VIII. Answer'd Fitz-James,-" And, if I sought, Hadst thou, unheard, heen doom'd to die, "Well, let it pass; nor will I now To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow. To match me with this man of pride: This rebel Chieftain and his band!" IX. "Have, then, thy wish!"-he whistled shrill, And he was answer'd from the hill; Wild as the scream of the curlew, From crag to crag the signal flew. 2 Are bristling into axe and brand, 2 I And every tuft of broom gives life Then fix'd his eye and sable brow Full on Fitz-James-"How say'st thou now? And, Saxon,-I am Roderick Dhu!" X. Fitz-James was brave :-Though to his heart [MS." And each lone tuft of broom gives life To plaided warrior arm'd for strife. 2 [The Monthly reviewer says:-"We now come to the chef-d'œuvre of Walter Scott,a scene of more vigour, nature, and animation, than any other in all his poetry." Another anonymous critic of the poem is not afraid to quote, with reference to the effect of this passage, the sublime ianguage of the Prophet Ezekiel :-"Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet; an exceeding great army."-Chap. xxxvii. v. 9, 10.] 3 [ Ms." All silent, too, they stood, and still While forward step and weapon show They long to rush upon the foe, . And the stern joy which warriors feel Short space he stood-then waved his hand : In broom or bracken, heath or wood; Sunk brand and spear and bended bow, In osiers pale and copses low; It seem'd as if their mother Earth On bracken green, and cold grey stone. XI. Fitz-James look'd round-yet scarce believed 66 Fear nought-nay, that I need not say— Thou art my guest;-I pledged my word Nor would I call a clansman's brand To show the reed on which you leant, [MS" For aid against one brave man's hand."] 2 ["This scene is excellently described. The frankness and high-souled conrage of the two warriors, the reliance which the Lowlander places on the word of the Highlander to guide him safely on his way the next morning, although he has spoken threatening and violent words against Roderick, whose kinsman the mountaineer professes himself to be,-these circumstances are all admirably imagined and related."-Monthly Review.] 3 This incident, like some other passages in the poem, illustrative of the character of the ancient Gael, is not imaginary, but borrowed from fact. The Highlanders, with the in As ever knight that belted glaive; To hide a bonnet or a spear. XII. The Chief in silence strode before, consistency of most nations in the same state, were alternately capable of great exertions of generosity, and of cruel revenge and perfidy. The following story I can only quote from tradition, but with such an assurance from those by whom it was communicated, as permits me little doubt of its authenticity. Early in the last century, John Gunn, a noted Cateran, or Highland robber, infested Inverness-shire, and levied black-mail up to the walls of the provincial capital. A garrison was then maintained in the castle of that town, and their pay (country banks being unknown) was usually transmitted in specie, under the guard of a small escort. It chanced that the officer who commanded this little party was unexpectedly obliged to halt, about thirty miles from Inverness, at a miserable inn. About nightfall, a stranger, in the Highland dress, and of very prepossessing appearance, entered the same house. Separate accommodation being impossible, the Englishman offered the newly-arrived guest a part of his supper, which was accepted with reluctance. By the conversation he found his new acquaintance knew well all the passes of the country, which induced him eagerly to request his company on the ensuing morning. He neither disguised his business and charge, nor his apprehensions of that celebrated freebooter, John Gunn. The Highlander hesitated a moment, and then frankly consented to be his guide. Forth they set in the morning; and, in travelling through a solitary and dreary glen, the discourse again turned on John Gunn. "Would you like to see him?" said the guide; and, without waiting an answer to this alarming question, he whistled, and the English officer, with his small party, were surrounded by a body of Highlanders, whose numbers put resistance out of question, and who were all well armed. "Stranger," resumed the guide, "I am that very John Gunn by whom you feared to be intercepted, and not without cause: for I came to the inn last night with the express purpose of learning your route, that I and my followers might ease you of your charge by the road. But I am incapable of betraying the trust you reposed in me, and having convinced you that you were in my power, I can only dismiss you unplundered and uninjured." He then gave the officer directions for his journey, and disappeared with his party, as suddenly as they had presented themselves. And reach'd that torrent's sounding shore, Sweeps through the plain, and ceaseless mines Hath led thee safe, through watch and ward, Arm'd, like thyself, with single brand: 3 And thou must keep thee with thy sword." XIII. The Saxon paused:-"I ne'er delay'd, 1 [MS.-" On Bochastle the martial lines."] The torrent which discharges itself from Loch Vennachar, the lowest and eastmost of the three lakes which form the scenery adjoining to the Trosachs, sweeps through a flat and extensive moor, called Bochastle. Upon a small eminence, called the Dun of Bochastle, and indeed on the plain itself, are some intrenchments, which have been thought Roman. There is adjacent to Callender, a sweet villa, the residence of Captain Fairfoul, entitled the Roman Camp. ["One of the most entire and beautiful remains of a Roman encampment now to be found in Scotland, is to be seen at Ardoch, near Greenloaning, about six miles to the eastward of Dunblane. This encampment is supposed, on good grounds, to have been constructed during the fourth campaign of Agricola in Britain; it is 1060 feet in length, and 900 in breadth; it could contain 26,000 men, according to the ordinary distribution of the Roman soldiers in their encampments. There appears to have been three or four ditches, strongly fortified, surrounding the camp. The four entries crossing the lines are still to be seen distinctly. The general's quarter rises above the level of the camp, but is not exactly in the centre. It is a regular square of twenty yards, enclosed with a stone wall, and containing the foundations of a house, 30 feet by 20. There is a subterraneous communication with a smaller encampment at a little distance, in which several Roman helmets, spears, etc., have been found. From this camp at Ardoch, the great Roman highway runs east to Bertha, about 14 miles distant, where the Roman army is believed to have passed over the Tay into Strathmore."-GRAHAM.] 3 [See Appendix, Note N.] |