "It is evidenthat the old bard, with his second-sight, has a glimmering notion who

the stranger is. He speaks belo{311} of 'courtly spy,' and James's

speech had betrayed a knowledgeof the Douglas" (Taylor).



20. Battled. The reading of th1st ed. and that of 1821; "battle" inmost others. Cf. i. 626 above.

22. Where beauty, etc. The MS.has "At tourneys where the brav

resort." The reference is to thtournaments, "Where," as Miltosays (L'Allegro, 119), "throngs of knights andbarons bold. In weeds of peace, high

triumphs hold, With store of ladies, whosebright eyes

Rain influence, and judge theprize Of wit or arms, while bothcontend



contend To win her grace whom allcommend."

Cf. 87 below.26. Love's. The reading of the 1s

ed. and that of 1821; most eds.

have "love."29. Plaided. The plaid wa

properly the dress of a Highlander,though it was worn also in theLowlands.

51. The Harper on the isle beach. "This picture is touched

with the hand of the true poet"(Jeffrey).



56. As from. As if from. Cf. 64and 83 below. This ellipsis was

common in Elizabethan English.Cf. Shakespeare, Macb. ii. 2. 28: "One cried 'God bless us!'

and 'Amen' the other,

As they had seen me with

these hangman's hands."65. In the last sound. For th

measure, see on i. 73 above.69. His fleet. That is, of ducks.Cf. i. 239 above.

80. Would scorn. Who wouldscorn. See on i. 528 above.

84. Turned him. See on i. 142above, and cf. 106 below.



,86. After. Afterwards; as in

Shakespeare, Temp. ii. 2. 10: "Andafter bite me," etc. The word is nonow used adverbially of time,

though we may say "he followedafter," etc. The 1st ed. reads "thatknight."

94. Parts. Departs; as often i poetry and earlier English. Cf.

Goldsmith, D. V. 171: "Beside th bed where parting life was laid;"

Gray, Elegy, 1: "the knell of partingday," etc. On the other hand, departwas used in the sense of part. In



pthe Marriage Service "till death udo part" is a corruption of "tilldeath us depart." Wiclif's Bible, inMatt. xix. 6, has "therfor a man

departe not that thing that God hathioyned."

103. Another step, etc. The MS.has "The loveliest Lowland fair tspy;" and the 1st ed. reads "Th

step of parting fair to spy."109. The Graeme. Scott has th

following note here: "The ancienand powerful family of Graha



(which, for metrical reasons, ishere smelled after the Scottish pronunciation) held extensive possessions in the counties oDumbarton and Stirling. Fe

families can boast of morehistorical renown, having claim tothree of the most remarkable

characters in the Scottish annals.Sir John the Graeme, the faithfu

and undaunted partaker of thelabors and patriotic warfare oWallace, fell in the unfortunatefield of Falkirk, in 1298. Thcelebrated Marquis of Montrose, i



whom De Retz saw realized hiabstract idea of the heroes o

antiquity, was the second of theseworthies. And, not withstanding

the severity of his temper and the

rigor with which he executed theoppressive mandates of the princeswhom he served, I do not hesitat

to name as the third, John Graemeof Claverhouse, Viscount o

Dundee, whose heroic death, in tharms of victory, may be allowed tocancel the memory of his cruelty tothe non-conformists, during thereigns of Charles II. and James II."



112. Bower. The word meant achamber (see on i. 217 above), andwas often used of the ladies'apartments in a house. In hall and

bower = among men and women.The words are often thusassociated. Cf. Spenser, Astrophel,

28: "Merily masking both in bowr and hall," etc.

115. Arose. The 1st ed. misprints"Across;" not noted in the Errata.

126. And the proud march. Seon i. 73 above.



131. Saint Modan. A Scotcabbot of the 7th century. Scott sayshere: "I am not prepared to shothat Saint Modan was a performeon the harp. It was, however, no

unsaintly accomplishment; for Saint Dunstan certainly did plaupon that instrument, which

retaining, as was natural, a portionof the sanctity attached to its

master's character, announcedfuture events by its spontaneoussound. 'But labouring once in thesmechanic arts for a devout matronethat had sett him on work, his violl,



that hung by him on the wall, of itsown accord, without anie man's

helpe, distinctly sounded thisanthime: Gaudent in coelis anima

sanctorum qui Christi vestigia sun

secuti; et quia pro eius amoresanguinem suum fuderunt, ideocum Christo gaudent aeternum.

Whereat all the companie beinmuch astonished, turned their eyes

from beholding him working, tolooke on that strange accident.... Not long after, manie of the courtthat hitherunto had born a kind ofayned friendship towards him,



began now greatly to envie at his progresse and rising in goodness,

using manie crooked, backbitingmeanes to diffame his vertues with

the black markes of hypocrisie

And the better to authorise theicalumnie, they brought in this thathappened in the violl, affirming it

to have been done by art magick.What more? this wicked rumou

encreased, dayly, till the king andothers of the nobilitie taking houldthereof, Dunstan grew odious intheir sight. Therefore he resoluedto leaue the court, and goe to



Elphegus, surnamed the Bauldthen bishop of Winchester, who

was his cozen. Which his enemiesunderstanding, they layd wayte for

him in the way and hauing

throwne him off his horse, beatehim, and dragged him in the durt inthe most miserable manner,

meaning to have slaine him, hadnot a companie of mastiue dogges,

that came unlookt uppon them,defended and redeemed him fromtheir crueltie. When with sorrow hwas ashamed to see dogges morehumane than they. And giuing



thankes to Almightie God, hsensibly againe perceaued that the

tunes of his violl had giuen him awarning of future accidents'

(Flower of the Lives of the mos

renowned Sainets of EnglandScotland, and Ireland, by the R.Father Hierome Porter. Doway

1632 4to. tome i. p. 438)."The same supernatura

circumstance is alluded to by theanonymous author of Grim, th

Collier of Croydon: '——-[Dunstant's harp sounds onthe wall.]

'F H k h k



'Forrest. Hark, hark, mylord, the holy abbot's harp Sounds by itself so hangingon the wall! 'Dunstan. Unhallow'd man,that scorn'st the sacred rede, Hark, how the testimony of my

truth

Sounds heavenly music with anangel's hand, To testify Dunstan'sintegrity, And prove thy active boast ofno effect.'"

141. Bothwell's bannered hall.The picturesque ruins of BothwelCastle stand on the banks of thClyde, about nine miles abovGlasgow. Some parts of the walls

f h k d f



are 14 feet thick, and 60 feet inheight. They are covered with ivy,

wild roses, and wall-flowers. "The tufted grass linesBothwell's ancient hall,

The fox peeps cautious from

the creviced wall, Where once proud Murray,Clydesdale's ancient lord, A mimic sovereign, held thefestal board."

142. Ere Douglases, to rui

driven. Scott says: "The downfalof the Douglases of the house o

Angus, during the reign of JameV., is the event alluded to in the

Th E l f A i ill b



text. The Earl of Angus, it will bremembered, had married thequeen dowager, and availedhimself of the right which he thusacquired, as well as of his extensive

power, to retain the king in a sortof tutelage, which approached verynear to captivity. Several open

attempts were made to rescueJames from this thraldom, with

which he was well known to bedeeply disgusted; but the valor othe Douglases, and their allies, gavthem the victory in every conflict.At length, the king, while residin

F lkl d i d b



at Falkland, contrived to escape bnight out of his own court and

palace, and rode full speed toStirling Castle, where the governor,

who was of the opposite faction

oyfully received him. Being thus aliberty, James speedily summonedaround him such peers as he knew

to be most inimical to thedomination of Angus, and laid his

complaint before them, saysPitscottie, 'with great lamentations:showing to them how he washolding in subjection, thir years

bygone, by the Earl of Angus, andhi ki d f i d h d



his kin and friends, who oppressedthe whole country, and spoiled it,

under the pretence of justice andhis authority; and had slain many

of his lieges kinsmen and friends

because they would have had itmended at their hands, and put himat liberty, as he ought to have been,

at the counsel of his whole lords,and not have been subjected and

corrected with no particular men, by the rest of his nobles: Therefore,said he, I desire, my lords, that Imay be satisfied of the said earl, hiskin, and friends; for I avow, thatS tl d h ll t h ld b th



Scotland shall not hold us both,while [i.e. till] I be revenged on

him and his.'The lords hearing the king's

complaint and lamentation, andalso the great rage, fury, andmalice, that he bure toward the Ear

of Angus, his kin and friends, theyconcluded all and thought it best,

that he should be summoned tounderly the law; if he fand notcaution, nor yet compear himself,that he should be put to the horn,with all his kin and friends, somany as were contained in the



many as were contained in theletters. And further, the lords

ordained, by advice of his majesty,that his brother and friends should

be summoned to find caution to

underly the law within a certainday, or else be put to the horn. Butthe earl appeared not, nor none for

him; and so he was put to the horn,with all his kin and friends: so

many as were contained in thesummons, that compeared not,were banished, and holden traitorsto the king.'"

159. From Tweed to Spey. Frothe Tweed the southern boundary



the Tweed, the southern boundaryof Scotland, to the Spey, a river fato the north in Invernessshire; thais, from one end of the land to the

other.170. Reave. Tear away. The

participle reft is still used, at least in

poetry. Cf. Shakespeare, V. and A.766: "Or butcher-sire that reaves

his son of life" (that is, bereaves);Spenser, F. Q. i. 3. 36: "He to hi

lept, in minde to reave his life;" Id.ii. 8. 15: "I will him reave of arms,"etc.

178 I d i k Th MS h



178. It drinks, etc. The MS. ha"No blither dewdrop cheers throse."

195, 196. To see... dance. This



crying out, 'Onward as thou wer wont, thou noble heart, Douglaswill follow thee.' Douglas was

slain, but his body was recovered,and also the precious casket, and in

the end Douglas was laid with hisancestors, and the heart of Brucdeposited in the church of MelrosAbbey" (Burton's Hist. oScotland).

201 Fair The 1st ed (and



201. Fair. The 1st ed. (and probably the MS., though not noted

by Lockhart) has "Gay."203. Yet is this, etc. The MS. and

1st ed. read:



"This mossy rock, my friend,to me Is worth gay chair andcanopy."

205. Footstep. The reading of th1st and other early eds.; "footsteps"

in recent ones.206. Strathspey. A Highlanddance, which takes its name fromthe strath, or broad valley, of theSpey (159 above).

213 Clan Alpine's pride "Th



213. Clan-Alpine s pride. ThSiol Alpine, or race of Alpine,includes several clans who claimeddescent from Kenneth McAlpine

an ancient king. These are thMacgregors, the Grants, thMackies, the Mackinnans, th

MacNabs, the MacQuarries, and thMacaulays. Their common emble

was the pine, which is nowconfined to the Macgregors"(Taylor).

214. Loch Lomond. Thi beautiful lake, "the pride oScottish lakes " is about 23 miles in



Scottish lakes, is about 23 miles inlength and 5 miles in its greatest

breadth. At the southern end aremany islands, one of which, Inch-

Cailliach (the Island of Women, socalled from a nunnery that wasonce upon it), was the burial-place

of Clan-Alpine. See iii. 191 below.216. A Lennox foray. That is, a

raid in the lands of the Lennofamily, bordering on the southernend of Loch Lomond. On thisland of Inch-Murrin, the ruins oLennox Castle, formerlyresidence of the Earls of Lennox



residence of the Earls of Lennoxare still to be seen. There was

another of their strongholds on theshore of the lake near Balloch,

where the modern Balloch Castlnow stands.

217. Her glee. The 1st ed.

misprints "his glee;" not noted inthe Errata.

220. Black Sir Roderick.Roderick Dhu, or the Black, as h

was called.221. In Holy-Rood a knight h

slew. That is, in Holyrood Palace."Thi b



slew. That is, in Holyrood Palace."This was by no means anuncommon occurrence in the Cour of Scotland; nay, the presence othe sovereign himself scarcely

restrained the ferocious and

inveterate feuds which were the perpetual source of bloodshed

among the Scottish nobility"(Scott).

223. Courtiers give place, etc.The MS. reads: "Courtiers give place withheartless stride Of the retiring homicide."

227. Who else, etc. The MS. hah f ll i l b f hi



227. Who else, etc. The MS. hathe following couplet before thisline: "Who else dared own thekindred claim

That bound him to thy

mother's name?"

229. The Douglas, etc. Scott sayhere: "The exiled state of this

powerful race is not exaggerated inthis and subsequent passages. Thhatred of James against the race oDouglas was so inveterate, thanumerous as their allies were, anddisregarded as the regal authorityhad usually been in similar cases,

their nearest friends, even in the



,most remote part of Scotland, durs

not entertain them, unless under thestrictest and closest disguise. JamesDouglas, son of the banished Ear

of Angus, afterwards well known

by the title of Earl of Mortonlurked, during the exile of his

family, in the north of Scotland,under the assumed name of James

Innes, otherwise James the Griev(i.e. reve or bailiff). 'And as h bore the name,' says Godscroft, 'sodid he also execute the office of agrieve or overseer of the lands andrents, the corn and cattle of him



,with whom he lived.' From th

habits of frugality and observationwhich he acquired in his humble

situation the historian traces that

intimate acquaintance with popular

character which enabled him to riseso high in the state, and that

honorable economy by which herepaired and established the

shattered estates of Angus andMorton (History of the House oDouglas, Edinburgh, 1743, vol. ii.

p. 160)."235. Guerdon. Reward; no

rarely used except in poetry. Cf.



y p p ySpenser, F. Q. i. 10. 59: "That glor

does to them for guerdon graunt,"etc.

236. Dispensation. As Roderic

and Ellen were cousins, they couldnot marry without a dispensation

from the Pope.251. Orphan. Referring to child

not to she, as its position indicates.254. Shrouds. Shields, protects.

Cf. Spenser, F. Q. i. 1. 6: "And thifaire couple eke to shroudthemselves were fain" (that is, fromthe rain). So the noun = shelter,



t e a ). So t e ou s e te , protection; as in Shakespeare, A.and C. iii. 13. 71: "put yourselunder his shroud," etc. See also on

757 below.

260. Maronnan's cell. "Th parish of Kilmaronock, at th

eastern extremity of Loch Lomondderives its name from a cell, or

chapel, dedicated to SainMaronock, or Marnock, oMaronnan, about whose sanctitvery little is now remembered"(Scott). Kill = cell; as in Colmekil(Macb. ii. 4. 33), "the cell o



( )Columba," now known as

Icolmkill, or Iona.270. Bracklinn's thunderin

wave. This beautiful cascade is on

the Keltie, a mile from Callander.The height of the fall is about fift

feet. "A few years ago a marriage party of Lowland peasants met witha tragic end here, two of themhaving tumbled into the broken,angry waters, where they had nomore chance of life than if they haddropped into the crater of Hecla"

(Black).



271. Save. Unless; here followe

by the subjunctive.274. Claymore. The word mean

"a large sword" (Gaeli

claidheamh, sword, and more,great).

294. Shadowy plaid and sabl plume. Appropriate to Roderick

Dhu. See on 220 above.303. Woe the while. Woe be to

the time, alas the time! Cf.Shakespeare, J. C. i. 3. 82: "Butwoe the while! our fathers' mindsare dead," etc. See also on i. 166



above.306. Tine-man. "Archibald, th

third Earl of Douglas, was s

unfortunate in all his enterprises,

that he acquired the epithet of 'tine-man,' because he tined, or lost, his

followers in every battle which hefought. He was vanquished, asevery reader must remember, in the

bloody battle of Homildon-hill,near Wooler, where he himself lostan eye, and was made prisoner byHotspur. He was no less

unfortunate when allied with Percy,b i d d d k h



being wounded and taken at the

battle of Shrewsbury. He was sounsuccessful in an attempt to

beseige Roxburgh Castle that i

was called the 'Foul Raid,' o

disgraceful expedition. His ilfortune left him indeed at the battle

of Beauge, in France; but it waonly to return with doubleemphasis at the subsequent actionof Vernoil, the last and mostunlucky of his encounters, inwhich he fell, with the flower othe Scottish chivalry, then serving

as auxiliaries in France, and about th d ldi



two thousand common soldiers,

A.D. 1424" (Scott).307. What time, etc. That is, a

the time when Douglas allied

himself with Percy in the rebellionagainst Henry IV. of England. Se

Shakespeare, 1 Hen. IV.309. Did, self unscabbarded, etc.

Scott says here: "The ancienwarriors, whose hope andconfidence rested chiefly in their

blades, were accustomed to deduceomens from them, especially fromsuch as were supposed to have



been fabricated by enchanted skill,

of which we have various instancesin the romances and legends of the

time. The wonderful sword

Skofnung, wielded by thcelebrated Hrolf Kraka, was of thi

description. It was deposited in thtomb of the monarch at his death,and taken from thence by Skeggo,a celebrated pirate, who bestowedit upon his son-in-law, Kormak,with the following curiousdirections: '"The manner of using i

will appear strange to you. A smallbag is attached to it which take



bag is attached to it, which take

heed not to violate. Let not the raysof the sun touch the upper part othe handle, nor unsheathe it, unless

thou art ready for battle. But when

thou comest to the place of fight,go aside from the rest, grasp and

extend the sword, and breatheupon it. Then a small worm wilcreep out of the handle; lower thehandle, that he may more easilyreturn into it." Kormak, aftehaving received the sword,returned home to his mother. He

showed the sword, and attemptedto draw it as unnecessarily as



to draw it, as unnecessarily as

ineffectually, for he could not pluck it out of the sheath. Hismother, Dalla, exclaimed, "Do no

despise the counsel given to thee,

my son." Kormak, however,repeating his efforts, pressed down

the handle with his feet, and toreoff the bag, when Skofung emitteda hollow groan; but still he couldnot unsheathe the sword. Kormak then went out with Bessus, whohe had challenged to fight withhim, and drew apart at the place o

combat. He sat down upon thground and ungirding the sword



ground, and ungirding the sword,

which he bore above his vestments,did not remember to shield the hiltfrom the rays of the sun. In vain h

endeavored to draw it, till he

placed his foot against the hilt; thenthe worm issued from it. Bu

Kormak did not rightly handle thweapon, in consequence whereogood fortune deserted it. As heunsheathed Skofnung, it emittedhollow murmur' (Bartholini dCausis Contemptae a Danis adhuGentilibus Mortis, Libri Tres.

Hafniae, 1689, 4to, p. 574)."T th hi t f thi ti t



"To the history of this sentient

and prescient weapon, I beg leavto add, from memory, the

following legend, for which I

cannot produce any better authority. A young nobleman, of

high hopes and fortune, chanced tolose his way in the town which heinhabited, the capital, if I mistak not, of a German province. He haaccidentally involved himselamong the narrow and windingstreets of a suburb, inhabited by the

lowest order of the people, and anapproaching thunder-shower



approaching thunder-shower

determined him to ask a shortrefuge in the most decent habitationthat was near him. He knocked a

the door, which was opened by a

tall man, of a grisly and ferociousaspect, and sordid dress. Th

stranger was readily ushered to achamber, where swords, scourges,and machines, which seemed to beimplements of torture, weresuspended on the wall. One othese swords dropped from itsscabbard, as the nobleman, after a

moment's hesitation, crossed thethreshold His host immediatel



threshold. His host immediatel

stared at him with such a markedexpression, that the young mancould not help demanding his name

and business, and the meaning o

his looking at him so fixedly. 'Iam,' answered the man, 'the public

executioner of this city; and theincident you have observed is asure augury that I shall, indischarge of my duty, one day cutoff your head with the weaponwhich has just now spontaneouslyunsheathed itself.' The nobleman

lost no time in leaving his place orefuge; but engaging in some o



refuge; but, engaging in some o

the plots of the period, was shortlyafter decapitated by that very manand instrument.

"Lord Lovat is said, by th

author of the Letters from Scotlan(vol. ii. p. 214), to have affirmed

that a number of swords that hungup in the hall of the mansion-house, leaped of themselves out othe scabbard at the instant he was

born. The story passed currenamong his clan, but, like that of thestory I have just quoted, proved an

unfortunate omen."311 If courtly spy hath etc Th



311. If courtly spy hath, etc. Th

1st ed. has "If courtly spy, andharbored," etc. The ed. of 1821

reads "had harbored."

319. Beltane. The first of Maywhen there was a Celtic festival in

honor of the sun. Beltane = Beal-tein, or the fire of Beal, a Gaeli

name for the sun. It was celebrated by kindling fires on the hill-tops atnight, and other ceremonies,followed by dances, and merry-making. Cf. 410 below. See alsoThe Lord of the Isles, i. 8: "Thshepherd lights his belane fire;"



shepherd lights his belane-fire;

and Glenfinlas: "But o'er his hills, infestal day,

How blazed Lord Ronald'sbeltane-tree!"

323. But hark! etc. "The movin picture—the effect of the sounds— and the wild character and strong

peculiar nationality of the whole

procession, are given withinimitable spirit and power o

expression" (Jeffrey).327. The canna's hoary beard.

The down of the canna, or cotton-grass.



335. Glengyle. A valley at thenorthern end of Lock Katrine.

337 Brianchoil A promontory

on the northern shore of the lake.

342. Spears, pikes, and axes. Th1st ed. and that of 1821 have

Spears, but all the recent onesmisprint "Spear." The "Globe" ed.

has "Spear, spikes," etc.343. Tartans. The checkered

woollen cloth so much worn inScotland. Curiously enough, thname is not Gaelic but French. SeJamieson or Wb.



Brave. Fine, beautiful; the samword as the Scottish braw. Cf.Shakespeare, Sonn. 12. 2: "And se

the brave day sunk in hideous

night;" Ham. ii. 2. 312: "This bravo'erhanging firmament," etc. It is

often used of dress, as also is bravery (= finery); as in T. of S. iv.3. 57: "With scarfs and fans anddouble change of bravery." Seealso Spenser, Mother HubberdTale, 858: "Which oft maintain'dhis masters braverie" (that is,

dressed as well as his master).351 Chanters The pipes of th



351. Chanters. The pipes of th

bagpipes, to which long ribbonswere attached.

357. The sounds. Misprinted "th

sound" in the ed. of 1821, and allthe more recent eds. that we have

seen. Cf. 363 below.363. Those thrilling sounds, etc.

Scott says here: "The connoisseur in pipe-music affect to discover ina well-composed pibroch, theimitative sounds of march, conflict,flight, pursuit, and all the 'currentof a heady fight.' To this opinionDr. Beattie has given his suffrage,



Dr. Beattie has given his suffrage,

in that following elegant passage:'A pibroch is a species of tune,



confusion, and turbulent rapidity,

to imitate the conflict and pursuit;then swell into a few flourishes o

triumphant joy; and perhaps closewith the wild and slow wailings oa funeral procession' (Essay onLaughter and LudicriouComposition, chap. iii. note)."

367. Hurrying. Referring to their,or rather to the them implied in thatword.

392 The burden bore That is



392. The burden bore. That is

sustained the burden, or chorus, othe song. Cf. Shakespeare, Temp. i.

2. 381: "And, sweet sprites, th

burden bear."399. Hail to the Chief, etc. Th

metre of the song is dactylic; theaccents being on the 1st, 4th, 7th,

and 10th syllables. It is little used inEnglish. Tennyson's Charge of thLight Brigade and Longfellow'Skeleton in Armor are familiaexamples of it.

405. Bourgeon. Bud. Cf. FairfaxTasso vii 76: When first on trees



Tasso, vii. 76: When first on trees

bourgeon the blossoms soft;" andTennyson, In Memoriam, 115:

"Now burgeons every maze ofquick About the floweringsquares," etc.

408. Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu."Besides his ordinary name andsurname, which were chiefly usedin the intercourse with theLowlands, every Highland chiehad an epithet expressive of his

patriarchal dignity as head of the

clan, and which was common to allhis predecessors and successors, as



Pharaoh to the kings of Egypt, oArsaces to those of Parthia. Thiname was usually a patronymic,

expressive of his descent from the

founder of the family. Thus theDuke of Argyll is called

MacCallum More, or the son oColin the Great. Sometimeshowever, it is derived fromarmorial distinctions, or thememory of some great feat; thusLord Seaforth, as chief of thMackenzies, or Clan-Kennet, bear

the epithet of Caber-fae, or Buck'Head, as representative of Coli



Fitzgerald, founder of the family,who saved the Scottish king, whenendangered by a stag. But besides

this title, which belonged to his

office and dignity, the chieftain hadusually another peculiar to himself,

which distinguished him from thechieftains of the same race. Thiswas sometimes derived fromcomplexion, as dhu or roy;sometimes from size, as beg or more; at other times, from some

peculiar exploit, or from some

peculiarity of habit or appearance.The line of the text therefor



signifies, Black Roderick, the descendantof Alpine.

"The song itself is intended as an

imitation of the jorrams, or boatsongs, of the Highlanders, which

were usually composed in honor oa favorite chief. They are soadapted as to keep time with thesweep of the oars, and it is easy todistinguish between those intendedto be sung to the oars of a galley,where the stroke is lengthened and

doubled, as it were, and thosewhich were timed to the rowers o



an ordinary boat" (Scott).410. Beltane. See on 319 above.

415. Roots him. See on i. 14

above.416. Breadalbane. The distric

north of Loch Lomond and arounLoch Tay. The seat of the Earl o

Breadalbane is Taymouth Castle,near the northern end of Loch Tay.For Menteith, see on i. 89 above.419. Glen Fruin. A valley to th

southwest of Loch Lomond. Thruins of the castle of Benuchara, oBannochar (see on 422 just below)



Bannochar (see on 422 just below),still overhang the entrance to theglen.

Glen Luss is another valle

draining into the lake, a few milesfrom Glen Fruin, and Ross-dhu i

on the shore of the lake, midway between the two. Here standstower, the only remnant of theancient castle of the family of Luss,which became merged in that oColquhoun.

422. The best of Loch Lomondetc. Scott has the following nothere:



"The Lennox, as the district icalled which encircles the lower

extremity of Loch Lomond, wa

peculiarly exposed to theincursions of the mountaineers,

who inhabited the inaccessiblefastnesses at the upper end of thelake, and the neighboring district oLoch Katrine. These were oftemarked by circumstances of greatferocity, of which the notedconflict of Glen Fruin is

celebrated instance. This wasclan-battle, in which the



Macgregors, headed by AllasteMacgregor, chief of the clan,encountered the sept o

Colquhouns, commanded by Si

Humphry Colquhoun of Luss. It ion all hands allowed that the action

was desperately fought, and thatthe Colquhouns were defeated withslaughter, leaving two hundred otheir name dead upon the field. Bu

popular tradition has added other horrors to the tale. It is said that SiHumphry Colquhoun, who was o

horseback, escaped to the Castle oBenechra, or Bannochar, and was



next day dragged out and murdered by the victorious Macgregors incold blood. Buchanan of Auchmar,

however, speaks of his slaughter as

a subsequent event, and as perpetrated by the Macfarlanes.

Again, it is reported that thMacgregors murdered a number oyouths, whom report of theintended battle had brought to bespectators, and whom theColquhouns, anxious for theisafety, had shut up in a barn to be

out of danger. One account of theMacgregors denies this



circumstance entirely; another ascribes it to the savage and bloodthirsty disposition of a single

individual, the bastard brother o

the Laird of Macgregor, whoamused himself with this second

massacre of the innocents, inexpress disobedience to the chief, by whom he was left their guardianduring the pursuit of theColquhouns. It is added thaMacgregor bitterly lamented thisatrocious action, and prophesied

the ruin which it must bring upontheir ancient clan. ...



"The consequences of the battlof Glen Fruin were very calamitou

to the family of Macgregor, who

had already been considered as anunruly clan. The widows of th

slain Colquhouns, sixty, it is said,in number, appeared in doleful procession before the king atStirling, each riding upon a whit

palfrey, and bearing in her hand the bloody shirt of her husbanddisplayed upon a pike. James VI.

was so much moved by thecomplaints of this 'choir o



mourning dames,' that he let loosehis vengeance against theMacgregors without either bounds

or moderation. The very name o

the clan was proscribed, and those by whom it had been borne were

given up to sword and fire, andabsolutely hunted down by bloodhounds like wild beasts.Argyll and the Campbells, on thone hand, Montrose, with thGrahames and Buchanans, on thother, are said to have been the

chief instruments in suppressingthis devoted clan. The Laird o



Macgregor surrendered to thformer, on condition that he wouldtake him out of Scottish ground.

But, to use Birrel's expression, h

kept 'a Highlandman's promise;'and, although he fulfilled his word

to the letter, by carrying him as far as Berwick, he afterwards broughhim back to Edinburgh, where hwas executed with eighteen of hisclan (Birrel's Diary, 2d Oct. 1903).The clan Gregor being thus driveto utter despair, seem to have

renounced the laws from the benefit of which they were



excluded, and their depredations produced new acts of council,confirming the severity of their

proscription, which had only the

effect of rendering them still moreunited and desperate. It is a mos

extraordinary proof of the ardentand invincible spirit of clanship,that notwithstanding the repeated

proscriptions providently ordained by the legislature, 'for the timeous preventing the disorders andoppression that may fall out by the

said name and clan of Macgregors,and their followers,' they were, in



1715 and 1745, a potent clan, andcontinue to subsist as a distinct andnumerous race."

426. Leven-glen. The valley o

the Leven, which connects LocLomond with the Clyde.

431. The rosebud. That is, Ellen."Note how this song connectsAllan's forebodings with Roderick'ssubsequent offer" (Taylor).

444. And chorus wild, etc. ThMS. has "The chorus to thchieftain's fame."

476. Weeped. The form is usedfor the rhyme. Cf. note on i. 500



above.477. Nor while, etc. The MS

reads:

"Nor while on Ellen'sfaltering tongue Her filial greetings eager

hung, Marked not that awe(affection's proof) Still held yon gentle youthaloof; No! not till Douglas namedhis name, Although the youth wasMalcolm Graeme. Then with flushed cheek and

downcast eye, Their greeting was confusedand shy."



495. Bothwell. See on 141 above.497. Percy's Norman pennon.

Taken in the raid which led to the

battle of Otterburn, in Northumberland, in the year 1388,

and which forms the theme of the ballads of Chevy Chase.501. My pomp. My triumpha

procession; the original meaning o pomp.

504. Crescent. The badge of thBuccleuch family (Miss Yonge).

506. Blantyre. A priory, the ruinsof which are still to be seen on a



height above the Clyde, oppositBothwell Castle.

521. The dogs, etc. The MS. ha

"The dogs with whimpering notesrepaid."

525. Unhooded. The falcon wacarried on the wrist, with its headcovered, or hooded, until the preywas seen, when it was unhoodedfor flight. Cf. vi. 665 below.

526. Trust. Believe me.527. Like fabled Goddess. Th

MS. has "Like fabled huntress;referring of course to Diana.



534. Stature fair. The reading othe 1st ed. and that of 1821; "stature

tall" in most of the other eds.

541. The ptarmigan. A white bird.

543. Menteith. See on i. 8above.

548. Ben Lomond. This is mucthe highest (3192 feet) of the

mountains on the shores of LochLomond. The following lines othe ascent were scratched upon thewindow-pane of the old inn atTarbet a hundred years or more



ago: "Trust not at first a quickadventurous pace;

Six miles its top pointsgradual from its base; Up the high rise withpanting haste I past, And gained the long

laborious steep at last; More prudent thou—when onceyou pass the deep,

With cautious steps and slowascend the steep."

549. Not a sob. That is, withou panting, or getting out of breath,like the degenerate modern tourist.

574. Glenfinlas. A wooded valley between Ben-an and Benledi, th



entrance to which is between LochsAchray and Vennachar. It is the

scene of Scott's ballad, Glenfinlas

or Lord Ronald's Coronach. A milfrom the entrance are the falls o

the Hero's Targe. See iv. 84 below.577. Still a royal ward. Stilunder age, with the king for guardian.

583. Strath-Endrick. A valley tothe southeast of Loch Lomonddrained by Endrick Water.

584. Peril aught. Incur any peril.Milton uses the verb intransitivel



in Reason of Church Governmentii. 3: "it may peril to stain itself."

587. Not in action. The 1st ed.

has "nor in action."594. News. Now generally use

as a singular; but in old writers both as singular and as plural. Cf.Shakespeare, K. John, iii. 4. 164"at that news he dies;" and Id. v. 7.65: "these dead news," etc.

601. As. As if. See on 56 above.606. Glozing. That glosses ove

the truth, not plain and outspoken.Sometimes it means to flatter, or



deceive with smooth words; as inSpenser, F. Q. iii. 8. 14:

"For he could well hisglozing speeches frame

To such vaine uses that himbest became;"

Smith, Sermons (A. D. 1609)"Every smooth tale is not to b believed; and every glosing tongueis not to be trusted;" Milton, P. L.iii. 93: "his glozing lies;" Id. ix. 549:

"So glozed the Tempter;" Comus,161: "well-placed words of glozing

courtesy," etc.615. The King's vindictive pride



etc. Scott says here: "In 1529James made a convention a

Edinburgh, for the purpose o

considering the best mode oquelling the Border robbers, who,during the license of his minority,and the troubles which followed,had committed many exorbitances.Accordingly he assembled a flyinarmy of ten thousand men,

consisting of his principal nobilityand their followers, who were

directed to bring their hawks anddogs with them, that the monarch



might refresh himself with sportduring the intervals of militaryexecution. With this array he swept

through Ettrick Forest, where h

hanged over the gate of his owncastle Piers Cockburn oHenderland, who had prepared,according to tradition, a feast for his reception. He caused AdaScott of Tushiclaw also to bexecuted, who was distinguished

by the title of King of the Border.But the most noted victim of justic

during that expedition was JohnArmstrong of Gilnockie, famous i

f



Scottish song, who, confiding inhis own supposed innocence, metthe King, with a retinue of thirty-

six persons, all of whom were

hanged at Carlenrig, near thsource of the Teviot. The effect othis severity was such, that, as thevulgar expressed it, 'the rush-bushkept the cow,' and 'thereafter wasgreat peace and rest a long time,wherethrough the King had grea

profit; for he had ten thousandsheep going in the Ettrick Forest i

keeping by Andrew Bell, whomade the king as good count o

h h h d i h



them as they had gone in the bounds of Fife' (Pitscottie's History, p. 153)."

623. Meggat's mead. The Meggat

or Megget, is a mountain streaflowing into the Yarrow, a branchof the Etrrick, which is itself

branch of the Tweed. The Teviot isalso a branch of the Tweed.

627. The dales, etc. The MS. ha"The dales where clans were wonto bide."

634. By fate of Border chivalry.Scott says: "James was, in factequally attentive to restrain rapine

d f d l i i



and feudal oppression in every partof his dominions. 'The King past t

the isles, and there held justice

courts, and punished both thief andtraitor according to their demerit.And also he caused great men toshow their holdings, wherethroughhe found many of the said lands innon-entry; the which he confiscateand brought home to his own use,

and afterwards annexed them to thecrown, as ye shall hear. Syne

brought many of the great men othe isles captive with him, such asMudyart, M'Connel, M'Loyd of th



Lewes, M'Neil, M'Lane, M'IntoshJohn Mudyart, M'Kay, M'Kenzie

with many other that I canno

rehearse at this time. Some of thehe put in ward and some in court,and some he took pledges for goodrule in time coming. So he broughthe isles, both north and south, ingood rule and peace; wherefore hehad great profit, service, and

obedience of people a long timehereafter; and as long as he had the

heads of the country in subjection,they lived in great peace and rest,and there was great riches and



policy by the King's justice'(Pitscottie, p. 152)."

638. Your counsel. That is, give

me your counsel. Streight = strait.659. The Bleeding Heart. See o

200 above.662. Quarry. See on i. 12

above.672. To wife. For wife. Cf.

Shakespeare, Temp. ii. 1. 75: "sucha paragon to their queen;" Rich. II.iv. 1. 306: "I have a king here tomy flatterer," etc. See also Matt. iii.9, Luke, iii. 8, etc.

674 E Th ld l l



674. Enow. The old plural oenough; as in Shakespeare, Hen. V.

iv. 1. 240: "we have French

quarrels enow," etc.678. The Links of Forth. Th

windings of the Forth betweenStirling and Alloa.

679. Stirling's porch. The gate oStirling Castle.

683. Blench. Start, shrink.685. Heat. Misprinted "heart" imany eds.

690. From pathless glen. ThMS. has "from hill and glen."



692. There are who have. For thellipsis, cf. Shakespeare, Temp. ii.

1. 262: "There be that can rul

aples," etc. See also iii. 10 below.694. That beetled o'er. Cf.

Hamlet, i. 4. 71: "the dreadful summit of thecliff That beetles o'er his

base into the sea."696. Their dangerous dream. Th

MS. has "their desperate dream."702. Battled. Battlemented; as i

vi. 7 below.703. It waved. That it waved; a

ellipsis very common inl b h d l l h f



ellipsis very common inElizabethan and earlier English. Cf.789 below.

708. Astound. Astounded. This

contraction of the participle (hereused for the sake of the rhyme)was formerly not uncommon inverbs ending in d and t. Thus inShakespeare we find the participles

bloat (Ham. iii. 4. 182), enshield(M. for M. ii. 4. 80), taint (1 Hen.

VI. v. 3. 183), etc.710. Crossing. Conflicting.

716. Ere. The 1st ed. misprint"e'er."

731 Level Aim; formerly



731. Level. Aim; formerlytechnical term. Cf. 2 Hen. IV. iii. 2.

286: "The foeman may with as

great aim level at the edge of a penknife," etc.

747. Nighted. Benighted. It is t be regarded as a contraction of thatword; like lated for belated inMacbeth, iii. 3. 6, etc. Nighted (dark, black) in Hamlet, i. 2. 68("thy nighted colour") is anadjective formed from the noun

night.757. Checkered shroud. Tartain

plaid The original meaning o



plaid. The original meaning oshroud (see Wb.) was garment.

763. Parting. Departing. See o

94 above.768. So deep, etc. According to

Lockhart, the MS. reads: "The deep-toned anguish ofdespair

Flushed, in fierce jealousy,to air;"

but we suspect that "Flushed"should be "Flashed."

774. So lately. At the "Beltangame" (319 above).

781. Thus as they strove, etc.The MS reads:



The MS. reads: "Thus, as they strove, each

better hand Grasped for the dagger or

the brand."

786. I hold, etc. Scott has th

following note on the last page othe 1st ed.: "The author has toapologize for the inadvertentappropriation of a whole line fromthe tragedy of Douglas: 'I hold thfirst who strikes my foe.'"

789. His daughter's hand, etc. For the ellipsis of that, see on 703above. Deemed is often misprinted

"doomed "



doomed.791. Sullen and slowly, etc. Th

MS. reads:

"Sullen and slow the rivalsbold Loosed at his hest theirdesperate hold, But either still on otherglared," etc.

795. Brands. A pet word withScott. Note how often it has bee

used already in the poem.798. As faltered. See on 601above.

801. Pity 't were, etc. Scott sayhere: "Hardihood was in ever respect so essential to the character



respect so essential to the character of a Highlander, that the reproach

of effeminacy was the most bitter

which could be thrown upon him.Yet it was sometimes hazarded onwhat we might presume to think slight grounds. It is reported of oldSir Ewen Cameron of Lochielwhen upwards of seventy, that hewas surprised by night on a

hunting or military expedition. Hwrapped him in his plaid, and lay

contentedly down upon the snow,with which the ground happened to be covered. Among his attendants,who were preparing to take their



who were preparing to take their rest in the same manner, he

observed that one of his grandsons,

for his better accommodation, hadrolled a large snow-ball, and placedit below his head. The wrath of thancient chief was awakened by asymptom of what he conceived to

be degenerate luxury. 'Out uponthee,' said he, kicking the frozen

bolster from the head which itsupported, 'art thou so effeminate

as to need a pillow?' The officer oengineers, whose curious Lettersfrom the Highlands have beenmore than once quoted tells a



more than once quoted, tells asimilar story of Macdonald o

Keppoch, and subjoins th

following remarks: 'This and manother stories are romantick; butthere is one thing, that at firstthought might seem veryromantick, of which I have beencredibly assured, that when theHighlanders are constrained to li

among the hills, in cold dryweather, they sometimes soak the

plaid in some river or burn (i.e. brook), and then holding up acorner of it a little above their heads they turn themselves round



heads, they turn themselves roundand round, till they are enveloped

by the whole mantle. They then la

themselves down on the heath,upon the leeward side of some hill,where the wet and the warmth otheir bodies make a steam, like thatof a boiling kettle. The wet, thesay, keeps them warm bythickening the stuff, and keeping

the wind from penetrating. I musconfess I should have been apt to

question this fact, had I nofrequently seen them wet frommorning to night, and, even at thebeginning of the rain not so much



beginning of the rain, not so muchas stir a few yards to shelter, but

continue in it without necessity, till

they were, as we say, wet throughand through. And that is sooneffected by the looseness andspunginess of the plaiding; but the

bonnet is frequently taken off, andwrung like a dishclout, and then

put on again. They have been

accustomed from their infancy to be often wet, and to take the water

like spaniels, and this is become asecond nature, and can scarcely becalled a hardship to them,insomuch that I used to say they



insomuch that I used to say, theyseemed to be of the duck kind, and

to love water as well. Though I

never saw this preparation for sleepin windy weather, yet, setting outearly in a morning from one of thehuts, I have seen the marks of theilodging, where the ground has

been free from rime or snow,which remained all round the spot

where they had lain' (Letters froScotland, Lond. 1754, 8vo, ii. p.

108)."809. His henchman. Scott quote

again the Letters from Scotland (ii.159): "This officer is a sort o



g (159): This officer is a sort o

secretary, and is to be ready, upon

all occasions, to venture his life indefence of his master; and atdrinking-bouts he stands behindhis seat, at his haunch, fromwhence his title is derived, andwatches the conversation, to see iany one offends his patron. An

English officer being in companwith a certain chieftain, and several

other Highland gentlemen, neaKillichumen, had an argument withthe great man; and both being wellwarmed with usky [whisky], at last



warmed with usky [whisky], at lastthe dispute grew very hot. A youth

who was henchman, not

understanding one word oEnglish, imagined his chief wasinsulted, and thereupon drew his

pistol from his side, and snapped itat the officer's head; but the pistolmissed fire, otherwise it is morethan probable he might have

suffered death from the hand othat little vermin. But it is ver

disagreeable to an Englishman ovea bottle with the Highlanders, to seevery one of them have his gilly,that is, his servant, standing behind



, , ghim all the while, let what will be

the subject of conversation."

829. On the morn. Modifyinshould circle, not the nearer verb

had sworn.831. The Fiery Cross. See on iii18 below.

846. Point. Point out, appoint.Cf. Shakespeare, Sonn. 14. 6: "Nor can I fortune to briefminutes tell, Pointing to each histhunder, rain, and wind."

The word in this and simila passages is generally printed



p g g y p"'point" by modern editors, but it is

not a contraction of appoint.

860. Then plunged, etc. The MShas "He spoke, and plunged into

the tide."862. Steered him. See on i. 14above.

865, 866. Darkening... gave. Ithe 1st ed. these lines are joined towhat precedes, as they evidentlyshould be; in all the more recenteds. they are joined to whatfollows.



Canto Third.3. Store. See on i. 548 above.5. That be. in old English

besides the present tense am, etc.,there was also this form be, fromthe Anglo-Saxon beon. The 2

person singular was beest. The 1sand 3d person plural be is often

found in Shakespeare and thBible.

10. Yet live there still, etc. See onii 692 above



ii. 692 above.

15. What time. Cf. ii. 307 above.

17. The gathering sound. Thsound, or signal, for the gathering.

The phrase illustrates the differenc between the participle and theverbal noun (or whatever it may becalled) in -ing. Cf. "a laborinman" and "a laboring day" (JuliusCaesar, i. 1. 4); and see our ed. oJ. C. p. 126.

18. The Fiery Cross. Scott sayhere: "When a chieftain designed to

summon his clan, upon any suddenor important emergency he slew a



or important emergency, he slew a

goat, and making a cross of any

light wood, seared its extremities inthe fire, and extinguished them inthe blood of the animal. This wascalled the Fiery Cross, also CreaTarigh, or the Cross of Shame,

because disobedience to what thesymbol implied, inferred infamy. It

was delivered to a swift and trustymessenger, who ran full speed with

it to the next hamlet, where he presented it to the principal person,with a single word, implying the

place of rendezvous. He who



received the symbol was bound to

send it forward, with equal

despatch, to the next village; andthus it passed with incrediblecelerity through all the districtwhich owed allegiance to the chief,and also among his allies andneighbours, if the danger wascommon to them. At sight of the

Fiery Cross, every man, frosixteen years old to sixty, capable

of bearing arms, was obligedinstantly to repair, in his best armsand accoutrements, to the place orendezvous. He who failed to



appear suffered the extremities o

fire and sword, which were

emblematically denounced to thedisobedient by the bloody and burnt marks upon this warlikesignal. During the civil war o1745-6, the Fiery Cross often madits circuit; and upon one occasion it

passed through the whole district

of Breadalbane, a tract of thirty-twomiles, in three hours. The lat

Alexander Stewart, Esq., oInvernahyle, described to me hishaving sent round the Fiery Crosthrough the district of Appine,



during the same commotion. Th

coast was threatened by a descent

from two English trigates, and thflower of the young men were withthe army of Prince Charles Edward,then in England; yet the summonswas so effectual that even old ageand childhood obeyed it; and aforce was collected in a few hours,

so numerous and so enthusiastic,that all attempt at the intended

diversion upon the country of theabsent warriors was in prudenceabandoned, as desperate."

19. The Summer dawn'



reflected hue, etc. Mr. Ruskin says

(Modern Painters, iii. 278): "Anthus Nature becomes dear to Scotin a threefold way: dear to him,first, as containing those remains or memories of the past, which hecannot find in cities, and givinghope of Praetorian mound o

knight's grave in every green slopeand shade of its desolate places;

dear, secondly, in its moorlandliberty, which has for him just ashigh a charm as the fenced gardenhad for the mediaeval;... and dear



to him, finally, in that perfect

beauty, denied alike in cities and in

men, for which every modern hearthad begun at last to thirst, andScott's, in its freshness and power,of all men's most earnestly.

"And in this love of beauty,observe that the love of colour is aleading element, his healthy mind

being incapable of losing, under any modern false teaching, its joy

in brilliancy of hue. ... In general, ihe does not mean to say much

about things, the one character which he will give is colour, using



it with the most perfect mastery and

faithfulness."After giving many illustrations oScott's use of colour in his poetry,Ruskin quotes the present passage,which he says is "still moreinteresting, because it has no formin it at all except in one word

(chalice), but wholly composes itsimagery either of colour, or of that

delicate half-believed life which wehave seen to be so important an

element in modern landscape.""Two more considerations," he



,

adds, "are, however, suggested by

the above passage. The first, thathe love of natural history, excited by the continual attention nowgiven to all wild landscape,heightens reciprocally the interestof that landscape, and becomes animportant element in Scott's

description, leading him to finish,down to the minutest speckling o

breast, and slightest shade oattributed emotion, the portraitureof birds and animals; in strangeopposition to Homer's slightl

d ' h h



named 'sea-crows, who have care

of the works of the sea,' and

Dante's singing-birds, of undefinedspecies. Compare carefully the 2dand 3d stanzas of Rokeby.

"The second point I have to notis Scott's habit of drawing a slighmoral from every scene,... and thatthis slight moral is almost always

melancholy. Here he has stoppedshort without entirely expressing it:

"The mountain-shadows.. ..................... lie Like future joys to Fancy's

eye.'His completed thought would be,



that these future joys, like the

mountain-shadows, were never to be attained. It occurs fully utteredin many other places. He seems tohave been constantly rebuking hisown worldly pride and vanity, butnever purposefully: 'The foam-globes on hereddies ride, Thick as the schemes ofhuman pride That down life's currentdrive amain, As frail, as frothy, and asvain.'"

Ruskin adds, among otheill t ti th f t



illustrations, the reference to

"foxglove and nightshade" in i.

218, 219 above.28. Like future joys, etc. Thi passage, quoted by Ruskin above,also illustrates what iscomparatively rare in figurativelanguage—taking the immaterial toexemplify the material. The latter is

constantly used to symbolize or elucidate the former; but one would

have to search long in our modern poetry to find a dozen instanceswhere, as here, the relation isreversed. Cf. 639 below. We have



another example in the second

passage quoted by Ruskin. Cf. alsTennyson's "thousand wreaths of

dangling water-smoke, That like a broken purposewaste in air;"

and Shelly's "Our boat is asleep on

Serchio's stream; Its sails are folded likethoughts in a dream."

30. Reared. The 1st ed. ha"oped."

32. After this line the MS. has thecouplet,



p

"Invisible in fleecy cloud, The lark sent down her

matins loud,"which reappears in altered form

below.33. Gray mist. The MS. has "ligh

mist."38. Good-morrow gave, etc. Cf.Byron, Childe Harold: "andthe bills

Of summer-birds sing welcomeas ye pass."

39. Cushat dove. Ring-dove.46. His impatient blade. Note th

"transferred epithet " It is not th



transferred epithet. It is not th

blade that is impatient.

47. Beneath a rock, etc. The MSreads: "Hard by, his vassals' earlycare The mystic ritual prepare."

50. Antiquity. The men of old;"the abstract for the concrete."

59. With her broad shadow, etc.Cf. Longfellow, Maidenhood: "Seest thou shadows sailingby, As the dove, with startledeye,

Sees the falcon's shadowfly?"



62. Rowan. The mountain-ash.

71. That monk, of savage for and face. Scott says here: "The stateof religion in the middle agesafforded considerable facilities for those whose mode of life excludedthem from regular worship, tosecure, nevertheless, the ghostly

assistance of confessors, perfectlywilling to adapt the nature of their

doctrine to the necessities and peculiar circumstances of their flock. Robin Hood, it is welknown, had his celebrated



domestic chaplain Friar Tuck. And

that same curtal friar was probablymatched in manners andappearance by the ghostly fathersof the Tynedale robbers, who arethus described in an

excommunication fulminatedagainst their patrons by Richard

Fox, Bishop of Durham, tempor Henrici VIII.: 'We have furthe

understood, that there are manychaplains in the said territories oTynedale and Redesdale, who are

public and open maintainers oconcubinage irregular suspended



concubinage, irregular, suspended,

excommunicated, and interdicted persons, and withal so utterlyignorant of letters, that it has beenfound by those who objected thisto them, that there were some who,having celebrated mass for ten

years, were still unable to read thesacramental service. We have also

understood there are personsamong them who, although not

ordained, do take upon them theoffices of priesthood, and, incontempt of God, celebrate thdivine and sacred rites, andadminister the sacraments not only



administer the sacraments, not only

in sacred and dedicated places, butin those which are prophane andinterdicted, and most wretchedlyruinous, they themselves beingattired in ragged, torn, and mostfilthy vestments, altogether unfit to

be used in divine, or even intemporal offices. The which said

chaplains do administer sacramentsand sacramental rites to the

aforesaid manifest and infamousthieves, robbers, depredators,receivers of stolen goods, and

plunderers, and that withoutrestitution or intention to restore



restitution, or intention to restore,



74. Benharrow. A mountain near the head of Loch Lomond.

77. Brook. See on i. 566 above.

81. The hallowed creed. ThChristian creed, as distinguishedfrom heathen lore. The MS. ha"While the blest creed," etc.

85. Bound. That is, of his haunts.87. Glen or strath. A glen is the

deep and narrow valley of a smallstream, a strath the broader one oa river.

89. He prayed, etc. The MSreads:



"The snood, or riband, with whichas Scottish lass braided her hair,had an emblematical signification,and applied to her maidencharacter. It was exchanged for thecurch, toy, or coif, when she

passed, by marriage, into thematron state. But if the damsel was

so unfortunate as to lose pretensions to the name of maiden,without gaining a right to that omatron, she was neither permittedto use the snood, nor advanced tothe graver dignity of the curch. Inold Scottish songs there occu



g

many sly allusions to suchmisfortune; as in the old words tothe popular tune of 'Ower the muiamang the heather:' 'Down amang the broom, thebroom, Down amang the broom, mydearie, The lassie lost her silkensnood,

That gard her greet tillshe was wearie.'"

120. Or... or. For either... or, asoften in poetry.

131. Till, frantic, etc. The MS.reads:

"Till, driven to frenzy, he



Till, driven to frenzy, he

believed The legend of his birth

received."136. The cloister. Her

personified as feminine.138. Sable-lettered. "Black-letter;" the technical term for the"old English" form of letter, used inthe earliest English manuscripts and

books.142. Cabala. Mysteries. For th

original meaning of the word, seeWb.

144. Curious. Inquisitive, pryininto hidden things.



148. Hid him. See on i. 14above.

149. The desert gave him, etc.Scott says here: "In adopting thlegend concerning the birth of theFounder of the Church oKilmallie, the author hasendeavored to trace the effects

which such a belief was likely to produce, in a barbarous age, on the

person to whom it related. It seemslikely that he must have become afanatic or an impostor, or thatmixture of both which forms a



more frequent character than either of them, as existing separately. Intruth, mad persons are frequentlymore anxious to impress uponothers a faith in their visions, thanthey are themselves confirmed in

their reality; as, on the other hand,it is difficult for the most cool-

headed impostor long to personatean enthusiast, without in somedegree believing what he is soeager to have believed. It wasnatural attribute of such a character as the supposed hermit, that heshould credit the numerous



which forms the scene of our action: it consisted in thedestruction of a funeral procession,with all its attendants. Th'noontide hag,' called in GaeliGlas-lich, a tall, emaciated, giganti

female figure, is supposed in particular to haunt the district o

Knoidart. A goblin dressed inantique armor, and having onehand covered with blood, called,from that circumstance, Lham-dearg, or Red-hand, is a tenant othe forests of Glenmore andRothiemurcus. Other spirits of th



desert, all frightful in shape andmalignant in disposition, are

believed to frequent differentmountains and glens of theHighlands, where any unusuaappearance, produced by mist, or

the strange lights that aresometimes thrown upon particular

objects, never fails to present anapparition to the imagination of thesolitary and melancholymountaineer."

161. Mankind. Accented on thfirst syllable; as it is almost



invariably in Shakespeare, excepin Timon of Athens, where themodern accent prevails. Miltonuses either accent, as suits themeasure. We find both in P. L. viii.358: "Above mankind, or augh

than mankind higher."166. Alpine's. Some eds.

misprint "Alpine;" also "horsemen"in 172 below.

168. The fatal Ben-Shie's bodinscream. The MS. reads: "The fatal Ben-Shie's dismalscream, And seen her wrinkled form,



the sign Of woe and death to Alpine's

line."Scott has the following not

here: "Most great families in thHighlands were supposed to havetutelar, or rather a domestic, spirit,attached to them, who took aninterest in their prosperity, and

intimated, by its wailings, anyapproaching disaster. That of Gran

of Grant was called May Moullachand appeared in the form of a girl,who had her arm covered withhair. Grant of Rothiemurcus had an



attendant called Bodach-an-dun, othe Ghost of the Hill; and manother examples might bementioned. The Ben-Shie impliethe female fairy whoselamentations were often supposed

to precede the death of a chieftainof particular families. When she is

visible, it is in the form of an oldwoman, with a blue mantle andstreaming hair. A superstition of the same kind is, I believe,universally received by the inferior ranks of the native Irish.



"The death of the head ofHighland family is also sometimessupposed to be announced by achain of lights of different colours,called Dr'eug, or death of thDruid. The direction which it take

marks the place of the funeral."[See the Essay on Fair

Superstitions in Scott's BordeMinstrelsy.]

169. Sounds, too, had come, etc.Scott says: "A presage of the kindalluded to in the text, is still

believed to announce death to the



ancient Highland family of M'Leaof Lochbuy. The spirit of anancestor slain in battle is heard togallop along a stony bank, and thento ride thrice around the familyresidence, ringing his fairy bridle,

and thus intimating theapproaching calamity. How easily

the eye as well as the ear may bedeceived upon such occasions, isevident from the stories of armiesin the air, and other spectral

phenomena with which historyabounds. Such an apparition is saidto have been witnessed upon the



side of Southfell mountain, between Penrith and Keswick upon the 23d June, 1744, by two

persons, William Lancaster oBlakehills, and Daniel Stricket hiservant, whose attestation to the

fact, with a full account of theapparition, dated the 21st of July,

1745, is printed in Clarke's Surveof the Lakes. The apparitioconsisted of several troops of horsemoving in regular order, with asteady rapid motion, making acurved sweep around the fell, andseeming to the spectators to



disappear over the ridge of themountain. Many persons witnessedthis phenomenon, and observed thelast, or last but one, of thesupposed troop, occasionally leavehis rank, and pass, at a gallop, to

the front, when he resumed thesteady pace. The curious

appearance, making the necessaryallowance for imagination, may be perhaps sufficiently accounted for by optical deception."

171. Shingly. Gravelly, pebbly.173. Thunderbolt. The 1st ed.



has "thunder too."

188. Framed. The reading of th1st ed.; commonly misprinted"formed," which occurs in 195.

190. Limbs. The 1st ed. ha"limb."

191. Inch-Cailliach. Scott says"Inch-Cailliach, the Isle of Nuns, or of Old Women, is a most beautifulisland at the lower extremity o

Loch Lomond. The churc belonging to the former nunnery

was long used as the place oworship for the parish o



Buchanan, but scarce any vestigesof it now remain. The burial-ground continues to be used, andcontains the family places osepulture of several neighboringclans. The monuments of the lairds

of Macgregor, and of other familiesclaiming a descent from the old

Scottish King Alpine, are mosremarkable. The Highlanders are azealous of their rights of sepultureas may be expected from a peoplewhose whole laws andgovernment, if clanship can becalled so, turned upon the single



principle of family descent. 'Mahis ashes be scattered on the water,'was one of the deepest and mostsolemn imprecations which theyused against an enemy." [See adetailed description of the funeral

ceremonies of a Highland chieftainin the Fair Maid of Perth.]

203. Dwelling low. That is, burial-place.

207. Each clansman's execration,etc. The MS. reads: "Our warriors, on hisworthless bust, Shall speak disgrace and



woe;"

and below: "Their clattering targetshardly strook; And first they mutteredlow."

212. Stook. One of the old form

of struck. In the early eds. oShakespeare, we find struck,

stroke, and strook (or strooke) for the past tense, and all these,together with stricken, strucken,stroken, and strooken, for the

participle. Cf. Milton, Hymn oativity, 95:

"When such music sweet



Their hearts and ears didgreet As never was by mortal fingerstrook;"

where, as here, it used for thesake of the rhyme.

214. Then, like the billow, etc.The repetition of the same rhymhere gives well the cumulative

effect of the rising billow.217. Burst, with load roar. Se

on i. 73 above; and cf. 227 below.228. Holiest name. The MS. ha

"holy name."245. Mingled with childhood's



babbling trill, etc. "The whole othis stanza is very impressive; themingling of the children's curses isthe climax of horror. Note themeaning of the triple curse. Thcross is of ancestral yew—the

defaulter is cut off fromcommunion with his clan; it is

sealed in the fire—the fire shalldestroy his dwelling; it is dipped in blood—his heart's blood is to beshed" (Taylor).

253. Coir-Uriskin. See on 62 below.



255. Beala-nam-bo. "The pass othe cattle," on the other side oBenvenue from the Goblin's Cave"a magnificent glade, overhungwith birch-trees, by which thecattle, taken in forays, were

conveyed within the protection othe Trosachs" (Black).

279. This sign. That is, the cross.To all, which we should not expect

with bought, was apparentlysuggested by the antithetical to himin the preceding line; but if all theeditions did not read bought, we



might suspect that Scott wrot brought.

281. The murmur, etc. The MS.has "The slowly muttered deepAmen."

286. The muster-place, etc. ThMS. reads "Murlagan is the spodecreed."

Lanrick Mead is a meadow at thnorthwestern end of Loch

Vennachar.300. The dun deer's hide, etc.

Scott says: "The present brogue othe Highlanders is made of half-



dried leather, with holes to admitand let out the water; for walkingthe moors dry-shod is a matter altogether out of the question. Thancient buskin was still ruder,

being made of undressed deer's

hide, with the hair outwards,—acircumstance which procured the

Highlanders the well-known epitheof Red-shanks. The process is ver accurately described by one Elde(himself a Highlander), in th

project for a union betweenEngland and Scotland, addressed tHenry VIII.: 'We go a-hunting, an

f



after that we have slain red-deer,we flay off the skin by and by, andsetting of our barefoot on theinside thereof, for want of cunningshoemakers, by your grace's

pardon, we play the cobblers,

compassing and measuring somuch thereof as shall reach up to

our ankles, pricking the upper partthereof with holes, that the water may repass where it enters, andstretching it up with a strong thongof the same above our said ankles.So, and please your noble grace,we make our shoes. Therefore, w

i h f h h



using such manner of shoes, therough hairy side outwards, in your grace's dominions of England, w

be called Rough-footed Scots(Pinkerton's History, vol. ii. p.397)."

Cf. Marmion, v. 5: "The hunted red-deer'sundressed hide Their hairy buskins wellsupplied."

304. Steepy. For the word (sealso iv. 374 below) and the line, cf.Shakespeare, T. of A. i. 1. 75: "Bowing his head against thesteepy mount

To climb his happiness "



To climb his happiness."

309. Questing. Seeking its game.Bacon (Adv. of Learning, v. 5)speaks of "the questing o

memory."310. Scaur. Cliff, precipice; th

same word as scar. Cf. Tennyson'sBugle Song: "O sweet and far

from cliff and scar;" and in theIdyls of the King: "shingly scaur."

314. Herald of battle, etc. ThMS. reads: "Dread messenger of fate andfear, Herald of danger, fate and

fear



fear, Stretch onward in thy fleetcareer! Thou track'st not now thestricken doe, Nor maiden coy throughgreenwood bough."

322. Fast as the fatal symbo

flies, etc. "The description of thstarting of the Fiery Cross bear

more marks of labor than most oMr. Scott's poetry, and borders, perhaps, on straining andexaggeration; yet it shows great

power" (Jeffrey).332. Cheer. In its original sens

f t l k Cf



of countenance, or look. Cf.Shakespeare, M. N. D. iii. 2. 96"pale of cheer;" Spenser, F. Q. i. 1.2: "But of his cheere did seeme toosolemne sad;" Dryden, Hind anPanther, iii. 437: "Till frowning

skies began to change their cheer,"etc.

333. His scythe. The reading othe 1st and other early eds.; "the

scythe" in more recent ones.342. Alas, thou lovely lake! etc."Observe Scott's habit of looking anature, neither as dead, nor merely

material nor as altered by his own



material, nor as altered by his ownfeelings; but as having ananimation and pathos of its own,wholly irrespective of human

passion—an animation which Scotloves and sympathizes with, as he

would with a fellow creature,forgetting himself altogether, and

subduing his own humanity beforewhat seems to him the power of thelandscape.... Instead of makin

Nature anywise subordinate tohimself, he makes himselsubordinate to HER—follows helead simply—does not venture to

bring his own cares and thoughts



bring his own cares and thoughtsinto her pure and quiet presence—

paints her in her simple anduniversal truth, adding no result omomentary passion or fancy, andappears, therefore, at first

shallower than other poets, being inreality wider and healthier"

(Ruskin).344. Bosky. Bushy, woody. Cf.

Milton, Comus, 313: "And ever bosky bourn from side to side;"Shakespeare, Temp. iv. i. 81: "My

bosky acres and my unshrubb'd

down " etc



down, etc.347. Seems for the scene, etc.

The MS. has "Seems all too liveland too loud."

349. Duncraggan's huts. Ahomestead between Lochs Achraand Vennachar, near the Brigg of Turk.

355. Shot him. See on i. 14above. Scott is much given to this

construction.357. The funeral yell, etc. Th

MS. has "'T is woman's scream, 't ichildhood's wail."

Yell may at first seem too strong



Yell may at first seem too stronga word here, but it is in keepingwith the people and the timesdescribed. Besides Scott wafamiliar with old English poetry, inwhich it was often used where a

modern writer would chooseanother word. Cf. Surrey, Virgil's

AEneid: "With wailing great anwomen's shrill yelling;" andGascoigne, De Profundis: "From depth of doole whereinmy soule dooth dwell, ........... O gracious God, to thee Icrie and yell."

362 Torch's ray The 1st ed



362. Torch s ray. The 1st ed.reads "torches ray" and supply;"corrected in the Errata to read as inthe text. Most eds. print "torches'ray."

369. Coronach. Scott has th

following note here: "ThCoronach of the Highlanders, lik

the Ululatus of the Romans, and theUluloo of the Irish, was a wilexpression of lamentation, pouredforth by the mourners over the

body of a departed friend. Whenthe words of it were articulate, they

expressed the praises of the



expressed the praises of thedeceased, and the loss the clanwould sustain by his death. Thfollowing is a lamentation of thiskind, literally translated from theGaelic, to some of the ideas o

which the text stands indebted. Thtune is so popular that it has since

become the war-march, or gathering of the clan. Coronach on Sir Lauchlan,Chief of Maclean. 'Which of all the Senachies Can trace thy line from the

root, up to Paradise, But Macvuirih, the son ofFergus?

No sooner had thine ancient



stately tree Taken firm root in Albin, Than one of thy forefathersfell at Harlaw.— 'T was then we lost a chiefof deathless name.

''T is no base weed—no

planted tree, Nor a seedling of last

utumn;

Nor a sapling planted atBeltain; 7 Wide, wide aroundwere spread its lofty branches—

But the topmost bough islowly laid! Thou hast forsaken us beforeSawaine. 8 'Thy dwelling is the winterhouse;—

Loud, sad, and mighty is thy



death-song! Oh! courteous champion ofMontrose! Oh! stately warrior of theCeltic Isles! Thou shalt buckle thyharness on no more!'

"The coronach has for somyears past been suspended atfunerals by the use of the bagpipe;and that also is, like many other Highland peculiarities, falling intodisuse, unless in remote districts."

370. He is gone, etc. As Taylor remarks, the metre of this dirgeseems to be amphibrachic; that is,

made up of feet, or metrical



made up of feet, or metricaldivisions, of three syllables, thesecond of which is accented. Somof the lines appear to be anapestic

(made up of trisyllabic feet, withthe last syllable accented); but the

rhythm of these is amphibrachic;that is, the rhythmic pause is after

the syllable that follows the accent. "(He) is gone on | themountain,

{Like) a summer- | driedfountain."

Ten lines out of twenty-four aredistinctly amphibrachic, as "To Duncan | no morrow."

So that it seems best to treat th



So t at t see s best to t eat trest as amphibrachic, with asuperfluous unaccented syllable atthe beginning of the line. Taylor

adds: "The song is very carefulldivided. To each of the three

things, mountain, forest, fountain,four lines are given, in the order 3,

1, 2."384. In flushing. In full bloom.Cf. Hamlet, iii. 3. 81: "broa

blown, as flush as May."386. Correi. A hallow in the side

of a hill, where game usually lies.

387. Cumber. Trouble,



, perplexity. Cf. Fairfax, Tasso ii. 73:"Thus fade thy helps, and thus thcumbers spring;" and Sir Joh

Harrington, Epigrams, i. 94:"without all let [hindrance] or

cumber."388. Red. Bloody, not afraid o

the hand-to-hand fight.394. Stumah. "Faithful; the nam

of a dog" (Scott).410. Angus, the heir, etc. The

MS. reads: "Angus, the first of Duncan'sline,

Sprung forth and seized the



fatal sign, And then upon his kinsman'sbier Fell Malise's suspendedtear. In haste the stripling tohis side His father's targe and

falchion tied."

439. Hest. Behest, bidding; use

only in poetry. Cf. Shakespeare,Temp. iii. 1. 37: "I have broke your

hest to say so;" Id. iv. 1. 65: "at thyhest," etc.452. Benledi saw the Cross o

Fire, etc. Scott says here:

"Inspection of the provincial map



p p pof Perthshire, or any large map oScotland, will trace the progress othe signal through the small district

of lakes and mountains, which, inexercise of my imaginary chieftain,

and which, at the period of myromance, was really occupied by aclan who claimed a descent fromAlpine,—a clan the mosunfortunate and most persecuted,

but neither the least distinguished,least powerful, nor least brave o

the tribes of the Gael.

"The first stage of the Fier



gCross is to Duncraggan, a placnear the Brigg of Turk, whereshort stream divides Loch Achra

from Loch Vennachar. Fromthence, it passes towards Callander,

and then, turning to the left up the pass of Leny, is consigned to Norman at the Chapel of SainBride, which stood on a small andromantic knoll in the middle of thevalley, called Strath-Ire. Tombeaand Arnandave, or Adrmandave,

are names of places in the vicinity.The alarm is then supposed to pass

along the Lake of Lubnaig, an



through the various glens in thedistrict of Balquidder, including theneighboring tracts of Glenfinlas

and Strath-Gartney."453. Strath-Ire. This valle

connects Lochs Voil and Lubnaig.The Chapel of Saint Bride is abou

half a mile from the southern endof Loch Lubnaig, on the banks othe River Leny, a branch of thTeith (hence "Teith's youngwaters"). The churchyard, withfew remains of the chapel, are all

that now mark the spot.



458. Until, where, etc. The MSreads: "And where a steep and wooded

knoll Graced the dark strath withemerald green."

465. Though reeled hissympathetic eye. That is, his ey

reeled in sympathy with themovement of the waters—a poetic

expression of what every one hasfelt when looking into a "dizzilydancing" stream.

478. That morning-tide. Tha

morning time. Tide in this sense is



now used only in a few poeticcompounds like eventide,springtide, etc. See iv. 59 below.

For its former use, cf. Spenser, F.Q. i. 2. 29: "and rest their wear

limbs a tide;" Id. iii. 6. 21: "thamine may be your paine another tide," etc. See also Scott's Lay, vi.50: "Me lists not at this tiddeclare."

483. Bridal. Bridal party; used aa collective noun.

485. Coif-clad. Wearing the coif,

or curch. See on 114 above; as also



for snooded.488. Unwitting. Unknowing. Cf.

367 above. For the verb wit, see oni. 596 above.

495. Kerchief. Curch, which ietymologically the same word, andmeans a covering for the head.

Some eds. print "'kerchief," as ithe word were a contraction o

handkerchief.508. Muster-place. The 1st ed.

has "mustering place;" and in 519"brooks" for brook.

510. And must he, etc. The MS.



reads: "And must he then exchangthe hand."

528. Lugnaig's lake. lochLubnaig is about four miles lonand a mile broad, hemmed in by

steep, and rugged mountains. Thview of Benledi from the lake is

peculiarly grand and impressive.530. The sickening pang, etc. Cf.

The Lord of the Isles, vi. 1: "Thheartsick faintness of the hopedelayed." See Prov. xiii. 12.

531. And memory, etc. The MS.

reads:



"And memory brought the

torturing train Of all his morning visionsvain;

But mingled with impatiencecame The manly love of martial

fame."541. Brae. The brow or side of

hill.545. The heath, etc. The metre o

the song is the same as that of the poem, the only variation being inthe order of the rhymes.

546. Bracken. Fern; "the Pteri

aquilina" (Taylor).



553. Fancy now. The MS. ha"image now."

561. A time will come, etc. TheMS. reads: "A time will come for love

and faith, For should thy bridegroomyield his breath,

'T will cheer him in thehour of death, The boasted right to thee,Mary."

570. Balquidder. A village near the eastern end of Loch Voil, the

burial-place of Rob Roy and th

scene of many of his exploits. Thd l h h d



Braes extend along the north sidof the lake and of the Balvaiwhich flows into it.

Scott says here: "It may bnecessary to inform the Southern

reader that the heath on the Scottishmoorlands is often set fire to, that

the sheep may have the advantageof the young herbage produced, inroom of the tough old heather

plants. This custom (execrated bsportsmen) produces occasionallythe most beautiful nocturnal

appearances, similar almost to thedi h f l Thi i il



discharge of a volcano. This similis not new to poetry. The charge oa warrior, in the fine ballad o

Hardyknute, is said to be 'like fir to heather set.'"

575. Nor faster speeds it, etc."The eager fidelity with which this

fatal signal is hurried on andobeyed, is represented with greatspirit and felicity" (Jeffrey).

577. Coil. Turmoil. Cf.Shakespeare, Temp. i. 2. 207: "Who was so firm, soconstant, that this coil

Would not infect hisreason?"



C. of E. iii. 1. 48: "What a coil ithere, Dromio?" etc.

579. Loch Doine. A lakelet jusabove Loch Voil, and almostforming a part of it. The epithetssullen and still are peculiarlyappropriate to this valley. "Few

places in Scotland have such an aiof solitude and remoteness from

the haunts of men" (Black).582. Strath-Gartney. The nort

side of the basin of Loch Katrine.583. Each man might claim. Tha

is, WHO could claim. See on i. 52b



above.600. No law but Roderick Dhu'

command. Scott has the followinnote here:

"The deep and implicit respec paid by the Highland clansmen totheir chief, rendered this both a

common and a solemn oath. Inother respects, they were like most

savage nations, capricious in their ideas concerning the obligatory power of oaths. One solemn modof swearing was by kissing the

dirk, imprecating upon themselvesd th b th t i il



death by that, or a similar weapon,if they broke their vow. But for oaths in the usual form, they are

said to have had little respect. Asfor the reverence due to the chief, it

may be guessed from the followingodd example of a Highland point ohonour:

'The clan whereto the above-mentioned tribe belongs, is the onlyone I have heard of which iswithout a chief; that is, beingdivided into families, under several

chieftains, without any particular patriarch of the whole name And



patriarch of the whole name. Andthis is a great reproach, as mayappear from an affair that fell out at

my table, in the Highlands, betweenone of that name and a Cameron.

The provocation given by the lattewas, "Name your chief." The retur of it at once was, "You are a fool."They went out next morning, buhaving early notice of it, I sentsmall party of soldiers after them,which, in all probability, prevented

some barbarous mischief that mighthave ensued; for the chiefless

Highlander, who is himself a pettychieftain was going to the place



chieftain, was going to the placeappointed with a small-sword and

pistol, whereas the Cameron (an

old man) took with him only his broadsword, according to the

agreement.'When all was over, and I had, a

least seemingly, reconciled them, Iwas told the words, of which Iseemed to think but slightly, were,to one of the clan, the greatest of all

provocations' (Letters froScotland, vol. ii. p. 221)."

604. Menteith. See on i. 8above



above.607. Rednock. The ruins o

Rednock Castle are about twmiles to the north of LochMenteith, on the road to Callander.

Cardross Castle (in which Rober Bruce died) was on the banks o

the Clyde, a few miles beloDumbarton. Duchray Castle ismile south of Lochard. Loch Conor Chon, is a lakelet, about thremiles northwest from Lochard (intowhich it drains) and two miles

south of Loch Katrine.611 W t K S i



611. Wot ye. Know ye. See on i.596 above.

622. Coir-nan-Uriskin. Scott hathe following note here: "This isvery steep and most romantic

hollow in the mountain oBenvenue, overhanging th

southeastern extremity of LochKatrine. It is surrounded wit

stupendous rocks, andovershadowed with birch-trees,mingled with oaks, thespontaneous production of the

mountain, even where its cliffsappear denuded of soil A dale in



appear denuded of soil. A dale inso wild a situation, and amid a

people whose genius bordered on

the romantic, did not remainwithout appropriate deities. Th

name literally implies the Corri, oDen, of the Wild or Shaggy Men.Perhaps this, as conjectured by Mr.Alexander Campbell (Journey froEdinburgh, 1802, p. 109), may haveoriginally only implied its being thehaunt of a ferocious banditti. Bu

tradition has ascribed to the Urisk,who gives name to the cavern, a

figure between a goat and a man; inshort however much the classical



short, however much the classicalreader may be startled, preciselythat of the Grecian Satyr. The Uris

seems not to have inherited, withthe form, the petulance of the

silvan deity of the classics; hisoccupation, on the contrary,resembled those of Milton's LubbaFiend, or of the Scottish Browniethough he differed from both inname and appearance. 'The Urisks,says Dr. Graham, 'were a sort o

lubberly supernaturals, who, likethe Brownies, could be gained ove

by kind attention to perform thedrudgery of the farm and it was



drudgery of the farm, and it was believed that many families in theHighlands had one of the orde

attached to it. They were supposedto be dispersed over the Highlands,

each in his own wild recess, but thesolemn stated meetings of the order were regularly held in this Cave oBenvenue. This currensuperstition, no doubt, alludes tosome circumstance in the ancienthistory of this country' (Scenery on

the Southern Confines oPerthshire, p. 19, 1806). It must b

owned that the Coir, or Den, doesnot, in its present state, meet our



not, in its present state, meet our ideas of a subterraneous grotto or cave, being only a small and

narrow cavity, among hugefragments of rocks rudely piled

together. But such a scene is liableto convulsions of nature which aLowlander cannot estimate, andwhich may have choked up whatwas originally a cavern. At least thename and tradition warrant theauthor of a fictitious tale to assert

its having been such at the remote period in which this scene is laid."

639. With such a glimpse, etc.See on 28 above.



See on 28 above.641. Still. Stillness; the adjectiv

used substantively, for the sake othe rhyme.

656. Satyrs. "The Urisk, o

Highland satyr" (Scott).664. Beal-nam-bo. See on 25

above; and for the measure of thefirst half of the line, on i. 73 above.

667. 'Cross. Scott (1st ed.) print"cross," as in 750 below.

672. A single page, etc. Scottsays: "A Highland chief, being as

absolute in his patriarchal authorityas any prince, had a corresponding



y p , p gnumber of officers attached to his

person. He had his body-guards,

called Luichttach, picked from hisclan for strength, activity, and

entire devotion to his person.These, according to their deserts,were sure to share abundantly inthe rude profusion of hishospitality. It is recorded, for example, by tradition, that AllanMacLean, chief of that clan

happened upon a time to hear oneof these favorite retainers observe

to his comrade, that their chiegrew old. 'Whence do you infe



g ythat?' replied the other. 'When wasit,' rejoined the first, 'that a solider

of Allan's was obliged, as I anow, not only to eat the flesh from

the bone, but even to tear off theinner skin, or filament?' The hinwas quite sufficient, and MacLeanext morning, to relieve hisfollowers from such dire necessity,undertook an inroad on themainland, the ravage of which

altogether effaced the memory ohis former expeditions for the like

purpose."Our officer of Engineers s



Our officer of Engineers, soften quoted, has given us adistinct list of the domestic officerswho, independent of Luichttach, ogardes de corps, belonged to the

establishment of a Highland chief.These are, 1. The Henchman. 2.

The Bard. See preceding notes. 3.Bladier, or spokesman. 4. Gillie-more, or sword-bearer, alluded toin the text. 5. Gillie-casflue, whocarried the chief, if on foot, over the fords. 6. Gillie-comstraine, who

leads the chief's horse. 7. Gillie-Trushanarinsh, the baggage-man. 8.



gg gThe piper. 9. The piper's gillie, oattendant, who carries the bagpipe

(Letters from Scotland, vol. ii. p.158). Although this appeared,

naturally enough, very ridiculous toan English officer, who consideredthe master of such a retinue as nomore than an English gentleman o£500 a year, yet in thecircumstances of the chief, whosestrength and importance consisted

in the number and attachment ohis followers, it was of the last

consequence, in point of policy, tohave in his gift subordinate offices,



which called immediately round his person those who were most

devoted to him, and, being of valuein their estimation, were also the

means of rewarding them."693. To drown, etc. The MS.

reads: "To drown his grief in war'swild roar,

Nor think of love and Ellenmore."

713. Ave Maria! etc. "Themetrical peculiarity of this song is

that the rhymes of the even lines othe first quatrain (or set of four



lines) are taken up as those of theodd lines in the second, and that

they are the same in all threestanzas" (Taylor).

722. We now must share. TheMS. has "my sire must share;" an

in 725 "The murky grotto's noxiousair."733. Bow us. See on i. 142, an

cf. 749 below.754. Lanrick height. Overlookin

Lanrick Mead. See on 286 above.

755. Where mustered, etc. ThMS. reads:



"Where broad extending farbelow, Mustered Clan-Alpine's

martial show."

On the first of these lines, cf. i.

88 above.773. Yell. See on 357 above.

774. Bochastle's plain. See on i.106 above.

Canto Fourth.



2. And hope, etc. The MS. ha

"And rapture dearest whenobscured by fears."

5. Wilding. Wild; a rare word,used only in poetry. Cf. Tennyson,

Geraint and Enid: "And like a crawas gay with wilding flowers."Spenser has the noun (= wildapples) in F. Q. iii. 7. 17: "Oft frothe forrest wildings he did bring,"

etc. Whom is used on account o

the personification.9. What time. Cf. ii. 307 and iii.



15 above.19. Braes of Doune. Th

undulating region betweenCallander and Doune, on the nort

side of the Teith. The Doune of 3 below is the old Castle of tha

name, the ruins of which still forma majestic pile on the steep banksof the Teith. It figures in Waverleyas the place where the hero wasconfined by the Highlanders.

36. Boune. Prepared, ready;

Scottish word. Cf. 157 and vi. 39 below.



42. Bide. Endure; not to b printed 'bide, as if a contraction o

abide. Cf. Shakespeare, Lear, iii. 4.29: "That bide the pelting of this

pitiless storm," etc.Bout. Turn (of fortune).

47. Repair. That is, to repair.55. 'T is well advised. Well

thought of, well planned. Cf.advised careful, well considered; as

in M. of V. i. 1. 142: "with moreadvised watch," etc.

The MS. reads: "'Tis well advised—a prudent



plan, Worthy the father of hisclan."

59. Evening-tide. See on iii. 47above.

63. The Taghairm. Scott sayshere: "The Highlanders, like al

rude people, had varioussuperstitious modes of inquiringinto futurity. One of the most notedwas the Taghairm, mentioned inthe text. A person was wrapped upin the skin of a newly-slain

bullock, and deposited beside awaterfall, or at the bottom of a



precipice, or in some other strange,wild, and unusual situation, where

the scenery around him suggestednothing but objects of horror. In

this situation, he revolved in hismind the question proposed; andwhatever was impressed upon him

by his exalted imagination, passedfor the inspiration of thedisembodied spirits, who hauntthese desolate recesses. In some o

the Hebrides they attributed thsame oracular power to a large



be worth observing that this passage is taken almost literally



from the mouth of an old Highlandkern, or Ketteran, as they wer

called. He used to narrate the merr doings of the good old time when

he was follower of Rob RoMacGregor. This leader, on onoccasion, thought proper to make adescent upon the lower part of theLoch Lomond district, ansummoned all the heritors andfarmers to meet at the Kirk o

Drymen, to pay him black-maili.e., tribute for forbearance and

protection. As this invitation wassupported by a band of thirty or



forty stout fellows, only onegentleman, an ancestor, if I mistake

not, of the present Mr. Grahame oGartmore, ventured to declin

compliance. Rob Roy instantlswept his land of all he could driveaway, and among the spoil was a

bull of the old Scottish wild breed,whose ferocity occasioned great

plague to the Ketterans. 'But ere whad reached the Row of Dennan,

said the old man, 'a child mighthave scratched his ears.' Th

circumstance is a minute one, but it paints the time when the poor



beeve was compelled 'To hoof it o'er as manyweary miles, With goading pikemenhollowing at his heels, As e'er the bravest antlerof the woods' (Ethwald)."

73. Kerns. The Gaelic and Iris

light-armed soldiers, the heavy-armed being known as

gallowglasses. The names are oftenassociated; as in Macbeth, i. 2. 13:"kerns and gallowglasses;" 2 Hen.VI. iv. 9. 26: "gallowglasses and

stout kerns;" Drayton, HeroicaEpist.: "the Kerne and Iris



Galliglasse," etc.74. Beal'maha. "The pass of th

plain," on the east of LochLomond, opposite Inch-Cailliach.

In the olden time it was one of thestablished roads for making raidsinto the Lowlands.

77. Dennan's Row. The moder Rowardennan, on Loch Lomond athe foot of Ben Lomond, andfavorite starting=point for theascent of that mountain.

82. Boss. Knob; in keeping witTarge.



83. Verge. Pronounced varge, asthe rhyme shows. In v. 219 below

it has its ordinary sound; but cf. v.812.

84. The Hero's Targe. "There isrock so named in the Forest o

Glenfinlas, by which a tumultuar cataract takes its course. This wild place is said in former times tohave afforded refuge to an outlaw,who was supplied with provisions

by a woman, who lowered them

down from the brink of the precipice above. His water h

f f



procured for himself, by lettingdown a flagon tied to a string into

the black pool beneath the fall"(Scott).

98. Broke. Quartered. Cf. thquotation from Jonson below.Scott says here: "Everythin

belonging to the chase was matter of solemnity among our ancestors;

but nothing was more so than themode of cutting up, or, as it was

technically called, breaking, the

slaughtered stag. The forester hadhis allotted portion; the hounds had

i ll d k



a certain allowance; and, to makethe division as general as possible,

the very birds had their share also.'There is a little gristle,' says

Tubervile, 'which is upon thespoone of the brisket, which wecall the raven's bone; and I havseen in some places a raven sowont and accustomed to it, that she

would never fail to croak and cryfor it all the time you were in

breaking up of the deer, and wouldnot depart till she had it.' In th

very ancient metrical romance oSir Tristrem, that peerless knight,

h i id h b h



who is said to have been the verydeviser of all rules of chase, did

not omit the ceremony:

'The rauen he yaue his yiftes Sat on the fourched tre.' 9

"Th i h l h ll



"The raven might also challenghis rights by the Book of St.Albans; for thus says Dame JulianBerners:

'slitteth anon The bely to the side, fromthe corbyn bone;

That is corbyns fee, at thedeath he will be.'

Jonson, in The Sad Shepherdgives a more poetical account othe same ceremony: 'Marian. He that undoeshim,

Doth cleave the brisket bone,upon the spoon Of which a little gristle

grows you call it



grows—you call it Robin Hood. Theraven's bone.

Marian. Now o'er headsat a raven On a sere bough, a grown,

great bird, and hoarse, Who, all the while the deerwas breaking up, So croaked and cried for 't,as all the huntsmen, Especially old Scathlock,thought it ominous.'"

115. Rouse. Rise, stand erect. Cf.Macbeth, v. 5. 12: "The time has been, my senseswould have cool'd

To hear a night-shriek, andmy fell of hair Would at a dismal treatise

rouse and stir



rouse and stir As life were in 't."

119. Mine. Many eds. have "my."128. Fateful. The reading of th

1st ed. and that of 1821; "fatal" insome recent eds.

132. Which spills, etc. The MShas "Which foremost spillsfoeman's life."

"Though this be in the texdescribed as a response of the

Taghairm, or Oracle of the Hide, i

was of itself an augury frequentlyattended to. The fate of the battl

was often anticipated in the



was often anticipated, in theimagination of the combatants, by

observing which party first shed blood. It is said that thHighlanders under Montrose wer so deeply imbued with this notion,that on the morning of the battle oTippermoor, they murdered adefenceless herdsman, whom they

found in the fields, merely tosecure an advantage of so much

consequence to their party" (Scott).

140. A spy. That is, Fitz-James.For has sought, the 1st ed. has

"hath sought "



hath sought.144. Red Murdoch, etc. The MS

has "The clansman vainly deemedhis guide," etc.

147. Those shall bring hidown. For the ellipsis of who, se

on i. 528 above. The MS. has "stahim down."

153. Pale. In the heraldic sensof "a broad perpendicular stripe inan escutcheon." See Wb.

155. I love to hear, etc Cf. v. 238

below.156. When move they on? etc.

The MS reads:



word.177. Trusty targe. The MS. ha

"Highland targe."197. Shifting like flashes, etc.

That is, like the Northern Lights.Cf. the Lay, ii. 86:

"And red and bright thestreamers light Were dancing in the glowing

north. ....... He knew by the streamersthat shot so bright That spirits were riding thenorthern light."

The MS. reads: "Thick as the flashes darted

forth By morrice dancers of the



By morrice-dancers of thenorth; And saw at morn their|barges ride, |little fleet, Close moored by the loneislet's side. Since this rude race dare

not abide Upon their native mountainside,

'T is fit that Douglasshould provide For his dear child some safe

abode, And soon he comes to point

the road."

207. No, Allan, etc. The MS

reads:



reads: "No, Allan, no! His words sokind

Were but pretexts my fearsto blind. When in such solemn tone and

grave Douglas a parting blessinggave."

212. Fixed and high. Oftemisprinted "fixed on high."

215. Stroke. The MS. ha"shock," and in the next line

"adamantine" for invulnerable.

223. Trowed. Trusted, believed.Cf. Spenser, F. Q. v. 2. 34: "So

much is more then [than] just to



much is more then [than] just totrow." See also Luke, xvii. 9.

231. Cambus-kenneth's fane.Cambus-kenneth Abbey, about a

mile from Stirling, on the otheside of the Forth. The massivtower is now the only partremaining entire.

235. Friends'. Many recent eds.misprint "friend's."

250. Sooth. True. See on i. 47above.

261. Merry it is, etc. Scott says:"This little fairy tale is founded

upon a very curious Danish ballad



upon a very curious Danish balladwhich occurs in the Kaempe Viser,

a collection of heroic songs first published in 1591, and reprinted in1695, inscribed by AndersSofrensen, the collector and editor,to Sophia, Queen of Denmark."

The measure is the common ballad-metre, the basis of which isa line of eight syllables followed byone of six, the even syllables

accented, with the alternate lines

rhyming, so as to form a four-linestanza. It is varied by extr

unaccented syllables, and by



unaccented syllables, and byrhymes within the longer lines

(both of which modifications wehave in 263 and 271), and by"double rhymes" (like singing andringing).

262. Mavis and merle. Thrusand blackbird.

267. Wold. Open country, asopposed to wood. Cf. Tennyson,In Memoriam, 11: "Calm and dee

peace on this high wold," etc. Se

also 724 below.274. Glaive. Broadsword. Cf.

Spenser, F. Q. iv. 7. 38: "laying



Spenser, F. Q. iv. 7. 38: laying both his hands upon his glave," etc.

See also v. 253 below.277. Pall. A rich fabric used for

making palls, or mantles. Cf. F. Q.i. 7. 16: "He gave her gold and

purple pall to weare."278. Wont. Were accustomed.See on i. 408 above.

282. 'Twas but, etc. The MS.reads: "'Twas but a midnight chance;

For blindfold was the battleplied, And fortune held the

lance."



283. Darkling. In the dark;

poetical word. Cf. Milton, P. L. iii.39: "as the wakeful bird Sings darkling;"

Shakespeare, Lear, i. 4. 237: "S

out went the candle, and we wereleft darkling," etc. See also 711

below.285. Vair. The fur of the squirrel.

See Wb.286. Sheen. See on i. 208 above.

291. Richard. Here accented othe final syllable. Such license isnot unusual in ballad poetry.



p y298. Woned. Dwelt. See on i.

408 above. Scott has the followinnote here:

"In a long dissertation upon thFairy Superstitions, published i

the Minstrelsy of the ScottisBorder, the most valuable part o

which was supplied by my learnedand indefatigable friend, Dr. JohnLeyden, most of the circumstancesare collected which can throw light

upon the popular belief which evenyet prevails respecting them in

Scotland. Dr. Grahame, author o



,an entertaining work upon the

Scenery of the Perthshir Highlands, already frequentlquoted, has recorded with greataccuracy the peculiar tenets held bythe Highlanders on this topic, in thvicinity of Loch Katrine. Thlearned author is inclined to deduce

the whole mythology from theDruidical system—an opinion to

which there are many objections.

'The Daoine Shi', or Men oPeace, of the Highlanders, thoug

not absolutely malevolent, areb l d b h



y , believed to be a peevish, repining

race of beings, who, possessingthemselves but a scanty portion ohappiness, are supposed to envymankind their more complete andsubstantial enjoyments. They ar supposed to enjoy, in their subterraneous recesses, a sort o

shadowy happiness,—a tinselgrandeur; which, however, they

would willingly exchange for themore solid joys of mortality.



sunset. It is believed that if, onHallow-eve, any person, alone,

goes round one of these hills ninei d h l f h d



gtimes, towards the left hand

(sinistrorsum) a door shall open, by which he will be admitted intotheir subterraneous abodes. Many,it is said, of mortal race have beenentertained in their secret recesses.There they have been received intothe most splendid apartments, and

regaled with the most sumptuous banquets and delicious wines.

Their females surpass the daughtersof men in beauty. The seemingly

happy inhabitants pass their time infestivity, and in dancing to notes o

the softest music. But unhappy isth t l h j i i th i j



the mortal who joins in their joys

or ventures to partake of their dainties. By this indulgence hforfeits for ever the society of men,and is bound down irrevocably tothe condition of Shi'ich, or Man oPeace.'"

301. Why sounds, etc. "It ha been already observed that fairies,if not positively malevolent, are

capricious, and easily offended.

They are, like other proprietors oforests, peculiarly jealous of their

rights of vert and venison.... Thisl l tt ib t f th



ealousy was also an attribute of the

northern Duergar, or dwarfs; tomany of whose distinctions thefairies seem so have succeeded, if,indeed, they are not the same classof beings. In the huge metricarecord of German chivalry entitledthe Helden-Buch, Sir Hildebrand

and the other heroes of whom ittreats, are engaged in one of their

most desperate adventures, from arash violation of the rose-garden o

an Elfin or Dwarf King."There are yet traces of a belie

in this worst and most maliciousd f f i i h d



order of fairies among the Borde

wilds. Dr. Leyden has introducedsuch a dwarf into his ballad entitled

The Cout of Keeldar, and has noforgot his characteristic detestationof the chase. 'The third blast that youngKeeldar blew, Still stood the limberfern, And a wee man, of swarthyhue, Upstarted by a cairn.

'His russet weeds were brownas heath That clothes the upland

fell, And the hair of his head was



frizzy red

As the purple heather-bell.

'An urchin, clad in pricklesred, Clung cow'ring to his arm; The hounds they howl'd, andbackward fled, As struck by fairy charm.

'"Why rises high the

staghound's cry, Where staghound ne'ershould be?

Why wakes that horn thesilent morn,

Without the leave of me?"—

'"Brown Dwarf, that o'er the

muirland strays, Thy name to Keeldar tell!"—



"The Brown Man of the Muirs,

who stays Beneath the heather-bell.

'"'T is sweet beneath theheather-bell To live in autumn brown; And sweet to hear thelav'rock's swell, Far, far from tower andtown.

'"But woe betide theshrilling horn,

The chase's surly cheer! And ever that hunter is

forlorn Whom first at morn Ihear."'

"The poetical picture here givenf h D d l



of the Duergar corresponds exactl

with the following Northumberlandlegend, with which I was latel

favored by my learned and kindfriend, Mr. Surtees of Mainsforthwho has bestowed indefatigablelabor upon the antiquities of theEnglish Border counties. Thsubject is in itself so curious, thatthe length of the note will, I hope,

be pardoned:

'I have only one record to offeof the appearance of our

Northumbrian Duergar. Mnarratrix is Elizabeth Cockburn



narratrix is Elizabeth Cockburn

and old wife of Offerton, in thiscountry, whose credit, in a case othis kind, will not, I hope, be muchimpeached when I add that she is

by her dull neighbors supposed to be occasionally insane, but byherself to be at those times

endowed with a faculty of seeingvisions and spectral appearances

which shun the common ken.

'In the year before the grearebellion, two young men from

Newcastle were sporting on thhigh moors above Eldson and after



high moors above Eldson, and after

pursuing their game several hours,sat down to dine in a green glennear one of the mountain streams.After their repast, the younger ladran to the brook for water, andafter stooping to drink, wassurprised, on lifting his head again,

by the appearance of a browndwarf, who stood on a crag

covered with brackens, across the burn. This extraordinary personag

did not appear to be above half thestature of a common man, but was

uncommonly stout and broad-built,having the appearance of vast



having the appearance of vast

strength. His dress was entirel brown, the color of the brackens,and his head covered with frizzledred hair. His countenance wasexpressive of the most savageferocity, and his eyes glared like a

bull. It seems he addressed th

young man first, threatening himwith his vengeance for having

trespassed on his demesnes, andasking him if he knew in whose

presence he stood? The youthreplied that he now supposed him

to be the lord of the moors; that heoffended through ignorance; and



offended through ignorance; and

offered to bring him the game hehad killed. The dwarf was a littlmollified by this submission, butremarked that nothing could bemore offensive to him than such anoffer, as he considered the wildanimals as his subjects, and never

failed to avenge their destruction.He condescended further to infor

him that he was, like himself,mortal, though of years far

exceeding the lot of commonhumanity, and (what I should not

have had an idea of) that he hopedfor salvation. He never, he added,



for salvation. He never, he added,

fed on anything that had life, butlived in the summer onwhortleberries, and in winter onnuts and apples, of which he hadgreat store in the woods. Finally, heinvited his new acquaintance toaccompany him home and partake

his hospitality, an offer which theyouth was on the point o

accepting, and was just going tospring across the brook (which i

he had done, says Elizabeth, thdwarf would certainly have torn

him in pieces), when his foot wasarrested by the voice of his



y

companion, who thought he hadtarried long, and on looking roundagain, "the wee brown man wasfled." The story adds that he wasimprudent enough to slight theadmonition, and to sport over themoors on his way homewards, but

soon after his return he fell into alingering disorder, and died within

the year'" (Scott).

302. Our moonlight circle's. ThMS. has "Our fairy ringlet's."

306. The fairies' fatal green. "Athe Daoine Shi' or Men of Peace



the Daoine Shi , or Men of Peace

wore green habits, they weresupposed to take offence when any

mortals ventured to assume their favorite color. Indeed, from somereason, which has been, perhapsoriginally a general superstition,green is held in Scotland to b

unlucky to particular tribes andcounties. The Caithness men, wh

hold this belief, allege as a reason

that their bands wore that color when they were cut off at the battle

of Flodden; and for the samreason they avoid crossing the Ord



y g

on a Monday, being the day of theweek on which their ill-omenedarray set forth. Green is alsodisliked by those of the name oOgilvy; but more especially it isheld fatal to the whole clan oGrahame. It is remembered of a

aged gentleman of that name thatwhen his horse fell in a fox-chase,

he accounted for it at once byobserving that the whipcord

attached to his lash was of thisunlucky color" (Scott).

308. Wert christened man. Scottsays: "The Elves were suppose



says: The Elves were suppose

greatly to envy the privilegesacquired by Christian initiation,and they gave to those mortals whohad fallen into their power a certain

precedence, founded upon thisadvantageous distinction. Tamlane,in the old ballad, describes his own

rank in the fairy procession: 'For I ride on a milk-whitesteed, And aye nearest the town;

Because I was a christen'dknight, They give me that renown.'"

312. The curse of the sleeplesseye Cf Macbeth i 3 19:



eye. Cf. Macbeth, i. 3. 19: "Sleep shall neither night norday Hang upon his pent-house

lid," etc.313. Part. Depart. See on ii. 9

above.322. Grisly. See on i. 704 above.

330. Kindly. Kindred, natural.See Wb., and cf. ShakespeareMuch Ado, iv. 1. 75: "that fatherly and kindly

power That you have in her," etc.

345. All is glistening show. "Nofact respecting Fairy-land seems tob b tt t i d th th



be better ascertained than thefantastic and illusory nature of their apparent pleasure and splendour. It

has been already noticed in theformer quotations from Dr.

Grahame's entertaining volume,and may be confirmed by thefollowing Highland tradition:—'woman, whose new-born child had

been conveyed by them into their secret abodes, was also carried

thither herself, to remain, however,only until she should suckle her

infant. She one day, during this period, observed the Shi'ichs busil



employed in mixing variousingredients in a boiling caldron,and as soon as the composition was

prepared, she remarked that they allcarefully anointed their eyes with it,laying the remainder aside for future use. In a moment when the

were all absent, she also attemptedto anoint her eyes with the precious

drug, but had time to apply it toone eye only, when the Daoine Shi'

returned. But with that eye she washenceforth enabled to see

everything as it really passed intheir secret abodes; she saw every



object, not as she hitherto haddone, in deceptive splendour andelegance, but in its genuine coloursand form. The gaudy ornaments othe apartment were reduced to thewalls of a gloomy cavern. Soonafter, having discharged her office,

she was dismissed to her ownhome. Still, however, she retained

the faculty of seeing, with her medicated eye, everything that was

done, anywhere in her presence, bythe deceptive art of the order. One

day, amidst a throng of people, shechanced to observe the Shi'ich, o



man of peace, in whose possessionshe had left her child, though toevery other eye invisible. Prompted

by maternal affection, sheinadvertently accosted him, and

began to inquire after the welfareof her child. The man of peace,

astonished at being thus recognized by one of mortal race, demanded

how she had been enabled todiscover him. Awed by the terrible

frown of his countenance, sheacknowledged what she had done.

He spat in her eye, andextinguished it for ever.'



"It is very remarkable that thisstory, translated by Dr. Grahamefrom popular Gaelic tradition, is to

be found in the Otia Imperialia oGervase of Tilbury. [FN #10]work of great interest might becompiled upon the original o

popular fiction, and thetransmission of similar tales from

age to age, and from country to



means of transmission. It wouldcarry me far beyond my bounds to

produce instances of fable amongnations who never borrowed from



each other any thing intrinsicallyworth learning. Indeed the widdiffusion of popular factions may

be compared to the facility withwhich straws and feathers are

dispersed abroad by the wind,while valuable metals cannot be

transported without trouble andlabour. There lives, I believe, onl

one gentleman whose unlimitedacquaintance with this subject

might enable him to do it justice,— I mean my friend Mr. Franci

Douce, of the British Museumwhose usual kindness will, I hope,



pardon my mentioning his namewhile on a subject so closelyconnected with his extensive andcurious researches" (Scott).

355. Snatched away, etc. "Thsubjects of Fairy-land wer recruited from the regions o

humanity by a sort of crimpingsystem, which extended to adults as

well as to infants. Many of thos

who were in this world supposedto have discharged the debt o

nature, had only become denizensof the 'Londe of Faery'" (Scott).



357. But wist I, etc. But ifknew, etc. Wist is the past tense owit (Matzner). See on i. 596 above.

371. Dunfermline. A town inFifeshire, 17 miles northwest oEdinburgh. It was long thresidence of the Scottish kings, andthe old abbey, which succeededIona as the place of royal sepulture,

has been called "the Westminster o

Scotland." Robert Bruce was thlast sovereign buried here.

374. Steepy. Cf. iii. 304 above.376. Lincoln green. See on i. 46



above.386. Morning-tide. Cf. iii. 47

above.387. Bourne. Bound, limit. Cf.

the quotation from Milton in noton iii. 344 above.

392. Scathe. Harm, mischief.Spenser uses the word often; as inF. Q. i. 12, 34: "To worke new woeand improvided scath," etc. Cf.

Shakespeare, K. John, ii. 1. 75: "Tdo offence and scathe in

Christendom;" Rich. III. i. 3. 317"To pray for them that have doneth t " t



scathe to us," etc.393. Kern. See on 73 above.

395. Conjure. In prose wshould have to write "conjure him."

403. Yet life I hold, etc. Cf.Julius Caesar, i. 2. 84: "If it be aught toward thegeneral good, Set honor in one eye anddeath i' the other,

And I will look on bothindifferently;

For let the gods so speed meas I love The name of honor more than

I fear death."411. Near Bochastle. The MS

has "By Cambusmore " See on i



has "By Cambusmore." See on i.103 and 106 above.

413. Bower. Lodging, dwelling.See on i. 217 above.

415. Art. Affectation.417. Before. That is, at his visi

to the Isle. Cf. ii. 96 fol. above.418. Was idly soothed, etc. The

MS. has "Was idly fond thy praisto hear."

421. Atone. Atone for.Shakespeare uses the verb

transitively several times, but in thesense of reconcile; as in Rich. II. i.1 202: "Since we cannot aton



1. 202: Since we cannot atonyou," etc. Cf. v. 735 below.

433. If yet he is. If he is stilliving.

437. Train. Lure; as in Macbethiv. 3. 118:

"Devilish Macbeth By many of these trains hathsought to win me

Into his power."

Cf. the use of the verb (= allure,entice); as in C. of E. iii. 2. 45: "O

train me not, sweet mermaid, withthy note;" Scott's Lay, iii. 146: "Hthought to train him to the wood "



thought to train him to the wood,etc. James was much given togallantry, and many of his travelsin disguise were on adventures othis kind. See on i. 409 above and

vi. 740 below.446. As death, etc. As if death,

etc. See on ii. 56 above, and cf. 459 below.

464. This ring. The MS. ha

"This ring of gold the monarchgave."

471. Lordship. Landed estates.473. Reck of. Care for; poetical.



474. Ellen, thy hand. The MShas "Permit this hand;" and below:

"'Seek thou the King, and onthy knee Put forth thy suit, whate'er

it be, As ransom of his pledge tome; My name and this shall makethy way.' He put the little signeton," etc.

492. He stammered, etc. The MS

reads: "He stammered forth confusedreply: 'Saxon, | I shouted butto scare 'Sir Knight, |



g , |

Yon raven from his daintyfare.'"

500. Fared. Went; the originalsense of the word. Cf. farewel(which was at first a friendly wishfor "the parting guest"), wayfarer,thoroughfare, etc.

506. In tattered weeds, etc. ThMS. has "Wrapped in a tattere

mantle gray." Weeds is used in the

old sense of garments. Cf.Shakespeare, M. N. D. ii. 1. 256

"Weed wide enough to wrap a fairyin;" Id. ii. 2. 71: "Weeds of Athenshe doth wear;" Milton L'Allegro



he doth wear; Milton L Allegro120: "In weeds of peace," etc. Sealso v. 465 below.

523. In better time. That is, i better times or days; not in themusical sense.

524. Chime. Accord, sing; poetical use of the word. Cf. vi.592 below.

531. Allan. "The Allan and

Devan are two beautiful streamsthe latter celebrated in the poetry o

Burns—which descend from thhills of Perthshire into the greacarse or plain of Stirling"



carse, or plain, of Stirling(Lockhart).

548. 'T is Blanche, etc. The MShas: "'A Saxon born, a crazy maid—

T is Blanche of Devan,'Murdoch said."

552. Bridegroom. Here accenteon the second syllable. In 682

below it has the ordinary accent.555. 'Scapes. The word may b

so printed here, but not inElizabethan poetry. We find it in

prose of that day; as in Bacon, Adv.of L. ii. 14. 9: "such as had scapedshipwreck." See Wb., and cf. stat



shipwreck. See Wb., and cf. statand estate, etc.

559. Pitched a bar. That is, inathletic contests. Cf. v. 648 below.

562. See the gay pennons, etc.The MS. reads: "With thee these pennons will

I share, Then seek my true lovethrough the air;

But I'll not lend thatsavage groom,

To break his fall, one downyplume! Deep, deep, mid yondisjointed stones, The wolf shall batten hisbones."



567. Batten. Fatten; as in Hamletiii. 4. 67: "Batten on this moor."

Milton uses it transitively inLycidas, 29: "Battening our flockswith the fresh dews of night."

575. The Lincoln green. "ThLowland garb" (520). Cf. also 37above.

578. For O my sweet Williametc. The MS. reads:

"Sweet William was a woodsmantrue, He stole poor Blanche'sheart away; His coat was of the foresthue, And sweet he sung the



gLowland Lay."

590. The toils are pitched. Th

nets are set. Cf. Shakespeare, L. LL., iv. 3. 2: "they have pitched a

toil," etc. "The meaning is obvious.The hunters are Clan-Alpine's men

the stag of ten is Fitz-James; thwounded doe is herself" (Taylor).594. A stag of ten. "Having ten

branches on his antlers" (Scott).

Nares says that antlers is an errohere, the word meaning "the short

brow horns, not the branchedhorns;" but see Wb. Cf. JonsonSad Shepherd, i. 2:



p , "Aud a hart of ten, Madam, I trow to be;"

and Massinger, Emperor of thEast, iv. 2:

"He'll make you royal sport;he is a deer Of ten, at least."

595. Sturdily. As Taylor notes,the "triple rhymes" in this song are

"of a very loose kind."

609. Blanche's song. Jeffrey says:"No machinery can be conceived

more clumsy for effecting thedeliverance of a distressed herothan the introduction of a mad



woman, who, without knowing or caring about the wanderer, warnshim by a song to take care of theambush that was set for him. Th

maniacs or poetry have indeed hada prescriptive right to be musical,

since the days of Ophelidownwards; but it is rather a rashextension of this privilege to makethem sing good sense, and to make

sensible people be guided bythem."

To this Taylor well replied: "Thiscriticism seems unjust. The cruelt



of Roderick's raids in the Lowlandhas already been hinted at, and thesight of the Lowland dress mighwell stir associations in the poor girl's mind which would lead her tolook to the knight for help and

protection and also to warn him o

his danger. It is plain, fromMurdoch's surprise, that her bein

out of her captors' sight is looked

on as dangerous, from which wemay infer that she is not entirely

crazed. Her song is not the onlhint that Fitz-James follows. Hisuspicions had already twice been



excited, so that the episode seemsnatural enough. As giving a distinct

personal ground for the combat incanto v., it serves the poet's

purpose still further. Without it, weshould sympathize too much with

the robber chief, who thinks that'plundering Lowland field and foldis naught but retribution true;' butthe sight of this sad fruit of his

raids wins us back to the cause olaw and order."

614. Forth at full speed, etc. ThMS. reads: "Forth at full speed the



pClansman went, But in his race his bow hebent, Halted—and back an arrowsent."

617. Thrilled. Quivered.627. Thine ambushed kin, etc.

The MS. transposes this line anthe next, and goes on thus: "Resistless as thelightning's flame,

The thrust betwixt hisshoulder came."

Just below it reads: "The o'er him hung, withfalcon eye, And grimly smiled to see him



die."

642. Daggled. Wet, soaked. Cf.

the Lay, i. 316: "Was daggled bythe dashing spray."

649. Helpless. The MS. ha"guiltless."

657. Shred. Cut off; a sense noobsolete. Cf. Withal's Dictionar

(ed. 1608): "The superfluous andwast sprigs of vines, being cut and

shreaded off are called sarmenta."659. My brain, etc. The MS. ha

"But now, my champion, it shallwave."



672. Wreak. Avenge. Cf.Shakespeare, R. and J. iii. 5. 102: "To wreak the love I bore mycousin Upon his body that hathslaughter'd him;"

Spenser, F. Q. ii. 3. 13: "towreak so foule despight;" etc.

679. God, in my need, etc. ThMS. reads: "God, in my need, to me be

true, As I wreak this on RoderickDhu."

686. Favor. The token of thnext line; referring to the knightly



custom of wearing such a gift olady-love or mistress. Cf. Rich. IIv. 3. 18: "And from the common'stcreature pluck a glove, And wear it as a favour,"etc.

See also the Lay, iv. 334: "With favor in his crest, orglove, Memorial of his layde-love."

691. At bay. See on i. 133 above;

and for the dangerous foe, cf. thenote on i. 137.

698. Couched him. Lay down.See on i. 142 above.

h d



700. Rash adventures. See o437 above.

701. Must prove. The 1st ed. ha"will prove."

705. Bands at Doune. Cf. 15above.

711. Darkling. See on 283 above.722. Not the summer solstice.

ot even the heat of the summer.

724. Wold. See on 267 above.731. Beside its embers, etc. Th

MS. reads: "By the decaying flame waslaid

A i i hi Hi hl d



A warrior in his Highlandplaid."

For the rhyme here, see on i. 363above. Cf. 764 below.

741. I dare, etc. The MS. reads: "I dare! to him and all theswarm He brings to aid hismurderous arm."

746. Slip. A hunter's term for letting loose the greyhounds from

the slips, or nooses, by which theywere held until sent after the game.

Tubervile (Art of Venerie) says:"We let slip a greyhound, and wecast off a hound." Cf. Shakespeare



Cor. i. 6. 39: "Holding Corioli in the name

of Rome, Even like a fawninggreyhound in the leash,

To let him slip at will;"and for the noun, Hen. V. iii. 1.

31: "I see you stand likegreyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start."

747. Who ever recked, etc. Scotsays: "St. John actually used thi

illustration when engaged inconfuting the plea of law proposedfor the unfortunate Earl o

ff d



Strafford: 'It was true, we gavlaws to hares and deer, becausethey are beasts of chase; but it wasnever accounted either cruelty or

foul play to knock foxes or wolveson the head as they can be found,

because they are beasts of prey. Ina word, the law and humanity werealike: the one being morefallacious, and the other more

barbarous, than in any age had been vented in such an authority'

(Clarendon's History of thRebellion)."

762 Th h d d fl h



762. The hardened flesh omountain deer. "The ScottishHighlanders, in former times, hadconcise mode of cooking their venison, or rather of dispensingwith cooking it, which appearsgreatly to have surprised the

French, whom chance madacquainted with it. The Vidame o

Chartres, when a hostage in

England, during the reign oEdward VI., was permitted to travel

into Scotland, and penetrated as faas to the remote Highlands (au finfond des Sauvages). After a greah i hi h



hunting-party, at which a mostwonderful quantity of game wasdestroyed, he saw these Scottishsavages devour a part of their

venison raw, without any farther preparation than compressing it

between two batons of wood, so asto force out the blood, and render itextremely hard. This they reckoneda great delicacy; and when the

Vidame partook of it, hiscompliance with their taste

rendered him extremely popular.This curious trait of manners wascommunicated by Mons. dM t t f i d f th



Montmorency, a great friend of theVidame, to Brantome, by whom itis recorded in Vies des HommesIllustres, lxxxix. 14.... After all, i

may be doubted whether la chairenostree, for so the French called

the venison thus summarily prepared, was anything more than amere rude kind of deer ham"(Scott).

772. A mighty augury. That othe Taghairm.

777. Not for clan. The 1st ed. ha"nor for clan."

785 Stock and stone Cf i 13



785. Stock and stone. Cf. i. 13above.

787. Coilantogle's ford. On thTeith just below its exit from LochVennachar.

791. The bittern's cry. See on i.642 above.

797. And slept, etc. The MS. ha"streak" and "lake" for beam andstream.



Canto Fifth.

1. Fair as the earliest beam, etc."This introductory stanza is welworked in with the story The



worked in with the story. Themorning beam 'lights the fearful

path on mountain side' which thetwo heroes of the poem are to

traverse, and the comparison whichit suggest enlists our sympathy for

Roderick, who is to be the victiof defeat" (Taylor).

5. And lights, etc. The MS. ha

"And lights the fearful way alonits side."

10. Sheen. See on i. 208.14. The dappled sky. Cf. Milton

L'Allegro 44: "Till the dapple



L Allegro, 44: Till the dappledawn doth rise;" and Shakespeare,Much Ado, v. 3. 25: "andlook, the gentle day,

Before the wheels of Phoebus,round about Dapples the drowsy eastwith spots of gray."

15. By. The word is used for thrhyme, but perhaps gives the ideaof a hurry—muttered off the

prayers.16. Steal. The word here i

expressive of haste.18. Gael. "The Scottis

Highlander calls himself Gael o



Highlander calls himself, Gael, oGaul, and terms the Lowlander Sassenach, or Saxons" (Scott).

22. Wildering. Bewildering. Seon i. 274 above. For winded, seon i. 500.

32. Bursting through. That is, ait burst through—"a piece of loosewriting" (Taylor).

36. At length, etc. The MS. reads:

"At length they paced themountain's side, And saw beneath the waterswide."

44. The rugged mountain'sscanty cloak, etc. The MS. reads:

"The rugged mountain's



The rugged mountain sstunted screen Was dwarfish | shrubs | withcliffs between." | copse |

46. Shingles. Gravel or pebbles.See on iii. 171 above.

Taylor says: "Note how thedetails of this description are usedin stanza ix.—shingles, bracken,

broom."

51. Dank. Damp, moist. Cf.Shakespeare, R. and J. ii. 3. 6: "an

night's dank dew;" Milton, Sonneto Mr. Lawrence: "Now that thfields are dank, and ways aremire " etc



mire, etc.64. Sooth to tell. To tell the truth.

See on i. 476 above. Sooth to say,to say sooth, in sooth, in good

sooth, etc., are common in oldwriters. Cf. the Lay, introd. 57: "th

sooth to speak."65. To claim its aid. The MS. ha

"to draw my blade."

78. Enough. Suffice it that.81. A knight's free footsteps, etc.

The MS. reads: "My errant footsteps |far and wide."

A Knight's bold wanderings |



86. I urge thee not. The MS. ha

"I ask it not," and in 95 "hall" foDoune.

106. Outlawed. The 1st ed. ha"exiled."

108. In the Regent's court, etc.Cf. ii. 221 above.

124. Albany. The Regent of 108

above. He was the son of a younger brother of James III., who ha

been driven into exile by his brother's attempts on his life. Htook refuge in France, where hisson was made Lord High Admiral.



son was made Lord High Admiral.On the death of James IV. he wascalled home by the Scottish noblesto assume the regency.

126. Mewed. Shut up. The wor seems originally to have meant to

moult, or shed the feathers; and asa noun, "the place, whether it beabroad or in the house, in which

the hawk is put during the time shecasts, or doth change her feathers"

(R. Holmes's Academy of Armory,etc.). Spenser has both noun andverb; as in F. Q. i. 5. 20: "forthcomming from her darksome



comming from her darksomemew;" and Id. ii. 3. 34: "In whicvaine Braggadocchio was mewd."Milton uses the verb in the grand

description of Liberty in OUnlicensed Printing: "Methinks

see her as an eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday

beam." In England the noun is stil

used in the plural to denote a stablefor horses. Pennant says that th

royal stables in London were calledmews from the fact that the buildings were formerly used for keeping the king's falcons.



p g gScott says here: "There i

scarcely a more disorderly periodof Scottish history than that which

succeeded the battle of Flodden,and occupied the minority of James

V. Feuds of ancient standing brokeout like old wounds, and everyquarrel among the independent

nobility, which occurred daily, andalmost hourly, gave rise to fresh

bloodshed. 'There arose,' saidPitscottie, 'great trouble and deadlfeuds in many parts of Scotland,

both in the north and west parts.



pThe Master of Forbes, in the northslew the Laird of Meldrum, undetryst' (that is, at an agreed and

secure meeting). 'Likewise, thLaird of Drummelzier slew th

Lord Fleming at the hawking; andlikewise, there was slaughter among many other great lords.' Nowas the matter much mended under

the government of the Earl oAngus; for though he caused th

King to ride through all Scotland'under the pretence and color oustice, to punish thief and traitor,

none were found greater than were



gin their own company. And none at

that time durst strive with aDouglas, nor yet a Douglas's man

for if they would, they got theworst. Therefore none durs

plainzie of no extortion, theft, reiff,nor slaughter done to them by theDouglases or their men; in thacause they were not heard so long

as the Douglas had the court inguiding."

150. Shingles. Cf. 46 above.152. As to your sires. The targe

and claymore were the weapons othe Ancient Britons Taylor quotes



y pthe Ancient Britons. Taylor quotesTacitus, Agricola: "ingentibusgladiis et brevibus cetris."

161. Rears. Raises. The wor was formerly less restricted in itsapplication than at present. Cf.Shakespeare's "rear my hand"(Temp. ii. 1. 295, J. C. iii. 1. 30),

"rear the higher our opinion" (A.

and C. ii. 1. 35), etc.; Milton's "hrear'd me," that is, lifted me up (P.

L. viii. 316), "rear'd her lank head"(Comus, 836), etc. Spenser uses iin the sense of take away (like thecant lift = steal); as in F. Q. iii. 10.



12:

"She to his closet went,where all his wealth Lay hid; thereof shecountlesse summes did reare;"

and Id. iii. 10. 53: "like as a

Beare,That creeping close among the



That creeping close among thehives to reare

An hony-combe," etc.

Wb. does not give this sense,

which we believe is found only inSpenser.

165. Shall with strong hand, etc.Scott has the following note here:"The ancient Highlanders verifiein their practice the lines of Gra

(Fragment on the Alliance oEducation and Government): 'An iron race the mountaincliffs maintain, Foes to the gentler geniusof the plain; For where unwearied sinewsmust be found



must be found, With side-long plough to

quell the flinty ground, To turn the torrent's swiftdescending flood,

To tame the savage rushingfrom the wood, What wonder if, to patient

valor train'd, They guard with spirit whatby strength they gain'd; And while their rockyramparts round they see

The rough abode of want andliberty (As lawless force fromconfidence will grow), Insult the plenty of thevales below?'

"So far, indeed, was a Creagh, oforay from being held disgraceful



foray, from being held disgraceful,that a young chief was alwaysexpected to show his talents for command so soon as he assumedit, by leading his clan on asuccessful enterprise of this nature,

either against a neighboring sept,for which constant feuds usually

furnished an apology, or against

the Sassencach, Saxons, oLowlanders, for which no apologwas necessary. The Gael, greatraditional historians, never forgotthat the Lowlands had, at somremote period, been the property o



their Celtic forefathers, which

furnished an ample vindication oall the ravages that they could make

on the unfortunate districts whichlay within their reach. Sir Jame

Grant of Grant is in possession ofletter of apology from Cameron oLochiel, whose men had committedsome depredation upon a farm

called Moines, occupied by one othe Grants. Lochiel assures Granthat, however the mistake hadhappened, his instructions were

precise, that the party should foraythe province of Moray (a Lowlan



district), where, as he coolly

observes, 'all men take their prey.'"177. Good faith. In good faith

bona fide; as often in old writers.192. Bower. See on i. 217 above.

195. This rebel Chieftain, etc.The MS. reads:

"This dark Sir Roderick | andhis band;"

This savage Chieftain |

and below: "From copse to copse thesignal flew. Instant, through copse andcrags, arose;"

and in 205 "shoots" for sends.



208. And every tuft, etc. The MS.reads: "And each lone tuft of broom

gives life To plaided warrior armed forstrife. That whistle manned thelonely glen With full five hundred armedmen;"

and below (214): "All silent, too, they stood,and still,

Watching their leader's beckand will, While forward step and

weapon show They long to rush upon the



foe, Like the loose crag whosetottering mass Hung threatening o'er thehollow pass."

219. Verge. See on iv. 83 above.230. Manned himself. Cf.

Addison's "manned his soul,"quoted by Wb.

238. The stern joy, etc. Cf. iv.155 above.

239. Foeman. The reading of th1st ed. and that of 1821; "foeman"in many recent eds.

246. Their mother Earth, etc.



Alluding to the old myths of thearth-born Giants and of Cadmus.

252. Glinted. Flashed; a Scottisword. Jamieson defines glint "toglance, gleam, or pass suddenlylike a flash of lightning."

253. Glaive. See on iv. 274

above. The jack was "a horseman's

defensive upper garment, quiltedand covered with strong leather"(Nares). It was sometimes alsstrengthened with iron rings, plates,or bosses. Cf. Lyly, Euphues:"jackes quilted, and covered over

i h l h f i



with leather, fustian, or canvas,

over thick plates of yron that aresowed to the same." Scott, in th

Eve of St. John, speaks of "hi plate-jack." For spear the 1st ed.has "lance."

267. One valiant hand. The MShas "one brave man's hand."

268. Lay. Were staked.270. I only meant, etc. Scott says:

"This incident, like some othe passages in the poem, illustrative othe character of the ancient Gael, isnot imaginary, but borrowed from



fact. The Highlanders, with thinconsistency of most nations inthe same state, were alternately

capable of great exertions ogenerosity and of cruel revenge and

perfidy. The following story I canonly quote from tradition, but withsuch an assurance from those by

whom it was communicated as permits me little doubt of itsauthenticity. Early in the lastcentury, John Gunn, a notedCateran, or Highland robber,infested Inverness-shire, and leviedbl k il t th ll f th



black-mail up to the walls of the

provincial capital. A garrison wasthen maintained in the castle of that

town, and their pay (country banks being unknown) was usuallytransmitted in specie under theguard of a small escort. It chancedthat the officer who commandedthis little party was unexpectedly

obliged to halt, about thirty milesfrom Inverness, at a miserable inn.About nightfall, a stranger in thHighland dress, and of ver

prepossessing appearance, enteredthe same house. Separataccommodations being impossible



accommodations being impossible,

the Englishman offered the newly-arrived guest a part of his supper,

which was accepted withreluctance. By the conversation hfound his new acquaintance knewwell all the passes of the country,which induced him eagerly torequest his company on the

ensuing morning. He neithedisguised his business and charge,nor his apprehensions of thatcelebrated freebooter, John Gunn.The Highlander hesitatedmoment, and then franklyconsented to be his guide Forth



consented to be his guide. Forth

they set in the morning; and intravelling through a solitary and

dreary glen, the discourse againturned on John Gunn. 'Would youlike to see him?' said the guide; andwithout waiting an answer to thisalarming question, he whistled, andthe English officer, with his small

party, were surrounded by a bodyof Highlanders, whose numbers putresistance out of question, and whowere all well armed. 'Stranger,'resumed the guide, 'I am that ver John Gunn by whom you feared tbe intercepted and not without



be intercepted, and not without

cause; for I came to the inn lasnight with the express purpose o

learning your route, that I and mfollowers might ease you of your charge by the road. But I aincapable of betraying the trust youreposed in me, and havingconvinced you that you were in my

power, I can only dismiss youunplundered and uninjured.' Hthen gave the officer directions for his journey, and disappeared withhis party as suddenly as they had

presented themselves."277 Fl d Fl d f th



277. Flood. Flow; used for thsake of the rhyme, like drew just

below. Wont = wonted.

286. And still, etc. The MS.reads: "And still, from copse andheather bush, Fancy saw spear and

broadsword ruch."

298. Three mighty lakes. KatrineAchray, and Vennachar. Scott says:"The torrent which discharges itselfrom Loch Vennachar, the lowestand eastmost of the three lakeswhich form the scenery adjoiningto the Trosachs sweeps through a



to the Trosachs, sweeps through a

flat and extensive moor, calledBochastle. Upon a small eminenc

called the Dun of Bochastle, anindeed on the plain itself, are someintrenchments which have beenthought Roman. There is adjacento Callander a sweet villa, thresidence of Captain Fairfoul

entitled the Roman Camp."301. Mouldering. The MS. ha

"martial."309. This murderous Chief, etc.

Cf. 106 above.315. All vantageless, etc. Scot



says: "The duellists of former timesdid not always stand upon those

punctilios respecting equality oarms, which are not judgedessential to fair combat. It is tru

that in formal combats in the liststhe parties were, by the judges o

the field, put as nearly as possible

in the same circumstances. But in private duel it was often otherwise.In that desperate combat which wasfought between Quelus, a minionof Henry III. of France, anAntraguet, with two seconds oneach side from which only two



each side, from which only two

persons escaped alive, Queluscomplained that his antagonist had

over him the advantage of a poniard which he used in parrying,while his left hand, which he wasforced to employ for the same

purpose, was cruelly mangled.When he charged Antraguet with

this odds, 'Thou hast done wrong,'answered he, 'to forget thy dagger at home. We are here to fight, andnot to settle punctilios of arms.' Ina similar duel, however, a young

brother of the house of Aubayne,in Angoulesme, behaved more



in Angoulesme, behaved more

generously on the like occasion,and at once threw away his dagger

when his enemy challenged it as anundue advantage. But at this timhardly anything can be conceivedmore horridly brutal and savagethan the mode in which privatequarrels were conducted in France.

Those who were most jealous othe point of honor, and acquiredthe title of Ruffines, did not scruplto take advantage of strength,numbers, surprise, and arms, toaccomplish their revenge."

329 By prophet bred etc See iii



329. By prophet bred, etc. See iii.91 fol. above; and for theexpression cf. iv. 124.

347. Dark lightning, etc. The MShas "In lightning flashed the Chief'

dark eye," which might serve as acomment on Dark lightning.

349. Kern. See on iv. 73 above.

351. He yields not, etc. The MShas "He stoops not, he, to Jamenor Fate."

356. Carpet knight. Cf.Shakespeare, T. N. iii. 4. 257: "His knight, dubbed with unhatchedrapier and on carpet consideration "



rapier and on carpet consideration.364. Ruth. Pity; obsolete, thoug

we still have ruthless. Cf. Spenser,

F. Q. i. 1. 50: "to stirre up gentleruth Both for her noble blood, andfor her tender youth;"

Milton, Lycidas, 163: "Loo

homeward, Angel, now, and meltwith ruth," etc.

380. His targe. Scott says: "round target of light wood, coveredwith strong leather and studdedwith brass or iron, was a necessarypart of a Highlander's equipment



part of a Highlander s equipment.In charging regular troops thereceived the thrust of the bayonet

in this buckler, twisted it aside, andused the broadsword against the

encumbered soldier. In the civilwar of 1745 most of the front rank of the clans were thus armed; and

Captain Grose (Military Antiquitiesvol. i. p. 164) informs us that in1747 the privates of the 42dregiment, then in Flanders, wer for the most part permitted to carrytargets. A person thus armed had aconsiderable advantage in private



g p

fray. Among verses between Swiftand Sheridan, lately published b

Dr. Barrett, there is an account osuch an encounter, in which thecircumstances, and consequentlythe relative superiority of thecombatants, are precisely thereverse of those in the text:

'A Highlander once fought aFrenchman at Margate, The weapons, a rapier, abacksword, and target; Brisk Monsieur advanced asfast as he could, But all his fine pushes were

caught in the wood, And Sawny, with backsword,did slash him and nick him,



,

While t'other, enraged thathe could not once prick him, Cried, "Sirrah, you rascal,you son of a whore, Me will fight you, be gar!if you'll come from your door."'"

383. Trained abroad. That is, inFrance. See on i. 163 above. Scot

says here: "The use of defensiv

armor, and particularly of the buckler, or target, was general inQueen Elizabeth's time, althougthat of the single rapier seems tohave been occasionally practisedmuch earlier (see Douce'sIllustrations of Shakespeare, vol. ii.



p. 61). Rowland Yorke, however,who betrayed the fort of Zutphen

to the Spaniards, for which goodservice he was afterwards poisoned by them, is said to have been thefirst who brought the rapier-fightinto general use. Fuller, speakingof the swash-bucklers, or bullies,

of Queen Elizabeth's time, says'West Smithfield was formerlycalled Ruffian's Hall, where sucmen usually met, casually or otherwise, to try masteries withsword or buckler. More werefrightened than hurt, more hurt



than killed therewith, it beingaccounted unmanly to strike

beneath the knee. But since thadesperate traitor Rowland Yorkefirst introduced thrusting withrapiers, sword and buckler aredisused.' In The Two Angr Women of Abingdon, a comedy,

printed in 1599, we have a patheticcomplaint: 'Sword and bucklefight begins to grow out of use. Iam sorry for it; I shall never segood manhood again. If it be oncgone, this poking fight of rapier and dagger will come up; then a tall



man and a good sword and buckler man will be spitted like a cat or

rabbit.' But the rapier had upon thContinent long superseded, in private duel, the use of sword andshield. The masters of the noblscience of defence were chieflyItalians. They made great myster

of their art and mode oinstruction, never suffered any person to be present but the scholar who was to be taught, and evenexamined closets, beds, and other

places of possible concealment.Their lessons often gave the mos



treacherous advantages; for thechallenged, having the right to

choose his weapons, frequentlyselected some strange, unusual, andinconvenient kind of arms, the useof which he practised under theseinstructors, and thus killed at hisease his antagonist, to whom it was

presented for the first time on thefield of battle. See Brantome'Discourse on Duels, and the wor on the same subject, 'si gentementecrit,' by the venerable Dr. Paris dPuteo. The Highlanders continueto use broadsword and target until



disarmed after the affair of 1745-6."

385. Ward. Posture of defence; atechnical term in fencing. Cf.

Falstaff's "Thou knowest my olward" (1 Hen. IV. ii. 4. 215), etc.387. While less expert, etc. Th

MS. reads: "Not Roderick thus, thoughstronger far,

More tall, and more inuredto war."

401, 402. And backward, etc.This couplet is not in the MS.; anthe same is true of 405, 406.



406. Let recreant yield, etc. ThMS. has "Yield they alone who fea

to die." Scott says: "I have noventured to render this duel so

savagely desperate as that of thecelebrated Sir Ewan of Lochielchief of the clan Cameron, called,

from his sable complexion, EwanDhu. He was the last man iScotland who maintained the royacause during the great Civil War,and his constant incursionsrendered him a very unpleasantneighbor to the republican garrison



at Inverlochy, now Fort William.The governor of the fort detached

party of three hundred men to laywaste Lochiel's possessions and cudown his trees; by in a sudden anddesperate attack made upon them

by the chieftain with very inferior numbers, they were almost all cut

to pieces. The skirmish is detailedin a curious memoir of Sir Ewan'life, printed in the Appendix oPennant's Scottish Tour (vol. i. p.375):

'In this engagement Lochiehimself had several wonderful



escapes. In the retreat of thEnglish, one of the strongest and

bravest of the officers retired behind a bush, when he observed

Lochiel pursuing, and seeing hiunaccompanied with any, he leaptout and thought him his prey. They

met one another with equal fury.The combat was long and doubtful:the English gentleman had by fathe advantage in strength and size;

but Lochiel, exceeding him innimbleness and agility, in the endtript the sword out of his hand;



they closed and wrestled, till bothfell to the ground in each other's

arms. The English officer goabove Lochiel, and pressed hihard, but stretching forth his neck,

by attempting to disengage himself,Lochiel, who by this time had hishands at liberty, with his left hand

seized him by the collar, andumping at his extended throat, he bit it with his teeth quite through,and kept such a hold of his grasp,that he brought away his mouthful;this, he said, was the sweetest bithe ever had in his lifetime.'"



435. Unwounded, etc. The MSreads:

"Panting and breathless onthe sands, But all unwounded, now he

stands;"and just below:

"Redeemed, unhoped, fromdeadly strife:

Next on his foe his look he| cast, | threw,

Whose every breath appearedhis last."

447. Unbonneted. Past tense, no participle.

449. Then faint afar. The MS.



449. Then faint afar. The MS.has "Faint and afar."

452. Lincoln green. See on i. 46above.

462. We destined, etc. Cf. iv. 411above.

465. Weed. Dress. See on iv. 506above.

466. Boune. Ready. See on iv. 36above.

479. Steel. Spur. Cf. i. 115above.

485. Carhonie's hill. Aboutmile from the lower end of LochVennachar.



V .486. Pricked. Spurred. It came t

mean ride; as in F. Q. i. 1. 1: "Agentle Knight was pricking on th

plaine," etc. Cf. 754 below.490. Torry and Lendrick. Thes

places, like Deanstown, Doune (seon iv. 19 above), Blair-Drummond,

Ochtertyre, and Kier, are all on th banks of the Teith, betweenCallander and Stirling. Lockhar says: "It may be worth noting thathe poet marks the progress of theKing by naming in succession

places familiar and dear to his own



early recollections—Blair-Drummond, the seat of the Home

of Kaimes; Kier, that of th principal family of the name oStirling; Ochtertyre, that of JohRamsay, the well-known antiquary,and correspondent of Burns; andCraigforth, that of the Callenders o

Craigforth, almost under the wallsof Stirling Castle;—all hospitablroofs, under which he had spentmany of his younger days."

494. Sees the hoofs strike fire.The MS. has "Saw their hoofs ofire."



496. They mark, etc. The to othe infinitive is omitted in glance,

as if mark had been see.498. Sweltering. The 1st ed. ha

"swelling."506. Flinty. The MS. ha

"steepy;" and in 514 "gains" for

scales.525. Saint Serle. "The Kinhimself is in such distress for arhyme as to be obliged to apply toone of the obscurest saints in thecalendar" (Jeffrey). The MS. ha"by my word," and "Lord" for Ear



in the next line.534. Cambus-kenneth's abbe

gray. See on iv. 231 above.547. By. Gone by, past.

551. O sad and fatal mound! "Aeminence on the northeast of the

Castle, where state criminals wer

executed. Stirling was often polluted with noble blood. It isthus apostrophized by J. Johnston: 'Discordia tristis Heu quotis procerum sanguinetinxit humum! Hoc uno infelix, et felixcetera; nusquam Laetior aut caeli frons



geniusve soli.'

"The fate of William, eighth Ear

of Douglas, whom James IIstabbed in Stirling Castle with hi

own hand, and while under hisroyal safe-conduct, is familiar to allwho read Scottish history. Murdack

Duke of Albany, Duncan Earl oLennox, his father-in-law, and histwo sons, Walter and Alexander Stuart, were executed at Stirling, i1425. They were beheaded upon an

eminence without the Castle walls, but making part of the same hill,



from whence they could beholdtheir strong Castle of Doune an

their extensive possessions. This'heading hill,' as it was sometimestermed, bears commonly the lessterrible name of Hurly-hacket, fromits having been the scene of acourtly amusement alluded to by

Sir David Lindsay, who says of th pastimes in which the young Kinwas engaged: 'Some harled him to the Hurly-hacket;'

which consisted in sliding—insome sort of chair, it may be



supposed—from top to bottom of asmooth bank. The boys oEdinburgh, about twenty years ago,used to play at the hurly-hacket onthe Calton Hill, using for their seaa horse's skull" (Scott).

558. The Franciscan steeple. Th

Greyfriars Church, built by Jame

IV. in 1594 on the hill not far fromthe Castle, is still standing, and has been recently restored. Here JameVI. was crowned on the 29th oJuly, 1567, and John Kno

preached the coronation sermon.562. Morrice-dancers. Th



morrice or morris dance was probably of Spanish (or Moorish

as the name implies) origin, butafter its introduction into England i became blended with the Maydagames. A full historical account oit is given in Douce's Illustration

of Shakespeare. The characters in iin early times were the following:"Robin Hood, Little John, FriaTuck, Maid Marian (Robin'mistress and the queen or lady o

the May), the fool, the piper, andseveral morris-dancers habited, as



it appears, in various modes.Afterwards a hobby-horse and

dragon were added" (Douce). Fordescription of the game, see Scott'sAbbot, ch. xiv., and the author'snote. See also on 614 below.

564. The burghers hold thei

sports to-day. Scott has thefollowing note here:

"Every burgh of Scotland of thleast note, but more especially theconsiderable towns, had their solemn play, or festival, when featsof archery were exhibited, and



prized distributed to those whoexcelled in wrestling, hurling the

bar, and the other gymnasticexercises of the period. Stirling,usual place of royal residence, wasnot likely to be deficient in pompupon such occasions, especially

since James V. was very partial tothem. His ready participation inthese popular amusements was onecause of his acquiring the title othe King of the Commons, or Re

Plebeiorum, as Lesley has latinizeit. The usual prize to the bes

h l h



shooter was a silver arrow. Such aone is preserved at Selkirk and a

Peebles. At Dumfries a silver guwas substituted, and the contentiontransferred to firearms. Thceremony, as there performed, isthe subject of an excellent Scottish

poem, by Mr. John Mayne, entitle

the Siller Gun 1808, whicsurpasses the efforts of Fergusson,and comes near those of Burns.

"Of James's attachment tarchery, Pitscottie, the faithfulthough rude recorder of themanners of that period, has given

id



us evidence:'In this year there came an

ambassador out of England, namedLord William Howard, with

bishop with him, with many other gentlemen, to the number othreescore horse, which were all

able men and waled [picked] menfor all kind of games and pastimes,shooting, louping, running,wrestling, and casting of the stone,

but they were well sayed [essayed

or tried] ere they past out oScotland, and that by their own

i b h i ill



provocation; but ever they tint: tillat last, the Queen of Scotland, thKing's mother, favoured theEnglish-men, because she was thKing of England's sister; antherefore she took an enterprise oarchery upon the Englishmen's

hands, contrary her son the King,

and any six in Scotland that hwould wale, either gentlemen or yeomen, that the Englishmenshould shoot against them either at

pricks, revers, or buts, as the Scots

pleased.'The King, hearing this of hi

th t t d t h



mother, was content, and gart her pawn a hundred crowns and a tun

of wine upon the English-men'shands; and he incontinent laiddown as much for the Scottish-men. The field and ground waschosen in St. Andrews, and thre

landed men and three yeomenchosen to shoot against theEnglish-men,—to wit, DaviWemyss of that ilk, David Arnot othat ilk, and Mr. John Wedderburn,

vicar of Dundee; the yeomen, JohThomson, in Leith, Steve

T b ith i ll d



Taburner, with a piper, calledAlexander Bailie; they shot ver near, and warred [worsted] theEnglish-men of the enterprise, andwan the hundred crowns and thetun of wine, which made the Kinvery merry that his men wan the

victory.'"

571. Play my prize. The samexpression occurs in Shakespeare,T. A. i. 1. 399: "You have play'dyour prize." Cf. also M. of V. iii. 2.142: "Like one of two contendin

in a prize," etc.575. The Castle gates. The mai

entrance to the Castle not th



entrance to the Castle, not th postern gate of 532 above.

580. Fair Scotland's King, etc.The MS. reads: "King James and all hisnobles went... Ever the King was bendinglow To his white jennet's

saddle-bow,

Doffing his cap to burgherdame, Who smiling blushed for

pride and shame."

601. There nobles, etc. The MS

reads: "Nobles who mourned theirpower restrained,

And the poor burgher's joys



And the poor burgher s joysdisdained; Dark chief, who, hostage for

his clan, Was from his home a banishedman, Who thought upon his owngray tower, The waving woods, his feudalbower, And deemed himself a

shameful part

Of pageant that he cursed inheart."

611. With bell at heel. Doucesays that "the number of bellsround each leg of the morris-dancers amounted from twenty toforty;" but Scott, in a note to Th

Fair Maid of Perth speaks of 25



Fair Maid of Perth, speaks of 25small bells in sets of twelve at

regular musical intervals.612. Their mazes wheel. The MS.

adds: "With awkward stride therecity groom

Would part of fabled knight

assume."

614. Robin Hood. Scott sayhere: "The exhibition of thisrenowned outlaw and his band wasa favorite frolic at such festivals as

we are describing. This sporting, inwhich kings did not disdain to be

actors was prohibited in Scotland



actors, was prohibited in Scotlandupon the Reformation, by a statutof the 6th Parliament of QueeMary, c. 61, A. D. 1555, whichordered, under heavy penalties that'na manner of person be chosenRobert Hude, nor Little John

Abbot of Unreason, Queen of May

nor otherwise.' But in 1561, th'rascal multitude,' says John Knox'were stirred up to make a RobinHude, whilk enormity was of monyears left and damned by statute

and act of Paliament; yet wouldthey not be forbidden.' Accordingly

they raised a very serious tumult



they raised a very serious tumult,and at length made prisoners themagistrates who endeavored tosuppress it, and would not releasethem till they extorted a formal

promise that no one should be punished for his share of the

disturbance. It would seem, fro

the complaints of the GeneraAssembly of the Kirk, that thes

profane festivities were continueddown to 1592 (Book of thUniversal Kirk, p. 414). Bold Robin

was, to say the least, equallysuccessful in maintaining his

ground against the reformed clergy



ground against the reformed clergyof England; for the simple andevangelical Latimer complains ocoming to a country church wherethe people refused to hear him

because it was Robin Hood's day,and his mitre and rochet were fain

to give way to the village pastime.

Much curious information on thissubject may be found in thePreliminary Dissertation to the latMr. Ritson's edition of the songsrespecting this memorable outlaw.

The game of Robin Hood wausually acted in May; and he was

associated with the morrice-



associated with the morrice-dancers, on whom so muchillustration has been bestowed bythe commentators on Shakespeare.A very lively picture of thesefestivities, containing a great dealof curious information on the

subject of the private life and

amusements of our ancestors, wasthrown, by the late ingenious Mr.Strutt, into his romance entitledQueen-hoo Hall, published after hisdeath, in 1808."

615. Friar Tuck. "Robin Hood'fat friar," as Shakespeare calls him

(T G of V iv 1 36) who figures



(T. G. of V. iv. 1. 36), who figuresin the Robin Hood ballads and i

Ivanhoe. Scarlet and Little John ar mentioned in one of MasteSilence's snatches of song in 2 Hen.IV. v. 3. 107: "And Robin, Scarlet,and John." Scathelocke is a brothe

of Scarlet in Ben Jonson's SaShepherd, which is a "Tale oRobin Hood," and Mutch is

bailiff in the same play.626. Stake. Prize.627. Fondly he watched, etc. Th

MS. reads: "Fondly he watched, with



watery eye, For answering glance of

sympathy, But no emotion made reply! Indifferent as to unknown |

wight, Cold as to unknown yeoman | The King gave forth the

arrow bright."

630. To archer wight. That is, toany ordinary archer. Scott has thefollowing note here:

"The Douglas of the poem is aimaginary person, a supposeduncle of the Earl of Angus. But thKing's behavior during an

unexpected interview with the



unexpected interview with theLaird of Kilspindie, one of th

banished Douglases, undecircumstances similar to those inthe text, is imitated from a realstory told by Hume of Godscroft.would have availed myself more

fully of the simple and affectingcircumstances of the old history,had they not been already woveninto a pathetic ballad by my friendMr. Finlay. 11

'His [the King's] implacabilit[towards the family of Douglas]

did also appear in his carriage



did also appear in his carriagetowards Archibald of Kilspinke,

whom he, when he was a child,loved singularly well for his abilityof body, and was wont to call himhis Gray-Steill. 12 Archibald, being

banished into England, could no

well comport with the humor othat nation, which he thought to betoo proud, and that they had toohigh a conceit of themselves,oined with a contempt and

despising of all others. Wherefore, being wearied of that life, and

remembering the King's favor old t d hi h d t i d t



g gold towards him, he determined totry the King's mercifulness andclemency. So he comes intoScotland, and taking occasion othe King's hunting in the park aStirling he casts himself to be in his

way, as he was coming home to the

Castle. So soon as the King sahim afar off, ere he came near, heguessed it was he, and said to oneof his courtiers, "Yonder is myGray-Steill, Archibald o

Kilspindie, if he be alive." Thother answered that it could not be

he, and that he durst not come intothe King's presence The Kin



,the King's presence. The Kinapproaching, he fell upon his kneesand craved pardon, and promisedfrom thenceforward to abstainfrom meddling in public affairs,and to lead a quiet and private life.

The King went by without givin

him any answer, and trotted a goodround pace up the hill. Kilspindifollowed, and though he wore onhim a secret, or shirt of mail, for his particular enemies, was as soon

at the Castle gate as the King. Ther he sat him down upon a stone

without, and entreated some of theKing's servants for a cup of drink



,King s servants for a cup of drink, being weary and thirsty; but they,fearing the King's displeasure, durstgave him none. When the King waset at his dinner, he asked what hehad done, what he had said, and

whither he had gone? It was told

him that he had desired a cup odrink, and had gotten none. ThKing reproved them very sharplfor their discourtesy, and told themthat if he had not taken an oath that

no Douglas should ever serve him,he would have received him into

his service, for he had seen himsometime a man of great ability



,sometime a man of great ability.Then he sent him word to go toLeith, and expect his furthe

pleasure. Then some kinsman oDavid Falconer, the cannonier, thatwas slain at Tantallon, began to

quarrel with Archibald about the

matter, wherewith the King showedhimself not well pleased when heheard of it. Then he commandedhim to go to France for a certainspace, till he heard further from

him. And so he did, and diedshortly after. This gave occasion to

the King of England (Henry VIII.to blame his nephew alleging the



g g ( yto blame his nephew, alleging theold saying, That a king's facshould give grace. For thisArchibald (whatsoever wer Angus's or Sir George's fault) hanot been principal actor o

anything, nor no counsellor nor

stirrer up, but only a follower ohis friends, and that noways cruellydisposed' (Hume of Godscroft, ii.107)."

637. Larbert is a town about tenmiles to the south of Stirling, andAlloa another seven miles to th

east on the north side of the Forth.



641. To Douglas gave a golden

ring. Scott says: "The usual prize oa wrestling was a ram and a ring,

but the animal would haveembarrassed my story. Thus, in theCokes Tale of Gamelyn, ascribed to

Chaucer: 'There happed to be therebeside Tryed a wrestling; And therefore there was y-setten A ram and als a ring."

Again, the Litil Geste of RobiHood: 'By a bridge was a



wrestling, And there taryed was he And there was all the bestyemen Of all the west countrey.

A full fayre game there wasset up, A white bull up y-pight,

A great courser with saddle

and brydle,

With gold burnished fullbryght; A payre of gloves, a red

golde ringe, A pipe of wine, good day; What man bereth him best, I

wis, The prise shall bear away.'"

648. To hurl the massive bar. Cf.iv. 559 above.



658. Scottish strength. The MShas "mortal strength."

660. The Ladies' Rock. A poin

in the "valley" between the Castland the Greyfriars Church. It wa

formerly the chief place for

viewing the games, which wereheld in this "valley," or depressionin the hill on which the Castlstands. It must not be confoundedwith the Ladies' Lookout, a favorit

point of view on the Castle walls.662. Well filled. The MS. ha

"weighed down;" and in 664,"Scattered the gold among th



Scattered the gold among th

crowd."674. Ere Douglas, etc. The MShas "Ere James of Douglas' stalwar hand;" and in 677, "worn" for wrecked.

681. Murmurs. Some eds. hav"murmur."

685. The banished man. The MShas "his stately form."

724. Needs but a buffet. Onlysingle blow is needed.

728. Then clamored, etc. ThMS. and 1st ed. have "Clamore



his comrades of the train;" and in

730 the MS. has "warrior's" foBaron's.

735. Atone. See on iv. 421above.

744. But shall a Monarch'

presence, etc. The MS. reads: "But in my court injuriousblow, And bearded thus, andthus out-dared? What, ho!" etc.

747. Ward. Guarding,confinement under guard. Cf. Gen.xl. 3.

752. Misarray. Disorder,confusion. Neither Wb. nor Worc.



gives the word.754. Pricked. Spurred, rode. Se

on 486 above.

755. Repelled, etc. The MS. ha"Their threats repelled by insul

loud."

768. Hyndford. A village on theClyde, a few miles above Lanark.

790. Widow's mate expires. Aninstance of prolepsis, or "anticipation" in the use of a word.He must expire before she can bewidow. Cf. Macbeth, iii. 4. 76:

"Blood hath been shed erenow, i' the olden time,



Ere human statute purg'd the

gentle weal;"that is, purged it and made it

gentle.794. Ward. Ward off, avert.

796. The crowd's wild fury, etc.

The MS. reads: "The crowd's wild fury ebbedamain In tears, as tempests sinkin rain."

The 1st ed. reads as in the text,

but that of 1821 has "sunk amain."The figure here is a favorite on

with Shakespeare. Cf. R. of L1788:



1788:

"This windy tempest, till itblow up rain, Held back his sorrow's tide,to make it more; At last it rains, and busywinds give o'er;"

3 Hen. VI. i. 4. 146:

"For raging wind blows up

incessant showers, And, when the rage allays,the rain begins;"

Id. ii. 5. 85: "see, see, what showersarise, Blown with the windy tempestof my heart;"

T. and C. iv. 4. 55: "Where aremy tears? rain, to lay this wind, or



my tears? rain, to lay this wind, or

my heart will be blown up by theroot;" and Macbeth, i. 7. 25: "Thatears shall down the wind."

808. The rough soldier. Sir Johof Hyndford (768 above).

811. He led. The 1st ed. has "theled," and "their" for his in 813.

812. Verge. Note the rhyme withcharge, and see on iv. 83 above.

819. This common fool. Cf.Shakespeare's "fool multitude" (M.of V. ii. 9. 26). Just below Lockhart

quotes Coriolanus, i. 1. 180:"Who deserves greatness



Who deserves greatness Deserves your hate; and youraffections are A sick man's appetite, whodesires most that

Which would increase hisevil. He that depends Upon your favors swims with

fins of lead

And hews down oaks with

rushes. Hang ye! Trust ye? With every minute you dochange a mind,

And call him noble that wasnow your hate, Him vile that was yourgarland."

821. Douglas. The reading of th1st ed., as in 825 below; not"Douglas'," as in some recent eds.



830. Vain as the leaf, etc. TheMS. has "Vain as the sick man'sidle dream."

838. Cognizance. "The sable palof Mar." See on iv. 153 above.

853. With scanty train, etc. ThMS. has "On distant chase you wilnot ride."

856. Lost it. Forgot it.858. For spoiling of. For fear o

ruining. Cf. Shakespeare, Sonn. 52.4: "The which he will not everyhour survey,



For blunting the fine point

of seldom pleasure;T. G. of V. i. 2. 136: "Yet here

they shall not lie for catching cold;"Beaumont and Fletcher, Captainiii. 5: "We'll have a bib for spoiling

of thy doublet," etc.887. Earl William. The Dougla

who was stabbed by James II. Seon 551 above.



Canto Sixth.

"Lord Jeffrey has objected to thguard-room scene and its

accompanying song as the greatest blemish in the whole poem. Th

scene contrasts forcibly with thegrace which characterizes the rest;



but in a poem which rests itsinterest upon incident, such acriticism seems overstrained. Igives us a vigorous picture of aclass of men who played a very

important part in the history of the



natures—may surely reconcile us tosuch a piece of realism.

"The scene of Roderick's deatharmonizes well with his character.The minstrel's account of the battl

the poet himself felt to besomewhat long, and yet it is

difficult to see how it could becurtailed without spoiling it. It is



full of life and vigor, and our onlycause of surprise is that the layshould only come to a suddenstand when it is really completed"(Taylor).

6. Scaring, etc. The 1st ed. reads:"And scaring prowling robbers totheir den."

7. Battled. Battlemented; as in ii.702 above.

9. The kind nurse of men. Cf.Hen. IV. iii. 1. 5: "O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse," etc.



23. Through narrow loop, etc.The MS. has "Through blackenearch," etc.; and below: "The lights in strangealliance shone Beneath the arch ofblackened stone."

25. Struggling with. Some receneds. misprint "struggling through."

47. Adventurers they, etc. Scottsays: "The Scottish armieconsisted chiefly of the nobility and

barons, with their vassals, whoheld lands under them for military

service by themselves and their tenants. The patriarchal influenc



p

exercised by the heads of clans inthe Highlands and Borders was ofdifferent nature, and sometimes atvariance with feudal principles. Iflowed from the Patria Potestas

exercised by the chieftain asrepresenting the original father othe whole name, and was often

obeyed in contradiction to thefeudal superior. James V. seems

first to have introduced, in additionto the militia furnished from these

sources, the service of a smallnumber of mercenaries, whof d b d d ll d h



formed a body-guard, called theFoot-Band. The satirical poet, SiDavid Lindsay (or the person whwrote the prologue to his play othe Three Estaites), has introduce

Finlay of the Foot-Band, who afte

much swaggering upon the stage isat length put to flight by the Fool,who terrifies him by means of a

sheep's skull upon a pole. I havrather chosen to give them the

harsh features of the mercenarysoldiers of the period, than of this

Scottish Thraso. These partook othe character of the AdventurousC i f F i t th



Companions of Froissart, or thCondottieri of Italy."

53. The Fleming, etc. The soil oFlanders is very fertile and

productive, in marked contrast to

the greater part of Scotland.60. Halberd. A combination o

spear and battle-axe. See Wb.63. Holytide. Holiday. For tide

time, see on iii. 478 above.73. Neighboring to. That is, lyin

in adjacent rooms.75. Burden. Alluding to th

burden or chorus of a song Cf ii



burden, or chorus, of a song. Cf. ii.

392 above. The MS. has "jest" fooke; and in the next line "And rud

oaths vented by the rest."78. Trent. the English river o

that name. Cf. 231 below.

84. That day. Modifying cushore, not grieved.

87. A merry catch, I troll. Cf.Shakespeare, Temp, iii. 2. 126:"will you troll the catch," etc.

88. Buxom. Lively, brisk; as inHen. V. iii. 6. 27: "of buxom

valour," etc. Its original sense wasyielding, obedient; as in F. Q. i. 11.



37: "the buxome aire" (see alsoMilton, P. L. ii. 842); and Id. iii. 2.23: "Of them that to him buxomare and prone." For the derivation,see Wb.

90. Poule. Paul; an old spellingfound in Chaucer and othewriters. The measure of the song is

anapestic (that is, with the accenton every third syllable), with

modifications.92. Black-jack. A kind of pitcher

made of leather. Taylor quotes OldMortality, chap. viii.: "The largbl k j k fill d i h ll



black-jack filled with very small beer."

93. Sack. A name applied toSpanish and Canary wines igeneral; but sometimes the

particular kind was specified. Cf. 2Hen. IV. iv. 3. 104: "good sherris-sack" (that is, sherry wine); and

Herrick, Poems:



"thy isles shall lack

Grapes, before Herrick leavesCanarie sack."

95. Upsees. "Bacchanaliainterjection, borrowed from theDutch" (Scott). Nares criticiseScott for using the word as a noun.It is generally found in the phrases

"upsee Dutch" and "upsee Freeze"(the same thing, Frise being



Dutch), which appear to mean "inthe Dutch fashion." Cf. BeJonson, Alchemist, iv. 6: "I do not like the dullnessof your eye, It hath a heavy east, 't is

upsee Dutch;"

that is, looks like intoxication.See also Beaumont and Fletcher

Beggar's Bush, iv. 4: "The bowl...which must be upsey English,

strong, lusty, London beer."98. Kerchief. See on iii. 49

above.100. Gillian. A common old



English name (according to Coleand others, a corruption oJuliana), often contracted into Gilof Jill, and used as a familiar ter for a woman, as Jack was for

man. The two are often associatedas in the proverbs "Every Jacmust have his Jill," and "A good

Jack makes a good Jill."103. Placket. Explained by som

as = stomacher; by others as = petticoat, or the slit or opening in

those garments. Cf. Wb. It is ofteused figuratively for woman, ashere Placket and pot = women and



here. Placket and pot = women andwine.

104. Lurch. Rob. Cf.Shakespeare, Cor. ii. 2. 105: "Hlurch'd all swords of the garland;"



And trudge through borough

and through land, The leader of a jugglerband."

Scott has the following nothere: "The jongleurs, or jugglers, as

we learn from the elaborate work of the late Mr. Strutt, on the sportsand pastimes of the people oEngland, used to call in the aid ovarious assistants, to render these



various assistants, to render these performances as captivating as possible. The glee-maiden was

necessary attendant. Her duty wastumbling and dancing; and

therefore the Anglo-Saxon version

of Saint Mark's Gospel stateHerodias to have vaulted otumbled before King Herod. I

Scotland these poor creatures seem,even at a late period, to have been

bondswomen to their masters, asappears from a case reported byFountainhall: 'Reid the mountebank

pursues Scot of Harden and hilady for stealing away from him a



lady for stealing away from him alittle girl, called the tumbling-lassie,that dance upon his stage; and he

claimed damages, and produced acontract, whereby he bought her

from her mother for £30 Scots. Bu

we have no slaves in Scotland, andmothers cannot sell their bairns;and physicians attested the

employment of tumbling would killher; and her joints were now grown

stiff, and she declined to return;though she was at least a 'prentice,and so could not run away fromher master; yet some cited Moses'slaw, that if a servant shelter himsel



aw, t at a se va t s e te sewith thee against his master'scruelty, thou shalt surely not

deliver him up. The Lordsrenitente cancellario, assoilzied

Harden on the 27th of Januar



soldiery, amazed;" and in 164 below, "Should Ellen Douglasuffer wrong."

167. I shame me. I shammyself, I am ashamed. The ver

was formerly used intransitively inthis sense. Cf. Shakespeare, R. o

L. 1143: "As shaming any eyshould thee behold;" A. Y. L. iv. 3.136: "I do not shame to tell you



136: I do not shame to tell youwhat I was," etc.

170. Needwood. A royal forest inStaffordshire.

171. Poor Rose, etc. The MS

reads: "'My Rose,'—he wiped his ironeye and brow,— 'Poor Rose,—if Rose beliving now.'"

178. Part. Act; used for th

rhyme. The expression is nounlike "do the part of an honest

man" (Much Ado, ii. 1. 172), o"act the part," as we should nowput it.



put it.183. Tullibardine. The name o

an old seat of the Murray family,about twenty miles from Stirling.

199. Errant damosel. Cf.

Spenser, F. Q. ii. 1. 19: "Th'adventure of the Errant damozell."

209. Given by the Monarch, etc.The MS. has "The Monarch gave tJames Fitz-James."

218. Bower. Chamber. See on i.217 above.

222. Permit I marshal you thway. Permit that I conduct you



thither.233. The vacant purse, etc. Th

MS. reads: "The silken purse shall servefor me,

And in my barret-cap shall

flee""—

a forced rhyme which the poetdid well to get rid of.

234. Barret-cap. Cloth cap. Cf.the Lay, iii. 216:

"Old England's sign, St.George's cross, His barret-cap did grace."

He puts the purse in his cap asfavor. See on iv. 686 above.



242. Master's. He means thDouglas, but John of Brent takes i

to refer to Roderick. See 30 below.

261. Wot. Know, understand.

See on i. 596 above.276. Rugged vaults. The MS. ha

"low broad vaults;" and in 279,"stretching" for crushing.

291. Oaken floor. The MS. an1st ed. have "flinty floor;" and

below:

"'thou mayst remain;' And then, retiring, bolt andchain,



And rusty bar, he drew again. Roused at the sound," etc.

292, 293. Such... hold. Thicouplet is not in the 1st ed., and

presumably not in the MS., thoug

the fact is not noted by Lockhart.295. Leech. Physician. Cf. F. Q.

iii. 3. 18: "Yf any leaches skill,"etc.; and in the preceding stanza,"More neede of leach-crafte hath

your Damozell," etc.306. Prore. Prow (Latin prora)

used only in poetry.309. Astrand. On strand (cf.



ashore), stranded.316. At sea. The MS. has "o

main," and "plain" for lea in therhyme. The 1st ed. and that of 1821have "on sea."

334. Has never harp, etc. ThMS. reads: "Shall never harp of minstrel

tell Of combat fought so fierceand well."

348. Strike it! Scott says: "Ther are several instances, at least in

tradition, of persons so muchattached to particular tunes, as torequire to hear them on their death-



q bed. Such an anecdote ismentioned by the late Mr. Riddel oGlenriddel, in his collection oBorder tunes, respecting an ai

called the 'Dandling of the Bairns,for which a certain Gallovidianlaird is said to have evinced this

strong mark of partiality. It is popularly told of a famous

freebooter, that he composed thetune known by the name oMacpherson's Rant while undesentence of death, and played it atthe gallows-tree. Some spirited



words have been adapted to it byBurns. A similar story is recounted

of a Welsh bard, who composedand played on his death-bed the air

called Dafyddy Garregg Wen Bu

the most curious example is given by Brantome of a maid of honor athe court of France, entitled

Mademoiselle de Limeuil: 'Duransa maladie, dont elle trespassa,

amais elle ne cessa, ainsi causatousjours; car elle estoit fort grande parleuse, brocardeuse, et tres-bienet fort a propos, et tres-belle aveccela. Quand l'heure de sa fin fu



venue, elle fit venir a soy son valet(ainsi que les filles de la cour en

ont chacune un), qui s'appelloitJulien, et scavoit tres-bien jouer du

violon "Julien " luy dit elle

"prenez vostre violon, et sonnemoy tousjours jusques a ce quevous me voyez morte (car je m'y en

vais) la Defaite des Suisses, et lmieux que vous pourrez, et quand

vous serez sur le mot, 'Tout est perdu,' sonnez le par quatre ou cingfois, le plus piteusement que vous

pourrez," ce qui fit l'autre, et elle-mesme luy aidoit de la voix, et



quand ce vint "tout est perdu," ellele reitera par deux fois; et se

tournant de l'autre coste du chevet,elle dit a ses compagnes: "Tout est

perdu a ce coup et a bon escient;"

et ainsi deceda. Voila une morteoyeuse et plaisante. Je tiens c

conte de deux de ses compagnes,

dignes de foi, qui virent jouer cemystere' (OEuvres de Brantome, iii.

507). The tune to which this failady chose to make her final exitwas composed on the defeat of theSwiss of Marignano. The burden iquoted by Panurge in Rabelais, an



consists of these words, imitatingthe jargon of the Swiss, which is

mixture of French and German: 'Tout est verlore, La Tintelore,

Tout est verlore bi Got.'"

362. With what, etc. This line isnot in the MS.

369. Battle of Beal' au Duine.Scott has the following note here:

"A skirmish actually took placeat a pass thus called in the

Trosachs, and closed with theremarkable incident mentioned inthe text. It was greatly posterior in



date to the reign of James V.'In this roughly-wooded island 13

the country people secreted their wives and children and their most

valuable effects from the rapacityof Cromwell's soldiers during theiinroad into this country, in the time

of the republic. These invaders, noventuring to ascend by the ladders

along the lake, took a morecircuitous road through the heart othe Trosachs, the most frequented

path at that time, which penetratesthe wilderness about half way



between Binean and the lake bytract called Yea-chilleach, or the

Old Wife's Bog.'In one of the defiles of this by-

road the men of the country at thattime hung upon the rear of theinvading enemy, and shot one o

Cromwell's men, whose gravmarks the scene of action, and

gives name to that pass. 14 Inrevenge of this insult, the soldiersresolved to plunder the island, toviolate the women, and put thechildren to death. With this brutal



intention, one of the party, moreexpert than the rest, swam towards

the island, to fetch the boat to hiscomrades, which had carried the

women to their asylum and lay

moored in one of the creeks. Hiscompanions stood on the shore othe mainland, in full view of all

that was to pass, waiting anxiouslyfor his return with the boat. Bu

ust as the swimmer had got to thenearest point of the island, and waslaying hold of a black rock to geton shore, a heroine, who stood onthe very point where he meant tol d h l h d



land, hastily snatching a dagger from below her apron, with one

stroke severed his head from the body. His party seeing this disaster,

and relinquishing all future hope o

revenge or conquest, made the bestof their way out of their periloussituation. This amazon's grea

grandson lives at Bridge of Turk,who, besides others, attests the

anecdote' (Sketch of the Scener near Callander, Stirling, 1806, p.20). I have only to add to thisaccount that the heroine's namewas Helen Stuart."

l h l k h



376. No ripple on the lake. "Thliveliness of this description of the

battle is due to the greater varietyof the metre, which resembles that

of Marmion. The three-accent lineintroduced at intervals give itlightness, and the repetition of the

same rhyme enables the poet tothrow together without break all

that forms part of one picture"(Taylor).

377. Erne. Eagle. See Wb.392. I see, etc. Cf. iv. 152 above.

396 B S i 36 b



396. Boune. See on iv. 36 above.Most eds. misprint "bound."

404. Barded. The reading of th1st ed. and that of 1821; "corrected"in all the recent ones into "barbed."

Scott doubtless wrote barded (armored, or wearing defensivearmor; but applied only to horses),

a word found in many old writers.Cf. Holinshed (quoted by Nares)

"with barded horses, all coveredwith iron," etc. See also Wb. Scothas the word again in the Lay, i.311: "Above the foaming tide, I

ween



ween, Scarce half the charger'sneck was seen;

For he was barded fromcounter to tail, And the rider was armedcomplete in mail."

405. Battalia. Battalion, army.The word is not a plural o

battalion, as some have seemed to

think. See Wb.414. Vaward. In the vanward, or

vanguard; misprinted "vanward" insome editions. Shakespeare has th

noun several times; as in Hen. V.iv. 3. 130: "The leading of thevaward;" Cor. i. 6. 53: "Their bandsi' th d " d fig ti l i



i' the vaward;" and figuratively inM. N. D. iv. 1. 110: "the vaward othe day," etc.

419. Pride. Some eds. misprin

"power."429. As. As if. See on ii. 56

above.

434. Their flight they ply. Threading of the 1st ed. and that o

1821. Most of the eds. have "plight"for flight, and Taylor has the

following note on Their plight the ply: "The meaning of this is novery clear. Possibly 'they keep up a

f



constant fire,' but they seem in toocomplete a rout for that." Cf. iii.318 above.

438. The rear. The 1st ed. has

"their rear."443. Twilight wood. Cf. 403

above. "The appearance of th

spears and pikes was such that inthe twilight they might have been

mistaken at a distance for a wood"(Taylor).

449-450. And closelyshouldering, etc. This couplet is notin the MS.



452. Tinchel. "A circle osportsmen, who, by surrounding agreat space, and graduallynarrowing, brought immense

quantities of deer together, whichusually made desperate efforts to

breach through the Tinchel"

(Scott).459. The tide. The 1st ed. ha

"their tide."473. Now, gallants! etc. Cf.

Macaulay, Battle of Ivry: "Now by the lips of those yelove,

Fair gentlemen of France



Fair gentlemen of France, Charge for the goldenlilies,—

Upon them with the lance!"483. And refluent, etc. The MS.

reads:

"And refluent down thedarksome pass The battle's tide waspoured; There toiled the spearman'sstruggling spear, There raged the mountainsword."

488. Linn. Here the word iscataract. See on i. 71 and ii. 270above.

497. Minstrel, away! The MShas "Away! away!"



has Away! away!509. Surge. Note the imperfec

rhyme. See on i. 223 above.511. That sullen. The reading o

the 1st ed. and that of 1821; "thesullen" in many eds.

514. That parts not, etc. Lockhar

quotes Byron, Giaour: "the loveliness in death That parts not quite withparting breath."

515. Seeming, etc. The MS

reads: "And seemed, to minstrel ear,to toll

The parting dirge of many a



The parting dirge of many asoul."

For part = depart, see on ii. 94above.

523 While by the lake etc Th

MS. reads: "While by the darkened lakebelow File out the spearmen of the

foe."

525. At weary bay. See on i. 133

above.527. Tattered sail. The 1st ed. has

"shattered sail;" not noted in theErrata.

532 Saxons Some eds misprin



532. Saxons. Some eds. misprin"Saxon."

538. Wont. See on i. 408 above.539. Store. See on i. 548 above.

Bonnet-pieces were gold coins on

which the King's head wasrepresented with a bonnet insteadof a crown.

540. To him will swim. For theellipsis, see on i. 528 above.

556. Her billows, etc. The 1st ed.has "Her billow reared his snow

crest," and "its" for they in the nextline.

564 It tinged etc The MS ha"I i d h b d l k i h



564. It tinged, etc. The MS. ha"It tinged the boats and lake withflame."

Lines 561-568 are interpolated inthe MS. on a slip of paper.

565. Duncraggan's widoweddame. Cf. iii. 428 fol. above.

567. A naked dirk. The 1st ed.

has "Her husband's dirk."592. Chime. Music. Cf. iv. 52

above.595. Varied his look, etc. The

MS. has "Glowed in his look, aswelled the song;" and in 600,

"his | glazing | eye."| fiery |



| g g | y | fiery |

602. Thus, motionless, etc. Cf.the Introduction to Rob Roy; "RoRoy, while on his death-bed,

learned that a person, with whomhe was at enmity, proposed to visithim. 'Raise me from my bed,' said

the invalid; 'throw my plaid aroundme, and bring me my claymore,

dirk, and pistols: it shall never besaid that a foeman saw Rob RoMacGregor defenceless anunarmed.' His foeman, conjecturedto be one of the MacLarensentered and paid his compliments



entered and paid his compliments,inquiring after the health of his

formidable neighbor. Rob Romaintained a cold, haughty civility

during their short conference; and

so soon as he had left the house,'Now,' he said, 'all is over—let the

piper play Ha til mi tulidh' [w

return no more], and he is said tohave expired before the dirge was

finished."605. Grim and still. Originall"stern and still." In a note to th

printer, sent with the final stanzas,Scott writes: "I send the granfinale, and so exit the Lady of th



finale, and so exit the Lady of thLake from the head she has

tormented for six months. In cantovi. stanza 21,—stern and still, read

grim and still; sternly occurs four

lines higher. For a similar reason,stanza 24,—dun deer read fleet

deer."608. And art thou, etc. The MS.

has "'And art thou gone,' thMinstrel said."

609. Foeman's. Misprinte"foeman's" in some eds.

610. Breadalbane. See on ii. 41above



610. Breadalbane. See on ii. 41above.

614. The shelter, etc. The MS.has "The mightiest of a mightline."

631. Even she. That is, Ellen.

638. Storied. Referring to thscenes depicted on the painted

glass. Cf. Milton, Il Penseroso, 159"And storied windows, richl

dight." The change of tense in falis of course for the rhyme; but wemight expect "lighten" for lightened.

643. The banquet, etc. The MSreads:



reads: "The banquet gay, the

chamber's pride, Scarce drew one curiousglance aside;"

and in 653, "earnest on his

game."665. Of perch and hood. That is

of enforced idleness. See on ii. 525above. In some eds. this song is

printed without any division intostanzas.

670. Forest. The 1st ed. and thaof 1821 have "forests," but wesuspect that Scott wrote forest.

672 Is meet for me The MS ha



672. Is meet for me. The MS. ha"was meant for me." For thellipsis, cf. 540 above.

674. From yon dull steeple's,"

etc. The MS. has "From darkene

steeple's" etc. See on v. 558 above.677. The lark, etc. The MS. ha

"The lively lark my matins rung,"and "sung" in the rhyme. Th

omission of to with ring and sing ishere a poetic license; but inElizabethan English it is common inmany cases where it would notnow be admissible. Cf. Othello, ii.3. 190: "you were wont be civil;" F.



y ;Q. i. 1. 50: "He thought have slain

her," etc.680. A hall, etc. The MS. has "

hall should harbor me."

683. Fleet deer. See on 605above.

707. At morning prime. Early inthe morning. Prime is properly th

first canonical hour of prayer, or 6a.m. For its looser use here, cf. F.

Q. ii. 9. 25: "at evening and a prime."

712. Stayed. Supported; not to bprinted "staid " as in some editions



y pp printed staid, as in some editions.

716. Within, etc. The MS. reads: "Within 't was brilliant all,and bright

The vision glowed on Ellen's

sight."

726. Presence. Presence-chamber. Cf. Rich. II. i. 3. 289:

"Suppose the singing birdsmusicians, The grass whereon thoutread'st the presence strew'd"

(that is, strewn with rushes);Hen. VIII. iii. 1. 17: "the two great cardinals Wait in the presence," etc.

727. For him, etc. The MSd "F hi h d thi



reads: "For him who owned this

royal state."737. Sheen. Bright. See on i. 20

above

740. And Snowdoun's Knight i

Scotland's King. Scott says: "Thidiscovery will probably remind the

reader of the beautiful Arabian taleof Il Bondocani. Yet the incident isnot borrowed from that elegantstory, but from Scottish tradition.James V., of whom we are treating,was a monarch whose good and

benevolent intentions often

rendered his romantic freaksf



venial, if not respectable, since,

from his anxious attention to theinterests of the lower and most

oppressed class of his subjects he

was, as we have seen, popularly

termed the King of the Commons.For the purpose of seeing tha

ustice was regularly administered,and frequently from the lessustifiable motive of gallantry, he

used to traverse the vicinage of hisseveral palaces in variousdisguises. The two excellent comisongs entitled The Gaberlunzi

Man and We'll gae nae mair ai id h b



roving are said to have been

founded upon the success of hisamorous adventures when

travelling in the disguise of a

beggar. The latter is perhaps the

best comic ballad in any language."Another adventure, which had

nearly cost James his life, is said tohave taken place at the village o

Cramond, near Edinburgh, wher he had rendered his addressesacceptable to a pretty girl of thelower rank. Four or five persons,whether relations or lovers of hismistress is uncertain, beset the



disguised monarch as he returned

from his rendezvous. Naturallgallant, and an admirable master o

his weapon, the King took post on

the high and narrow bridge over the Almond river, and defended

himself bravely with his sword. A peasant who was thrashing in aneighboring barn came out uponthe noise, and, whether moved bycompassion or by natural gallantry,took the weaker side, and laidabout with his flail so effectually as

to disperse the assailants, wellth h d di t th



thrashed, even according to the

letter. He then conducted the Kininto his barn, where his guest

requested a basin and a towel to

remove the stains of the broil. This

being procured with difficulty,James employed himself in

learning what was the summit othe deliverer's earthly wishes, andfound that they were bounded bythe desire of possessing, in

property, the farm of Braehead,upon which he labored as a

bondsman. The lands chanced to

belong to the Crown; and Jamedi t d hi t t th l



directed him to come to the palace

of Holyrood and inquire for thGuidman (that is, farmer) oBallenguich, a name by which h

was known in his excursions, and

which answered to the IBondocani of Haroun Alraschid.

He presented himself accordingly,and found, with due astonishment,that he had saved his monarch'slife, and that he was to be gratifiedwith a crown charter of the landsof Braehead, under the service o

presenting a ewer, basin, and towel

for the King to wash his handswhen he shall happen to pass the



when he shall happen to pass the

bridge of Cramond. This persowas ancestor of the Howisons oBraehead, in Mid-Lothian,

respectable family, who continue to

hold the lands (now passed into thefemale line) under the same tenure.

15"Another of James's frolics i

thus narrated by Mr. Campbelfrom the Statistical Account: 'Beinonce benighted when out a-hunting, and separated from hisattendants, he happened to enter a

cottage in the midst of a moor, atthe foot of the Ochil hills nea



the foot of the Ochil hills, nea

Alloa, where, unknown, he waskindly received. In order to regaltheir unexpected guest, the

gudeman desired the gudewife to

fetch the hen that roosted nearestthe cock, which is always the

plumpest, for the stranger's supper.The King, highly pleased with hinight's lodging and hospitableentertainment, told mine host, at

parting, that he should be glad toreturn his civility, and requestedthat the first time he came to

Stirling he would call at the Castleand inquire for the Gudeman o



and inquire for the Gudeman o

Ballenguich. Donaldson, thlandlord, did not fail to call on theGudeman of Ballenguich, when hi

astonishment at finding that the

King had been his guest affordedno small amusement to the merry

monarch and his courtiers; and tocarry on the pleasantry, he wasthenceforth designated by Jameswith the title of King of the Moorswhich name and designation havedescended from father to son ever since, and they have continued in

possession of the identical spot, theproperty of Mr Erskine of Mar til



property of Mr. Erskine of Mar, til

very lately, when this gentlemanwith reluctance turned out thedescendant and representative o

the King of the Moors, on accoun

of his Majesty's invinciblindolence, and great dislike to

reform or innovation of any kind,although, from the spirited exampleof his neighbor tenants on the sameestate, he is convinced similar exertion would promote hisadvantage.'

"The author requests permissionyet farther to verify the subject ohi b t t f th



his poem, by an extract from the

genealogical work of Buchanan oAuchmar, upon Scottish surnames

(Essay upon the Family o

Buchanan, p. 74):'This John Buchanan o

Auchmar and Arnpryor wasafterwards termed King of Kippe

[a small district of Perthshire] uponthe following account: King JameV., a very sociable, debonair

prince, residing at Stirling, inBuchanan of Arnpryor's time,carriers were very frequentlypassing along the common road



passing along the common road,

being near Arnpryor's house, withnecessaries for the use of the King's

family; and he, having some

extraordinary occasion, orderedone of these carriers to leave his

load at his house, and he would pay him for it; which the carrier refused to do, telling him he wasthe King's carrier, and his load for his Majesty's use; to whichArnpryor seemed to have smalregard, compelling the carrier, in

the end, to leave his load; tellinghim if King James was King o



him, if King James was King o

Scotland, he was King of Kippenso that it was reasonable he shouldshare with his neighbor king in

some of these loads, so frequently

carried that road. The carrierepresenting these usage, and

telling the story as Arnpryor spokeit, to some of the King's servants, icame at length to his majesty's ears,who shortly thereafter, with a fewattendants, came to visit hisneighbor king, who was in themeantime at dinner. King James,

having sent a servant to demandaccess, was denied the same by a



access, was denied the same by a

tall fellow with a battle-axe, whostood porter at the gate, tellingthere could be no access till dinner

was over. This answer not

satisfying the King, he sent todemand access a second time; upon

which he was desired by the porter to desist, otherwise he would findcause to repent his rudeness. HisMajesty finding this method wouldnot do, desired the porter to tell hismaster that the Goodman oBallangeigh desired to speak with

the King of Kippen. The portetelling Arnpryor so much, he, in all



telling Arnpryor so much, he, in all

humble manner, came and receivedthe King, and having entertainedhim with much sumptuousness and

ollity, became so agreeable to King

James, that he allowed him to tak so much of any provision he found

carrying that road as he hadoccasion for; and seeing he madethe first visit, desired Arnpryor in afew days to return him a second toStirling, which he performed, andcontinued in very much favor withthe King, always thereafter bein

termed King of Kippen while hlived.'



ved.

"The readers of Ariosto musgive credit for the amiable features

with which James is represented,

since he is generally considered asthe prototype of Zerbino, the mos

interesting hero of the OrlandoFurioso."

743. Glided from her stay. ThMS. has "shrinking, quits her stay."

Ruskin asks us to "note thnorthern love of rocks" in this passage, and adds: "Dante couldnot have thought of his 'cut rocks'as giving rest even to snow He



as giving rest even to snow. Hemust put it on the pine branches, iit is to be at peace." Taylor quotes

Holmes, Autocrat of Breakfas

Table: "She melted away from her seat like an image of snow."

780. Pry. Look pryingly ocuriously. In prose on would not

be used with pry.784. To speed. To a fortunate

issue; unless speed be the verb, and= pass.786. In life's more low bu

happier way. The MS. has "Il l lif ' h "



lowly life's more happy way."789. The name of Snowdoun. Scottsays: "William of Worcester, whowrote about the middle of the

fifteenth century, calls StirlingCastleSnowdoun. Sir David Lindsaybestows the same epithet upon itin his

Complaint of the Papingo:

'Adieu, fair Snawdoun, with

thy towers high, Thy chaple-royal, park, and table round;May, June, and July, would I

dwell in thee, Were I a man, tohear the birdis sound, Whilk dothaganethy royal rock rebound.'

"Mr. Chalmers, in his lat



excellent edition of Sir DaviLindsay's works, has refuted thchimerical derivation of Snawdoun

from snedding, or cutting. It was

probably derived from theromantic legend which connected

Stirling with King Arthur, to whichthe mention of the Round Tablegives countenance. The ring withinwhich justs were formerly practisedin the Castle park, is still called thRound Table. Snawdoun is thofficial title of one of the Scottish

heralds, whose epithets seem in allcountries to have been fantastically



y

adopted from ancient history or romance.

"It appears from the precedin

note that the real name by whichJames was actually distinguished in

his private excursions was theGoodman of Ballenguich; derivefrom a steep pass leading up to theCastle of Stirling, so called. But thepithet would not have suited

poetry, and would besides at once,and prematurely, have announced

the plot to many of my countrymen, among whom the traditional



stories above mentioned are stillcurrent."

798. My spell-bound steps. Th

MS. has "Thy sovereign back | toBenvenue." Thy sovereign's steps |

800. Glaive. Sword. See on iv.

274 above.803. Pledge of my faith, etc. Th

MS. has "Pledge of Fitz-James'faith, the ring."

808. A lightening. Some eds.have "A lightning."



809. And more, etc. The MS.reads: "And in her breast strove

maiden shame; More deep she deemed theMonarch's ire Kindled 'gainst him, who,for her sire,

Against his Sovereignbroadsword drew; And, with a pleading, warm

and true, She craved the grace ofRoderick Dhu."

813. Grace. Pardon.825. Stained. Reddened.

829. The Graeme. Jeffrey says"Malcolm Graeme has to



Malcolm Graeme has to

insignificant a part assigned him,considering the favor in which he

is held both by Ellen and th

author; and in bringing out theshaded and imperfect character o

Roderick Dhu as a contrast to th purer virtue of his rival, Mr. Scotseems to have fallen into thecommon error of making him moreinteresting than him whose virtueshe was intended to set off, andconverted the villain of the piece in

some measure into its hero. Amodern poet, however, may



perhaps be pardoned for an error of which Milton himself is thoughnot to have kept clear, and for

which there seems so natural a

cause in the difference between poetical and amiable characters."

837. Warder. Guard, jailer.841. Lockhart quotes here th

following extract from a letter oByron's to Scott, dated July 6, 1812:

"And now, waiving myself, letme talk to you of the PrincRegent. He ordered me to b

presented to him at a ball; and after some saying peculiarly pleasing



some saying, peculiarly pleasingfrom royal lips, as to my ownattempts, he talked to me of you

and your immoralities: he preferred

you to every bard past and present,and asked which of your works

pleased me most. It was a difficulquestion. I answered, I thought thLay. He said his own opinion wasnearly similar. In speaking of theothers, I told him that I thoughyou more particularly the poet o

princes, as they never appeared

more fascinating than in Marmionand The Lady of the Lake. He wa



pleased to coincide, and to dwellon the description of your James'sas no less royal than poetical. H

spoke alternately of Homer and

yourself, and seemed wellacquainted with both."

842. Harp of the North, farewell!Cf. the introduction to the poem.

846. Wizard elm. See on i. 2above.

850. Housing. Returning to thhive.

858. The grief devoured. For thfigure, cf. Ps. xlii. 3, lxxx. 5, andIsa xxx 20



Isa. xxx. 20.859. O'erlive. Several eds.

misprint "o'erlived."



Addendum.

Since our first edition appearedwe have had the privilege oexamining a copy of Scott's 2d ed.(1810), belonging to Mr. E. S.Gould, of Yonkers, N. Y. This 2ded. is in smaller type than the 1st,and in octavo form, the 1st being in

quarto. A minute collation of thetext with that of the 1st ed. and our



own shows that Scott carefullrevised the poem for this 2d ed.,and that the changes he afterwards

made in it were few and

unimportant. For instance, the texincludes the verbal changes which

we have adopted in i. 198, 290,432, ii. 103, 201, 203, 534, iii. 30,173, 190, 508, v. 106, 253, 728,811, iv. 6, 112, 527, 556, 567, etc.In vi. 291 fol. it reads (includinthe omissions and insertions) as inour text. In i. 336, 340, the pointin

is the same as in the 1st ed.; and ini. 360, the reading is "dear." In ii.



865, 866, it varies from the pointingof the 1st ed.; but we are inclined toregard this as a misprint, not a

correction. In ii. 76 this 2d ed. has

"lingerewave" for "lingerer wave,"and in ii. 217 it repeats the

preposterous misprint of "his glee"from the 1st ed. If Scott couloverlook such palpable errors asthese, he might easily fail to detectthe misplacing of a comma. Wehave our doubts as to i. 336, 340,where the 1st and 2d eds. agree; but

there a misprint may have been leftuncorrected, as in ii. 217.



Jan. 25, 1884.



FOOTNOTES:1 ( return )

[ One of Scott's (on vi.47) has suffered badly in

Lockhart's edition. In aquotation from LordBerners's Froissart(which I omit) a whole

page seems to have

dropped out, and the lastsentence, as it nowstands is made up of



stands, is made up of pans of the one preceding and the one

following the lost matter.

It reads thus (I mark thegap): "There all thecompanyons madethem[... ] breke no poyntof that ye have ordayned

and commanded.,' This is palpable nonsense, but ithas been repeated

without correction inevery reprint of Lockhart's edition for thelast fifty years.]

2 ( return )



( )[ Lockhart says: "Thelady with whom Sir

Walter Scott held this

conversation was, nodoubt, his aunt, MissChristian Rutherford;

there was no other female relation DEAD

when this Introductionwas written, whom I cansuppose him to have

consulted on literaryquestions. Lady Capulet,on seeing the corpse of Tybalt, exclaims,—

'Tybalt, my cousin! O my



brother's child!'"]3 ( return )

[ Lockhart quotes Byron,

Don Juan, xi. 55:

"In twice five years the'greatest living poet,' Like to the champion inthe fisty ring, Is called on to support hisclaim, or show it, Although 't is animaginary thing," etc.]

4 ( return )

[ "Sir Walter reigned before me," etc. (DonJuan, xi. 57).]

5 ( return )[ The Spenserian stanza,



first used by Spenser inhis Faerie Queene,consists of eight lines of

ten syllables, followed

by a line of twelvesyllables, the accentsthroughout being on the

even syllables (the so-called iambic measure).There are three sets of rhymes: one for the firstand third lines; another

for the second, fourth,fifth, and seventh; and athird for the sixth, eighth,and ninth.]

6 ( return )



[ Vide Certayne Mattersconcerning the Realme of

Scotland, etc., as they

were Anno Domini1597. London, 1603.]7 ( return )

[ See on ii. 319 above.]8 ( return )

[ Hallowe'en.]9 ( return )

[ To the raven that sat onthe forked tree he gavehis gifts.]

10 ( return )[ "This story is still



current in the moors of Staffordshire, andadapted by the peasantry

to their own meridian. I

have repeatedly heard ittold, exactly as here, byrustics who could not

read. My last authoritywas a nailer near Cheadle" (R. Jamieson).]

11 ( return )[ See Scottish Historicaland Romantic Ballads,Glasgow, 1808, vol. ii.

p. 117.]12 ( return )

[ A champion of popular



p p promance; see Ellis'sRomances, vol. iii.]

13 ( return )

[ "That at the easternextremity of LochKatrine, so oftenmentioned in the text."]

14 ( return )

[ "Beallach an duine."]15 ( return )

[ "The reader will findthis story told at greater length, and with the

addition in particular of the King beingrecognized, like the Fitz-



g ,James of the Lady of theLake, by being the only

person covered, in the

First Series of Tales of aGrandfather, vol. iii, p.37. The heir of Braehead

discharged his duty at the banquet given to KingGeorge IV. in theParliament House atEdinburgh, in 1822"

(Lockhart).]



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