On many a splendid garb she gazed,- The centre of the glittering ring. And Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King!1 XXVII. As wreath of snow, on mountain-breast, Slides from the rock that gave it rest, Poor Ellen glided from her stay, The generous prince, that suppliant look! : "Yes, Fair; the wandering poor Fitz-James The fealty of Scotland claims. 1 [See Appendix, Note Q.] 2 [MS. -" shrinking, quits her stay."] To him thy woes, thy wishes, bring; Ask nought for Douglas ;-yester even, We would not to the vulgar crowd Yield what they craved with clamour loud; I stanch'd thy father's death-feud stern, XXVIII. Then forth the noble Douglas sprung, The riddle 'tis my right to read, That brought this happy chance to speed.— 1 [MS.-" In lowly life's more happy way."] 2 William of Worcester, who wrote about the middle of the fifteenth century, calls Stirling Castle Snowdoun. Sir David Lindsay bestows the same epithet upon it in his complaint of the Papingo: "Adieu, fair Snawdoun, with thy towers high, Whilk doth againe thy royal rock rebound." Mr Chalmers, in his late excellent edition of Sir David Lindsay's works, has refuted the chimerical derivation of Snawdoun from snedding, or cutting. It was probably derived from the romantic legend which connected Stirling with King Arthur, to which the mention of the Round Table gives countenance. The ring within which justs were formerly practised, in the castle park, is still called the Round Table. Snawdoun is the official title of one of the Scottish heralds, whose epithets seem in all countries to have been fantastically adopted from ancient history or romance. It appears (see Appendix Note Q) that the real name by which James was actually distinguished in his private excursions, was the Goodman of Ballenguich: derived from a steep pass leading up to the Castle of Stirling, so called. But the epithet 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 still current. Thus watch I o'er insulted laws, Thus learn to right the injured cause."- -"Ah, little trait'ress! none must know Pledge of my faith, Fitz-James's ring- XXIX. Full well the conscious maiden guess'd 1 [MS.-"Thy sovereign back Thy sovereign's steps } to Benvenue."] 2 [MS." Pledge of Fitz-James's faith, the ring."] More deep she deem'd the Monarch's ire Rebellious broadsword boldly drew; She craved the grace of Roderick Dhu.— I know his heart, I know his hand, Have shared his cheer, and proved his brand:-- To bid Clan-Alpine's Chieftain live!— ["Malcolm Græme has too insignificant a part assigned him considering the favour in which he is held both by Ellen and the author; and in bringing out the shaded and imperfect character of Roderick Dhu, as a contrast to the purer virtue of his rival, Mr Scott seems to have fallen into the common error of making him more interesting than him whose virtues he was intended to set off, and converted the villain of the piece in some measure into its hero. A modern poet, however, may perhaps be pardoned for an error, of which Milton himself is thought not to have kept clear, and for which there seems so natural a cause in the difference between poetical and amiable characters."JEFFREY.] |