Scott's Lady of the Lake
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Noise; bustle.
210
A powerful Lowland family (see Note [91], p. 52).
211
A powerful Lowland family (see Note [91], p. 52).
215
See Note [188], p. 87.
216
Stillness.
217
Silvan deities of Greek mythology, with head and body of a man and legs of a goat.
218
Stops; checks.
219
Hail, Mary! The beginning of the Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary.
220
“Down of eider,” i.e., the soft breast feathers of the eider duck.
221
Wild.
222
“Boune” itself means “ready” in Scotch: hence its use here is tautology.
223
“Inured to bide,” etc., i.e., accustomed to endure privations, the warrior may withstand the coming storm.
224
Command; order.
225
An old Highland mode of “reading the future.” “A person was wrapped up in the skin of a newly slain bullock, and deposited beside a waterfall, or at the bottom of a precipice, or in some other strange, wild, and unusual situation. In this situation he revolved in his mind the question proposed, and whatever was impressed upon him by his exalted imagination passed for the inspiration of the disembodied spirits who haunt the desolate recesses.” —Scott.
226
South of Loch Lomond.
227
Foot soldiers.
228
Without injury.
229
Cut up.
230
Emblazoned.
231
A sword.
232
Black band in the coat of arms of the Earls of Mar.
233
Loch Earn region.
234
Foundation.
235
“Red streamers,” etc., i.e., the aurora borealis.
236
Trusted.
237
An abbey or church. This abbey is not far from Stirling.
238
Presage.
239
Prophetic.
240
Deceive.
241
Song thrush.
242
Blackbird.
243
Open country.
244
A rich fabric.
245
In the dark.
246
Fur of the squirrel.
247
Coarse homespun cloth.
248
The clothing of a hunter.
249
Dwelt.
250
Kindred.
251
Knew.
252
A town in Fifeshire, thirteen miles northwest of Edinburgh, the residence of the early Scottish kings. Its Abbey of the Gray Friars was the royal burial place.
253
Boundary; stream.
254
Harm.
255
Foot soldier. Referring to the treacherous guide, Red Murdoch (see Stanza VII. p. 109).
256
Danger.
257
Artifice.
258
As if.
259
Take heed.
260
Garments.
261
Awry; confused.
262
A beautiful stream which joins the Forth near Stirling.
263
A beautiful stream which joins the Forth near Stirling.
264
“Pitching the bar” was a favorite athletic sport in Scotland.
265
Fatten.
266
Having antlers with ten branches.
267
“The hunters are Clan-Alpine’s men; the stag of ten is Fitz-James; the wounded doe is herself!” —Taylor.
268
Penalty.
269
Wet.
270
Avenge.
271
Troops.
272
Midsummer heat.
273
Loose from the leash.
274
See Stanza VI. p. 109.
275
Safeguard.
276
Eat hastily.
277
Pebbles.
278
Moist.
279
Declare yourself to be.
280
Duke of Albany (See Introduction, p. 12, and Stanza VI).
281
Imprisoned.
282
That period of Scottish history from the battle of Flodden to the majority of James V. was full of disorder and violence.
283
Robbed.
284
“Good faith,” i.e., in good faith.
285
Flashed.
286
Flow.
287
Katrine, Achray, and Vennachar.
288
The eagle, with wings displayed and a thunderbolt in one of its talons, was the ensign of the Roman legions. Ancient earthworks near Bochastle are thought to date back to the Roman occupation of Britain.
289
Without advantage.
290
Complete.
291
Strongholds.
292
In France.
293
Spur.
294
About a mile from the mouth of Lake Vennachar.
295
Spurred.
296
“Bride of Heaven,” i.e., a nun.
297
William, eighth earl of Douglas, was stabbed by James II. while in Stirling Castle, and under royal safe-conduct.
298
“Heading Hill,” where executions took place.
299
A church of the Franciscans or Gray Friars was built near the castle, in 1494, by James IV.
300
The morris dance was of Moorish origin, and brought from Spain to England, where it was combined with the national Mayday games. The dress of the dancers was adorned with party-colored ribbons, and little bells were attached to their anklets, armlets, or girdles. The dancers often personated various fictitious characters.
301
Every borough had its solemn play or festival, where archery, wrestling, hurling the bar, and other athletic exercises, were engaged in.
302
Strong.
303
A small Spanish horse.
304
Like Henry VIII. in England, and Louis XI. in France, James V. had checked the lawless nobles, and favored the commons or burghers.
305
In clothing of varied form and color.
306
A renowned English outlaw and robber, supposed to have lived at the end of the twelfth and beginning of the thirteenth century, and to have frequented Sherwood Forest. Characters representing him and his followers were often introduced into the popular games.
307
All six were followers of Robin Hood.
308
The usual prize to the best shooter was a silver arrow.
309
A simple, ordinary archer.
310
The throw made by Douglas.
311
A point from which the ladies of the court viewed the games.
312
Surrounded.
313
As you value.
314
Wrongly, mistakenly proud.
315
Disorder.
316
A village on the Clyde.
317
Knighthood was conferred by a slight blow with the flat of a sword on the back of the kneeling candidate.
318
Ward off.
319
Fickle.
320
Crest; livery.
321
Monarchs frequently applied this epithet to their noblemen, even when no blood relationship existed.
322
The Douglas who was stabbed by James II.
323
Wretched, unfortunate man.
324
Armor and other accouterments of war.
325
James V. was the first to increase the army furnished by the nobles and their vassals by the addition of a small number of mercenaries.
326
A native of Switzerland.
327
An inhabitant of Flanders, as Belgium was then called.
328
Holiday.
329
Poacher.
330
War.
331
Paul.
332
Severe.
333
A leathern beer jug.
334
Spanish wine.
335
“Upsees out,” i.e., in the Dutch fashion, or deeply.
336
Name for Satan.
337
Another name for Satan.
338
“Placket and pot,” i.e., women and wine.
339
A royal forest in Staffordshire.
340
Tullibardine was an old seat of the Murrays in Perthshire.
341
In the days of chivalry any oppressed “damosel” could obtain redress by applying to the court of the nearest king, where some knight became her champion.
342
Undertaking.
343
Prison.
344
Doctor.
345
Prow.
346
Stranded.
347
The Campbell clan. The Clan-Alpine, or the MacGregors, and the Campbells, were hereditary enemies.
348
The sea eagle or osprey.
349
Wearing defensive armor.
350
Order of battle.
351
Advance.
352
A circle of sportsmen surrounding a large space, which was gradually narrowed till the game it inclosed was brought within reach.
353
Flowing back.
354
A bonnet piece is an elegant gold coin, bearing on one side the head of James V. wearing a bonnet.
355
The region bordering Loch Tay.
356
Stained or painted to form pictures illustrating history.
357
Supported.
358
Fanciful; imaginary.
359
Presence chamber of the King.
360
James V. was accustomed to make personal investigation of the condition of his people. The name he generally assumed when in disguise was "Laird of Ballingeich."
361
Successful issue.
362
Returning to the hive.