UNIV. OF SCOTT IN 1814. "Gently, lo! the Warrior kneels, Safe and free from magic power, Blushing like the rose's flower Opening to the day; And round the Champion's brows were bound The crown that Druidess had wound, Of the green laurel-bay. And this was what remain'd of all The wealth of each enchanted hall, The Garland and the Dame: But where should Warrior seek the meed, Except from LOVE and FAME !" ΙΟΙ And thus, nobly and joyfully, ended "The Bridal of Triermain." XII. SCOTT IN 1814. TH HE year 1814 was a memorable year in the life of Scott. Already the successes of a splendid rival poet, Byron, had caused him to think of other styles of works than those in verse, and had thus partially induced the composition of perhaps the most renowned novel ever published, "Waverley," which appeared July 7th of this year. The topography of this novel, together with that of the brilliant series named from it, will be described after sketches of the last two considerable poems produced by Scott,-"The Lord of the Isles," begun at Abbotsford, in the autumn, and finished at Edinburgh, December 16 (and published January 18, 1815); and "Harold the Dauntless" (published TO VINU ABMBORLIAD 102 SCOTT IN 1814. in 1817). Other, and less imaginative literary works, were, as usual, all the while being prepared and made public by him. Eminent among these is his "Life and Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D.," in 19 vols. 8vo; one of the remarkable monuments of his editorial labors. On the 29th of July, 1814, Scott sailed from Leith on board the yacht of the Commissioners of the Northern Lights (the beacons, and not the Boreal Aurora). In this vessel he made a voyage to Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides, and a part of the Irish Coast, ―a voyage lasting about six weeks, and second only in celebrity of its sort to that of Dr. Johnson to the Western Islands. A portion of Scott's observations then made appeared seven years afterward in "The Pirate" (chapter xxv.), a portion in his characteristically graphic and beautiful descriptions in the "Lord of the Isles." Visits to places associated with this latter work-in order of composition his next poem - will lead among coast, island, lake, and field scenery of extraordinary interest, that will be sketched in the following chapter. Lockhart (in chapter xxxiv. of "The Life") impressively tells the story of Scott's literary achievements during 1814, - almost the whole of the "Life of Swift," "Waverley," the "Lord of the Isles," two essays (on Chivalry and the Drama) to the " Encyclopædia Supplement," an annotated "limited" reprint of "The Letting of Hvmors Blood In The Head-Vaine," etc., by S. Rowlands, 1611 (small 4to, now scarce), and the "inimitable Memorie of the Somervilles," "with introduction and notes; one of the most curious pieces of family history ever produced to the world, on which he labored with more than usual zeal and diligence, from his warm affection for the noble representative of its author." Besides performing much professional duty, he maintained an extraordinarily large private correspondence, and "superintended from day to day, except during his Hebridean voyage, the still perplexed concerns of the Ballantynes (the publishers), with a watchful assiduity that might have done credit to the most diligent of tradesmen." And after a year thus occupied, Scott went to Abbotsford at Christmas, "to refresh the machine," as he wrote; and the "refreshment" was the composition, within about six weeks, of that long and delightful novel, "Guy Mannering," with its complicated plot ! XIII. "THE LORD OF THE ISLES." A PORTION of this work, as has been remarked, was written at Abbotsford, in 1814, we are informed in the presence of Scott's family; and a portion, indeed, “in that of casual visitors, also ; the original cottage which he then occupied not affording him any means of retirement. Neither conversation nor music seemed to disturb him." Quite correctly, he said: "I could hardly have chosen a subject more popular in Scotland, than any thing connected with the Bruce's history, unless I had attempted that of Wallace." The former hero is the hero of this poem, - a work containing noble passages, yet, as a whole, rivalled by his more dazzling earlier poems. Its scene "lies, at first, in the Castle of Artornish, on the coast of Argyleshire; and, afterwards, in the Islands of Skye and Arran, and upon the coast of Ayrshire. Finally, it is laid near Stirling. The story opens in the spring of the year 1307, when Bruce, who had been driven out of Scotland by the English, and the Barons who adhered to that foreign interest, returned from the Island of Rachrin on the coast of Ireland, again to assert his claims to the Scottish crown. Many of the personages and incidents introduced are of historical celebrity." The poem begins spiritedly: "Wake, Maid of Lorn!' the Minstrels sung. Thy rugged halls, Artornish! rung, And the dark seas, thy towers that lave, As 'mid the tuneful choir to keep The diapason of the Deep." Artornish, like most of the other scenes of this poem, is upon the western shore of Scotland, and can be readily and agreeably reached by travellers during summer. Along no other equal portion of the coasts of the British Isles (or those of eastern America) can so interesting sea-scenery be found-in good weather, that occasionally exists, even in Scotland. Travellers along this western shore, almost without exception, sometime find themselves at Oban, the focal point to and from which routes thereabouts radiate. It is a notable station for steamers. From it, two or three times each week, by excellent vessels there is the readiest access either to Staffa and Iona, or to the Sounds of Mull and Sleat, and the Isle of Skye or the Hebrides. The course towards all these places first crosses Loch Linnhe, and successively passes, to the north, a white light-house marking the southern end of Lismore Island, a low, rocky point; and, farther on, to the southward, on green and not highly rising ground of Mull, Duart Castle, small and gray, and quite a pretty object in the landscape. The Sound of Mull is then entered. Its breadth is favorable to picturesqueness of effect, -wide enough to give that of space, and not too wide to separate the shores so far as to dwarf the features of either. For many miles onward lies, to the southward or westward, the large, irregular island, Mull, perhaps generally more varied, more bold, and more pleasing in its hill forms and aspects than the opposite coasts, — those of Morvern, the mainland, that are kept on the right during the whole voyage to Skye. Yet these latter coasts present an interesting variety of surfaces; at times, very long, extensive, gradual slopes attaining an elevated central point. These slopes are mostly bare and grassy, and relieved here and there, on the lower portions only, by dark, fresh, green trees. Not far westward, and prominent upon the northern shore, may be seen Artornish Castle, situated on a low, basaltic promontory, extending rather a long distance into the Sound from steep hill-slopes that, not far back and away from it, are broken by high cliffs rising from much steeper slopes of débris. The Castle is darkgray, and very ruinous. It is small now, consisting chiefly of a broken tower, around which appear slighter traces of outworks. Few travellers other than those with a wealth of leisure stop in this vicinity. The country is wild, lonely, weird-looking, and undoubtedly could interest those who fancy such a region. Not a few stories are associated with it; indeed, a portion of it was pronounced by Professor Wilson "an abyss of poetry." Inconsiderable as Artornish may seem now, at the time of the action of the poem it was an important place. Not only chief seat of the Lords of the Isles, it was a meeting-place of their feudal parliaments, and was the scene of a league with Edward I. of England against the crown of Scotland. These celebrated Lords, of Scandinavian descent, held sway through all this region from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries; and indeed, in the Clan Macdonald, they were represented among the old Highland powers until these were finally broken up. On this clan, Bruce conferred the post of honor in battle," the right." As has been told, it was during this period of greatness that this story opens; when minstrels are bidding Edith, the proud and beautiful maid of Lorn, to rise on the auspicious morning when she should "Impledge her spousal faith to wed The young lady did not appear desirous of forming this seemingly quite eligible alliance. Nevertheless, Lord Ronald, with a stately fleet and brilliant company arrived at the castle, borne thither "by the willing breeze." Almost simultaneously, but coming in an opposite direction, a small, lonely, sea-beaten bark, with difficulty made its way also to the castle. Possibly Sir Walter's descriptions of this castle exhibit poetic license: they certainly make it a large and imposing edifice compared with what it is now. Yet one can imagine it in its pride what he has imagined it, and imagine scenes that he has represented in it: at first, how from the comparatively insignificant vessel, little heeded by the Island Lord, "two bold brethren leapt to land;" how the younger, a knight, bore a maiden "half lifeless up the rock," and, through the portcullis arch, to the castle guard-room; how this younger veiled in a plaid the maiden whom he bore his sister—to hide her from the "vulgar crowd" of gazing vassals and servants; and how they were at length duly ushered to the Baron's hall, "Where feasted fair and free, "With beakers' clang, with harpers' lay, Notwithstanding this festivity, Edith was sorely disquieted, and Ronald was flushed with "Emotions such as draw their birth From deeper source than festal mirth," |