the lady of the lake-第28节
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bout 1720； who certainly cannot be deemed a favorable witness； gives the following account of the office； and of a bard； whom he heard exercise his talent of recitation：'The bard is killed in the genealogy of all the Highland families； sometimes preceptor to the young laird； celebrates in Irish verse the original of the tribe； the famous warlike actions of the successive heads； and sings his own lyricks as an opiate to the chief； when indisposed for sleep； but poets are not equally esteemed and honored in all countries。 I happened to be a witness of the dishonour done to the muse； at the house of one of the chiefs； where two of these bards were set at a good distance； at the lower end of a long table； with a parcel of Highlanders of no extraordinary appearance； over a cup of ale。 Poor inspiration！ They were not asked to drink a glass of wine at our table； though the whole company consisted only of the great man； one of his near relations； and myself。 After some little time； the chief ordered one of them to sing me a Highland song。 The bard readily obeyed； and with a hoarse voice； and in a tune of few various notes； began； as I was told； one of his own lyricks； and when he had proceeded to the fourth of fifth stanza； I perceived； by the names of several persons； glens； and mountains； which I had known or heard of before； that it was an account of some clan battle。 But in his going on； the chief （who piques himself upon his school…learning） at some particular passage； bid him cease； and cryed out； 〃There's nothing like that in Virgil or Homer。〃 I bowed； and told him I believed so。 This you may believe was very edifying and delightful'〃 （Scott）。
15。 Than men； etc。 〃It is evident that the old bard； with his second…sight； has a glimmering notion who the stranger is。 He speaks below ＇311＇ of 'courtly spy；' and James's speech had betrayed a knowledge of the Douglas〃 （Taylor）。
20。 Battled。 The reading of the 1st ed。 and that of 1821； 〃battle〃 in most others。 Cf。 i。 626 above。
22。 Where beauty； etc。 The MS。 has 〃At tourneys where the brave resort。〃 The reference is to the tournaments； 〃Where；〃 as Milton says （L'Allegro； 119）；
〃throngs of knights and barons bold。 In weeds of peace； high triumphs hold； With store of ladies； whose bright eyes Rain influence； and judge the prize Of wit or arms； while both contend To win her grace whom all commend。〃
Cf。 87 below。
26。 Love's。 The reading of the 1st ed。 and that of 1821； most eds。 have 〃love。〃
29。 Plaided。 The plaid was properly the dress of a Highlander； though it was worn also in the Lowlands。
51。 The Harper on the islet beach。 〃This picture is touched with the hand of the true poet〃 （Jeffrey）。
56。 As from。 As if from。 Cf。 64 and 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 the measure； see on i。 73 above。
69。 His fleet。 That is； of ducks。 Cf。 i。 239 above。
80。 Would scorn。 Who would scorn。 See on i。 528 above。
84。 Turned him。 See on i。 142 above； and cf。 106 below。
86。 After。 Afterwards； as in Shakespeare； Temp。 ii。 2。 10： 〃And after bite me；〃 etc。 The word is not now used adverbially of time； though we may say 〃he followed after；〃 etc。 The 1st ed。 reads 〃that knight。〃
94。 Parts。 Departs； as often in poetry and earlier English。 Cf。 Goldsmith； D。 V。 171： 〃Beside the bed where parting life was laid；〃 Gray； Elegy； 1： 〃the knell of parting day；〃 etc。 On the other hand； depart was used in the sense of part。 In the Marriage Service 〃till death us do part〃 is a corruption of 〃till death us depart。〃 Wiclif's Bible； in Matt。 xix。 6； has 〃therfor a man departe not that thing that God hath ioyned。〃
103。 Another step； etc。 The MS。 has 〃The loveliest Lowland fair to spy；〃 and the 1st ed。 reads 〃The step of parting fair to spy。〃
109。 The Graeme。 Scott has the following note here： 〃The ancient and powerful family of Graham （which； for metrical reasons； is here smelled after the Scottish pronunciation） held extensive possessions in the counties of Dumbarton and Stirling。 Few families can boast of more historical renown； having claim to three of the most remarkable characters in the Scottish annals。 Sir John the Graeme； the faithful and undaunted partaker of the labors and patriotic warfare of Wallace； fell in the unfortunate field of Falkirk； in 1298。 The celebrated Marquis of Montrose； in whom De Retz saw realized his abstract idea of the heroes of antiquity； was the second of these worthies。 And； not withstanding the severity of his temper； and the rigor with which he executed the oppressive mandates of the princes whom he served； I do not hesitate to name as the third； John Graeme； of Claverhouse； Viscount of Dundee； whose heroic death； in the arms of victory； may be allowed to cancel the memory of his cruelty to the non…conformists； during the reigns of Charles II。 and James II。〃
112。 Bower。 The word meant a chamber （see on i。 217 above）； and was often used of the ladies' apartments in a house。 In hall and bower = among men and women。 The words are often thus associated。 Cf。 Spenser； Astrophel； 28： 〃Merily masking both in bowre and hall；〃 etc。
115。 Arose。 The 1st ed。 misprints 〃Across；〃 not noted in the Errata。
126。 And the proud march。 See on i。 73 above。
131。 Saint Modan。 A Scotch abbot of the 7th century。 Scott says here： 〃I am not prepared to show that Saint Modan was a performer on the harp。 It was； however； no unsaintly accomplishment； for Saint Dunstan certainly did play upon that instrument； which retaining； as was natural； a portion of the sanctity attached to its master's character； announced future events by its spontaneous sound。 'But labouring once in these mechanic arts for a devout matrone that had sett him on work； his violl； that hung by him on the wall； of its own accord； without anie man's helpe； distinctly sounded this anthime： Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti； et quia pro eius amore sanguinem suum fuderunt； ideo cum Christo gaudent aeternum。 Whereat all the companie being much astonished； turned their eyes from beholding him working； to looke on that strange accident。 。。。 Not long after； manie of the court that hitherunto had born a kind of fayned friendship towards him； began now greatly to envie at his progresse and rising in goodness； using manie crooked； backbiting meanes to diffame his vertues with the black markes of hypocrisie。 And the better to authorise their calumnie； they brought in this that happened in the violl； affirming it to have been done by art magick。 What more？ this wicked rumour encreased； dayly； till the king and others of the nobilitie taking hould thereof； Dunstan grew odious in their sight。 Therefore he resolued to leaue the court； and goe to Elphegus； surnamed the Bauld； then bishop of Winchester； who was his cozen。 Which his enemies understanding； they layd wayte for him in the way； and hauing throwne him off his horse； beate him； and dragged him in the durt in the most miserable manner； meaning to have slaine him； had not a companie of mastiue dogges； that came unlookt uppon them； defended and redeemed him from their crueltie。 When with sorrow he was ashamed to see dogges more humane than they。 And giuing thankes to Almightie God； he sensibly againe perceaued that the tunes of his violl had giuen him a warning of future accidents' （Flower of the Lives of the most renowned Sainets of England； Scotland； and Ireland； by the R。 Father Hierome Porter。 Doway； 1632 4to。 tome i。 p。 438）。
〃The same supernatural circumstance is alluded to by the anonymous author of Grim； the Collier of Croydon：
'…＇Dunstant's harp sounds on the wall。＇ 'Forrest。 Hark； hark； my lord； the holy abbot's harp Sounds by itself so hanging on the wall！ 'Dunstan。 Unhallow'd man； that scorn'st the sacred rede； Hark； how the testimony of my truth Sounds heavenly music with an angel's hand； To testify Dunstan's integrity； And prove thy active boast of no effect。'〃
141。 Bothwell's bannered hall。 The picturesque ruins of Bothwell Castle stand on the banks of the Clyde； about nine miles above Glasgow。 Some parts of the walls are 14 feet thick； and 60 feet in height。 They are covered with ivy； wild roses； and wall… flowers。
〃The tufted grass lines Bothwell's ancient hall； The fox peeps cautious from the creviced wall； Where once proud Murray； Clydesdale's ancient lord； A mimic sovereign； held the festal board。〃
142。 Ere Douglases； to ruin driven。 Scott says： 〃The downfall of the Douglases of the house of Angus； during the reign of James V。； is the event alluded to in the text。 The Earl of Angus； it will be remembered； had married the queen dowager； and availed himself of the right which he thus acquired； as well as of his extensive power； to retain the king in a sort of tutelage； which approached very near to captivity。 Several open attempts were made to rescue James from this thraldom； with which he was well known t
