VIII. "At Doune, o'er many a spear and glaive And mark'd the sable pale of Mar."- แ When move they on ?" "To-morrow's noon". Will see them here for battle boune." "Then shall it see a meeting stern! But, for the place-say, couldst thou learn Thou couldst not ?-well! Clan Alpine's men Than doubt or terror can pierce through Fast by the cave, and makes her moan; 3 Close moor'd by the lone islet's side. {MS.-"No, Allan, no His words so kind Were but pretexts my fears to blind. [MS.-"Itself disturb'd by slightest shock, He hears report of battle rife, He deems himself the cause of strife. For the kind youth,-for Roderick too— Am I to hie, and make me known? XI. "Nay, lovely Ellen!-dearest, nay! Be sure he's safe; and for the Græme,~- Dear lady, change that look of woe, ELLEN. "Well, be it as thou wilt; I hear, But cannot stop the bursting tear.” The Minstrel tried his simple art, XII. BALLAD.1 ALICE BRAND. Merry it is in the good greenwood, When the mavis and merle3 are singing, When the deer sweeps by, and the hounds are in cry, 66 "O Alice Brand, my native land Is lost for love of you; And we must hold by wood and wold, "O Alice, 'twas all for thy locks so bright, "Now must I teach to hew the beech, "And for vest of pall, thy fingers small, A cloak must shear from the slaughter'd deer, "O Richard! if my brother died, For darkling was the battle tried, XIII. BALLAD CONTINUED. .'Tis merry, 'tis merry, in good greenwood, On the beech's pride, and oak's brown side, Like wind in the porch of a ruin'd church, 66 Why sounds yon stroke on beech and oak, In a long dissertation upon the Fairy Superstitions, published in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, the most valuable part of which was supplied by my learned and indefatigable friend, Dr. John Leyden, most of the circumstances are collected which can throw light upon the popular belief which even yet prevails respecting them in Scotland. Dr. Grahame, author of an entertaining work upon the Scenery of the Perthshire Highlands, already frequently quoted, has recorded, with great accuracy, the peculiar tenets held by the Highlanders on this topic, in the vicinity of Loch Katrine. The learned author is inclined to deduce the whole mythology from the Druidical system,-an opinion to which there are many objections. i "The Daoine Shi', or Men of Peace of the Highlanders, though not absolutely malevolent, are believed to be a peevish, repining race of beings, who, possessing themselves but a scanty portion of happiness, are supposed to envy mankind their more complete and substantial, enjoyments. They are supposed to enjoy, in their subterraneous recesses, a sort of shadowy happiness, -a tinsel grandeur; which, however, they would willingly exchange for the more solid joys of mortality. 66 They are believed to inhabit certain round grassy eminences, where they celebrate their nocturnal festivities by the light of the moon. About a mile beyond the source of the Forth, above Lochcon, there is a place called Coirshi'an, or the Cove of the Men of Peace, which is still supposed to be a favourite place of their residence. In the neighbourhood, are to be seen many round conical eminences; particularly one, near the head of the lake, by the skirts of which many are still afraid to pass after sunset. It is believed, that if, on Hallow-eve, any person, alone, goes round one of these hills nine times, towards the left hand (sinistrorsum) a door shall open, by which he will be admitted into their subterraneous abodes. Many, it is said, of mortal race, have been entertained in their secret recesses. There they have been received into the most splendid apartments, and regaled with the most sumptuous banquets, and delicious wines. Their females surpass the daughters of men in beauty. The seemingly happy inhabitants pass their time in festivity, and in dancing to notes of the softest music. But unhappy is the mortal who joins in their joys, or ventures to partake of their dainties. By this indulgence, be forfeits for ever the society of men, and is bound irrevocably to the condition of Shi'ich, or Man of Peace. "A woman, as is reported in the Highland tradition, was conveyed, in days of yore, into the secret recesses of the Men of Peace. There she was recognised by one who had formerly been an ordinary mortal, but who had, by some fatality, become associated with the Shi'ichs. This acquaintance, still retaining some portion of human benevolence, warned her of her danger, and counselled her, as she valued her liberty, to abstain from eating and drinking with them, for a certain space of time. She complied with the counsel of her friend; and when the period assigned was elapsed, she found herself again upon earth, restored to the society of mortals. It is added, that when she examined the viands which had been presented to her, and which had appeared so tempting to the eye, they were found, now that the enchantment was removed, to consist only of the refuse of the earth."-P. 407-444. 2 [MS." Our fairy ringlet's screen."] |