brother has but the soul of a man in him, or if there be a pair of jougs at Scalloway." "The iron was never forged on stithy that would hauld her," said the old maidservant. "She comes-she comesGod's sake, speak her fair and canny, or we will have a ravelled hasp on the yarn-windles." As she spoke, a woman, tall enough almost to touch the top of the door with her cap, stepped into the room, signing the cross as she entered, and pronouncing, with a solemn voice," The blessing of God, and Saint Ronald, on the open door, and their braid malison and mine, upon close-handed churis !" "And wha are ye, that are sae bauld wi' your blessing and banning in other folks' houses? What kind of country is "this, that folks cannot sit quiet for an hour, and serve heaven, and keep their bit gear thegither, without gangrel men and women coming thigging and sorn ful-head, something is yet left that resembles power of defence.If the men of Thule have ceased to be champions, and to spread the banquet for the raven, the women have not forgotten the arts that lifted them of yore into queens and prophetesses." The picture drawn of this Pythoness throughout is the most masterly and powerful to be found in the whole compass of fictitious composition. Her real name was Ulla Troil. She was cousin to the Udaler had been unfortunate in love -had born a son without the sanction of the priesthood-had, by an accident, trivial in itself, been the unhappy means of suffocating her aged father to death-had been separated from her child, whose fate she had never learned ;-and possessing at once a powerful imagi ing, ane after anither, like a string of nation, and a mind of great vigour wild-geese ?" This speech, the understanding reader will easily saddle on Mistress Baby, and what effects it might have produced on the last stranger, can only be matter of conjecture; for the old servant and Mordaunt applied themselves at once to the party addressed, in order to deprecate her resentment; the former speaking to her some words of Norse, in a tone of inter cession, and Mordaunt saying in English, "They are strangers, Norna, and know not your name or qualities; they are unacquainted, too, with the ways of this country; and, therefore, we must hold them excused for their lack of hospi tality." "I lack no hospitality, young man,” said Triptolemus, "miseris succurrere disco-the goose that was destined to roost in the chimney till Michaelmas, is boiling in the pot for you; but if we had twenty geese, I see we are like to find mouths to eat them, every feather-this must be amended." "What must be amended, sordid slave ?" said the stranger Norna, turning at once upon him, with an emphasis that made him start-"What must be amend ed? Bring hither, if thou wilt, thy newfangled coulters, spades, and harrows, alter the implements of our fathers, from the plough-share to the mouse-trap; but know thou art in the land that was won of old by the flaxen-haired Kempions of the North, and leave us their hospitality at least, to shew we come of what was once noble and generous. I say to you, beware-while Norna looks forth at the measureless waters, from the crest of Fit and originality, she had not fallen a vietim to downright insanity, but had passed into that state of hallucination, which, without disturbing greatly the exercise of reason, about the common affairs of life, pourtrays, to the mind's eye, in veritable forms, the wild and extravagant creations of the fancy, or the no less improbable and impalpable dreams of superstition. To a mind in this temperament, the dark and gloomy superstitions of Odin, and of the Runic bards, were singularly congenial; were associated with pride of ancestry, and love for the customs and faith of her vagabond forefathers; and led her to design herself the Reimkennar, and "the Queen of the Elements." Under this delusion, she took up her residence in a small tower, on the lofty cape called Fitful-head, whence she derived her nom de guerre-NORNA OF THE FITFUL-HEAD. The influence which this prophetic sybil exerts, in effecting the denouement of the piece, will be afterwards apparent.-To proceed: Young Mertoun scon leaves the inhospitable mansion-returns homeand, for a wonder, holds a regular conversation with his misanthropical father, the drift of which, on the part of old Sulky, appears to be to extract his son's scntiments towards the daughters of the Udalier, and to learn to which of the two he would be inclined to throw the matrimonial apple. The youth, very naturally, tries to parry the pointed interrogatories of his cynical father, who, in return, edifies the youth with a slice of his own creed, and a sample of his own philanthropy. The cagerness of conversation had led them from the house to the verge of a wild promontory, which overlooked the Roost of Sumburgh, in which the practised eye of old Mertoun soon discovered a vessel drifting with wind and tide on Sumburgh Head. After a little while, she went to pieces on the rock, as he had foreseen; and it was not long ere Mordaunt "conceived he saw a man floating on a plank, or watercask, which, drifting away from the main current, seemned about to go a-shore on a small spot of sand, where the water was shallow, and the waves broke more smoothly. To see the danger, and to exclaim-" He lives, and may yet be saved!" was the first impulse of the fearless Mordaunt.The next was, after one rapid glance at the front of the cliff, to precipitate himself-such seemed the rapidity of his movement-from the verge, and to commence, by means of slight fissures, projections, and crevices in the rock, a descent, which, to a spectator, appeared little else than an act of absolute insanity." Notwithstanding the perils of the descent, he reached the beach in safety, and succeeded, with the aid of Norma of the Fitful-head, who unexpectedly appears at the scene of havock, in rescuing a human being from a watery grave. The shipwrecked sailor, whose life young Mertoun had so miraculously saved, was Clement Cleveland, captain of a piratical vessel from the Spanish Main, laden with valuable merchandise, the buccaneers having sought that distant region, to dispose of their spoil, re-fit, and prepare for new enterprises. The character of this Pirate is boldly delineated, and, as drawn in the volumes before us, strongly reminds us of the story of Caesar and the Pirates. With mental and intellectual qualities of the highest order, be, whom circumstances had rendered a buccaneer, would in others have been a hero and a conqueror. Bold, decided, shrewd, prudent, discriminating; rapid in perception, fearless VOL. IX. in action; not quite a devil in a human shape, like his associates, but possessed both of honour and generosity in no mean degree; accessible to the truest and most ardent love, yet, at the same time, suspicious, reckless, and vindictive: in this assemblage of mental and moral qualities, we certainly discover the elements of what is great and heroic, had circumstances-which so often determine the characters and fate of men-been propitious to their full expansion and developement. Bryce Snailsfoot, and others of the same honest character, had been so laudably busy in appropriating what "winds and waves had spared' of the wreck of his vessel, that Cleveland was advised to apply for redress to our friend the Udaller, in his capacity of Fowde; which advice he adopted, and soon, by his bold yet graceful and manly frankness of manners, insinuated himself into the good graces of the Zetlander, and still more deeply into those of his elder daughter, the romantic and imaginative Minna. Meanwhile Fame, who delights to busy herself when mischief is in the wind, had conveyed to the ears of Mordaunt, that the stranger had effected a lodgement in the heart of her whom he did not imagine he had loved, till informed by the pangs of jealousy. When in this state, the jagger arrived, to confirm his worst suspicions and fears. This artful rogue, who had had the audacity to sell Cleveland some of his own wares, for which he paid with the reckless generosity of a seaman, discovering something like an attachment between the "PIRATE" and Minna Troil, thought he would best advance his own interest, with his too-liberal customer, by conveying to the ears of the Udaller and his daughters, that' Mordaunt Mertoun had publicly boasted of having his choice of the young ladies of Burgh Westra, and that he only waited to ascertain to which of the two the larger dowry should be assigned. To the pride of the Fowde, nothing could be more mortifying than such an insinuation, derogatory at once to his own honour and to that of his daughters, whom he loved with an excess of paternal fondness. The device of the crafty jagger was therefore completely 3 x successful in accomplishing two objects, viz. destroying the favour of the Udaller for young Mertoun, and encreasing, in a proportionate degree, that of Cleveland, both with the father and the daughters, who had not been left in ignorance of the pretended boast of their former companion, implying, to woman's feelings, the only outrage she is sure never to forgive. This will explain why Mor daunt had remained a fortnight at home, without receiving any invitation to Burgh Westra. During this period of suspense and anxiety, his mind had been racked with the most tormenting suspicions. He was Iweary of conjectures," generally, however, ascribing the altered conduct of the Fowde and his daughters to the artifices of the stranger Cleveland, whom he had so unluckily reseued from becoming food for fishes in the Roost of Sumburgh. At this period, the meddling pedlar makes his appearance, and with a villainy, not unusual in persons of his calling, artfully fans the flames of hatred and jealousy, which had previously been burning in Mertoun's breast, and intimates, by oblique hints, the impression which Cleve land had made on the Udaller and his daughters. After many a hard struggle between pride, love, and a desire to procure some ecclaircissement as to the cause of his disgrace, Mordaunt, uninvited though he was, determined to present himself as one of the guests at the ensuing festival of St John, to be celebrated at Burgh Westra. He accordingly set out, and, in his way, called at the inhospitable door of Factor Yellowley, whom, with his sister, Mrs Baby, he found preparing to set out for Burgh Westra, having received an invitation from the Udaller himself. Mordaunt agreed to accompany the factor, and his amiable sister. The perils that befal a bad rider, mounted on a cross-grained Zetland pony, are certainly manifold, as Factor Yellowley experienced to his cost, in his progress to Burgh Westra, having got a complete somerset over the ears of one of these provoking, and selfwilled quadrupeds. We cannot stay to say a word of the festivities of Burgh Westra. The reader who recollects the inimitable description of the Revels at Kenilworth will know what to expect, and will not be disappointed. Suffice it to say, that Norna of the Fitful-head, who, for a reason that will appear in the sequel, took a particular interest in young Mertoun, met the youth by the way-before he reached the domicile of Factor Yellowley-warned him of the altered feelings of his friends, the Troils,-ascribed the whole to the machinations of Cleveland-but urged Mertoun to proceed, and, by all means, to avoid an open rupture with his supposed antagonist. He proceeded, according→ ly, was very coolly received by Magnus and his daughters, especially the elder, and cursed his stars that he had stirred from home, to meet with such an unaccountably cold and unfriendly reception. It is at the festivities of Burgh Westra that the minstrel, Claud Halcro, first comes on the stage-a character that could only have been drawn by the author of the Lay of the Last Minstrel. This son of song had once been introduced to Dryden, at the coffee-house he frequented, called, from that circumstance, the Wit's Coffee-house, and ever after, used to clench every ditty, every as sertion, every opinion, by the infallible authority of" GLORIOUS JOHN.” Gay, light-hearted, jovial, loquacious; addicted neither to thin potations nor brief stories; cheerful, honest, kind-hearted, vain, and enthusiastic; this "old man" is the animating principle of every scene in which he mingles, and where he is ever the foremost with his story, his ballad, his fiddle, or his song. He is, in short, a character of a century old, (now-a-days there are no characters!)" and we should not be surprised, were this creation of the poet's fancy to afford small pleasure to persons (and they are not a few) who have little or no sympathy with the olden time. Towards the conclusion of the festival, Brenda Troil, who still cherish ed regard for Mordaunt, contrived to disclose to him the secret, that her sister's affections were irrecoverably bestowed on the stranger, and without, in the least meaning to do so, to discover the state of her The Pirate, &c. 1821.] own. This only tended to exasperate the previous feud between MorMeanwhile daunt and Cleveland. the latter had got intelligence that The disappearance of Mordaunt a- which apparently penetrates his very Before setting out for Kirkwall, The reader will remember the cir cumstances in which Cleveland had left Burgh Westra, and the nocturnal rencounter which had taken place, in consequence of Mordaunt Merton having inopportunely introduced himself on the serenading, but somewhat rough and fiery, lover of Minna Troil. The Pirate next appears on the scene, pacing slow, discontented, and melancholy, the "massive and venerable ruined hall of the Earl's palace at Kirkwall, a pile, which Norwegian devotion dedicated to Saint Magnus the mártyr." Here his solitary promenade is soon interrupted by the apparition of one of his former comrades, who cherished for him such a rude and boisterous sort of regard, as is comgentlemen Rovers.”mon among The dialogue between the two Pirates is highly characteristic, and introduces to the reader's acquaintance a character-Bunce-who figures conspicuously in the remaining scenes of this singular drama. 66 The stranger adjusted his own hat, nodded in return, took snuff, with the air of a petit maitre, from a richly-chased gold box, offered it to Cleveland as he paced, and being repulsed rather coldly, replaced the box in his pocket, folded his arms in his turn, and stood looking with fixed attention on his motions whose so litude he had interrupted. At length Cleveland stopped short, as if impatient of being longer the subject of his observation, and said abruptly, "Why can I not be left alone for half an hour? and what the devil is it that you want ?" 66 "I am glad you spoke first," answered the stranger, carelessly; "I was determined to know whether you were Clement Cleveland, or Clement's ghost, and they say ghosts never take the first word, so I set it down for yourself in life and limb; and here is a fine old hurly-house you have found out for an owl to hide himself in at mid-day, or a ghost to revisit the pale glimpses of the moon, as the divine Shakespeare says." "Well, well," answered Cleveland abruptly, your jest is made, and now let us have your earnest." "In earnest, then, Captain Cleveland," replied his companion, "I think you know me for your friend." "I am content to suppose so," replied Cleveland. "It is more than supposition,” replied the young man ; "I have proved itproved it both here and elsewhere." "Well, well," answered Cleveland, "I admit you have been always a friendly fellow-and what then?" "Well, well-and what then," replied the other; "this is but a brief way of thanking folks. Look you, Captain, here is Benson, Barlowe, Dick Fletcher, and a few others of us, who wished you well, have kept your old comrade Captain Goffe in these seas upon the look-out for you, when he, and Hawkins, and the greater part of the ship's company, would fain have been down on the Spanish Main, and at the old trade." "And I wish to God that you had all gone about your business," said Cleveland, "and left me to my fate." "Which would have been to be informed against and hanged, Captain, the first time that any of these Dutch or English rascals, whom you have lightened of their cargoes, came to set their eyes upon you, and no place more likely to meet with sea-faring men than in these Islands. And to steer you from such a risk, we have been wasting our precious time here, till folks are grown very peery; and when we have no more goods or mo ney to spend amongst them, the fellows will be for grabbing the ship." 66 Well, then, why do you not sail off without me? There has been fair partition, and all have had their share-let all do as they like. I have lost my ship, and having been once a Captain, I will not go to sea under command of Goffe or any other man. Besides, you know well enough that both Hawkins and he bear me ill-will for keeping them from sinking the Spanish brig, with the poor devils of negroes on board." "Why, what the foul fiend is the matter with thee?" said his companion? "Are you Clement Cleveland, our own old true-hearted Clem of the Cleugh, and do you talk of being afraid of Hawkins and Goffe, and a score of such fellows, when you have myself, and Barlow, and Dick Fletcher at your back? When was it we deserted you, either in council or in fight, that you should be afraid of our flinching now? And as for serving under Goffe, I hope it is no new thing for gentlemen of fortune, who are going on the account, to change a Captain now and then. Let us alone for that-Captain you shall be; for death rock me asleep if I serve under that fellow Goffe, who is as very a blood-hound as ever sucked a bitch-no, no, I thank youmy Captain must have a little of the gentleman about him, howsoever. Besides, you know, it was you who first dipped my hands in the dirty water, and turned me from a stroller by land, to a rover by sea." "Alas, poor Bunce !" said Cleveland, 66 you owe me little thanks for that service." "That is as you take it," replied Bunce; "for my part, I see no harm in levying contributions on the public either one way or tother. But I wish you would forget that name of Bunce, and call me Altamont, as I have often desired you to do. I hope a gentleman of the roving trade has as good a right to have an alias as a stroller, and I never stepped on board but what I was Altamont at the least." "Well, then, Jack Altamont," replied Cleveland, "since Altamont is the word "Yes, but, Captain, Jack is not the word, though Altamont be so-Jack Altamont-why, 'tis a velvet coat with paper lace-let it be Frederick, Captain; Frederick Altamont is all of a-piece." "Frederick be it then, with all my heart," said Cleveland, "and pray tell me which of your names will sound best at the head of the last speech, confession, and dying words of John Bunce, alias |
