The Lady of the Lake Part 23

692. =There are who have.= How does this differ from the prose idiom?

801. =pity 'twere such cheek should feel the midnight air.= Was there anything in the Highland character and training which would make these words seem particularly cutting? Notice how the insult is deepened later by the a.s.sumption on Rhoderick Dhu's part that Malcolm is capable of treachery toward Douglas and the Clan of Alpine.

809. =henchman.= This word is said to have been originally "haunch-man"

because it was the duty of this retainer to stand beside his master's chair (at his haunches as it were) at the feast, in readiness to do his bidding or to defend him if attacked.

831. =Fiery Cross.= The signal for the gathering of the clan to war. The preparation and carrying abroad of this cross is described in the next canto.

CANTO THIRD

39. =cushat dove.= Better known as the ringdove.

63. =shivers.= "Slivers" is the more common word, but the verb "to shiver," meaning to break in pieces, keeps the original meaning.

74. =Benharrow.= This mountain is near the north end of Loch Lomond.

87. =strath.= A wide open valley, distinguished from a glen, which is narrow.

104. =fieldfare.= A species of thrush.

116. =virgin snood.= See note to I, 363.

154. =River Demon.= Concerning this creature Scott gives the current observation: "The River Demon, or River-horse, is an evil spirit, delighting to forebode and witness calamity. He frequents most Highland lakes and rivers; and one of his most memorable exploits was performed upon the banks of Loch Vennachar: it consisted in the destruction of a bridal party with all its attendants."

156. =noontide hag.= A gigantic emaciated female figure which, contrary to the general rule of ghostly creatures, appeared in the full blaze of noon.

168. =Ben-Shie's boding scream.= The ben-shie or banshee was a tutelar spirit, supposed to forebode by midnight howlings the death of a member of a family to which it was attached. The superst.i.tion is still prevalent in Ireland.

191. =Inch-Cailliach.= An island in Loch Lomond, used as a place of burial for several neighboring clans, of whom the descendants of King Alpine were the chief. The name means "Isle of Nuns," or "Isle of Old Women."

Stanza IX. Notice the change in the rime system which marks the break from flowing narrative to solemn dramatic speech, and is continued through the stanza to increase the effect of solemnity.

253. =Coir-Uriskin, thy goblin cave.= This cave and the pa.s.s of Beala-nam-bo were on the slopes of Ben Venue, a mountain near Loch Katrine. See notes to 622 and 664.

286. =Lanrick mead.= This meadow is still pointed out to the traveler on the road from Loch Vennachar to the Trossachs.

300. =dun deer's hide.= It was their shoes made of untanned deer's hide, with the hair outwards, which gave the Highlander's their nickname, "Red-shanks."

349. =Duncraggan.= A village between Loch Achray and Loch Vennachar.

369. =coronach.= Death-song.

386. =correi.= Scott explains this as "the hollow side of the hill, where game usually lies."

387. =c.u.mber.= Trouble, perplexity.

394. =Stumah.= The name of a dog, signifying "faithful."

461. =chapel of St. Bride.= This chapel stood on the knoll of Strath-Ire, mentioned at the beginning of the stanza, halfway up the pa.s.s of Leny. Scott is singularly careful not to take liberties with the geography of the localities where his story is laid.

468. =pole-ax.= An old weapon consisting of a broad ax-head fastened to a long pole, with a p.r.i.c.k at the back.

480. =Tombea's Mary.= Tombea and Armandave are names of places in the vicinity of Strath-Ire.

546. =bracken.= Fern.

570. =Balquidder.= The braes of Balquidder extended west from Loch Voil, to the northward of the scene of the poem. =midnight blaze.= The heather on the moorlands is often set on fire by the shepherds in order that new herbage may spring up.

578. =Loch Voil=, etc. This and the following names are of poetic value in suggesting tangibly the rapid pa.s.sage of the runner from place to place.

622. =Coir-nan-Uriskin.= Scott says that this name, signifying "Den of the s.h.a.ggy Men," was derived from the mythical inhabitants of the place, creatures half man and half goat, resembling the satyrs of cla.s.sical mythology.

641. =still=, stillness. Can you instance other cases of the use of adjective for noun?

656. =satyrs.= See note to 622.

664. =Beal-nam-bo.= The name signifies "Pa.s.s of cattle." It is described as a "most magnificent glade, overhung with aged birch-trees, a little higher up the mountains than the Coir-nan-Uriskin."

672. =A single page, to bear his sword.= The sword bearer, like the henchman and the bard, was a regular officer attached to the person of a Highland Chief. He was called in Gaelic "Gilliemore," or sword-man.

CANTO FOURTH

19. =Braes of Doune.= Doune is a village on the Teith, a few miles northwest of Stirling. The word "brae" means slope or declivity; the braes of Doune stretch away east and north from the village.

36. =boune.= An obsolete word meaning "prepared."

63. =Taghairm.= The word means "Augury of the Hide."

68. =When swept our merrymen Gallangad.= The reference is to one of the forays or "cattledrives" which the Highland chiefs were fond of making at the expense of their neighbors. The situation of Gallangad is now unknown, but it was presumably a portion of the Lennox district.

73. =kerns.= The kern or cateran of the Highlands was a light-armed infantryman, as opposed to the heavy-armed "gallowgla.s.s."

78. =scatheless.= Without fear of injury, because of the weariness of the animal after the march.

82. =boss.= The word means k.n.o.b or protuberance, especially that in the center of a shield. What the boss of a cliff can be it is a little difficult to understand.

98. =watching while the deer is broke.= The cutting up of the deer and allotting of the various portions was technically known as the "breaking" of the deer. A certain gristly portion was given, by long custom, to the birds, and came to be known as "the raven's bone."

140. =A spy has sought my land.= Roderick refers, as appears later, to the "Knight of Snowdoun" of Canto I.

150. =glaive=, sword.

153. =sable pale.= An heraldic term, applied to a black perpendicular stripe in a coat of arms.

174. =stance=, station, foundation.