warding off a smart stroke, this glib, Spenser informs us, proved to be a good substitute for the helmet, which, whether made of steel or leather, was seldom worn among Gothic tribes."

Note 11. p. 30.

"The hooked tusks of the savage boar,
That wandered yet those regions o'er,
Where levelling man's invasion bold

Had left the skirts of forests old."

The wild boar had at that period not been extirpated in the Highlands, nor indeed in many parts even of the Lowlands, in which latter portion of Scotland, as well as in the former, many large fragments of the old primeval forests still remained. Where the lower end of Glen-Dochart, and the upper end of Glen-Falloch meet, there existed even two or three years ago, and perhaps exist still, a number of weather beaten pines scattered over the flanks of the mountains, which form the venerable remnants of the ancient forest that covered that district.

Note 12. p. 31.

"Besides the fire at upper end,

Three torches, held in gillies' hand," &c.

Torches, in those days, and in that region, were, with very few exceptions, the only artificial means, in addition to the fire, employed to give light. They were often made of dried rushes, twisted together, and dipt in the fat of animals; but more frequently consisted only of splinters of dried pine, dug up out of the mosses covering the prostrated remains of the ancient pine forests.- "The moors abound in large logs of fir, which, having lain covered with earth for time immemorial, are extremely dry and inflammable. This the highlanders dig up, and divide into small splits. A bunch of these is called a torch."-Mrs. Grant of Laggan, 1803.

Note 13. p. 35.

"There is gloom in Glen-Dochart, but light on Ben-More, Where to-night are the Spirits that dwelt there of yore."

It will be better to explain at once, in a single Note, the whole figurative language of ALLAN'S SONG, than to recur to it frequently in detached portions.

The harp of Allan is charged with particular strains, by the Powers that so mysteriously responded to the sentiments of young Orchay in Strath-Fillan; and these strains now spontaneously pour themselves forth on the application of the Minstrel's hand to the strings, and draw involuntarily from his lips a corresponding stream of verse, meant to foreshadow prophetically both the pending events, and issue of the emergency in which the whole party are placed. This foreshadowing is effected by the supernatural presentation of a train of significant images to the mind of the Minstrel, which he runs over successively in descriptive verse, it having been thus the bards usually delivered their prophecies; often feeling, as in the case of Allan,— or affecting to feel,quite dubious themselves as to the real meaning of what their inspiration constrained them to

utter.

The expressions, that there is gloom in the Glens, but light on the Mountains named, signifies that all is hostile to Orchay throughout that region, so far as human agency is concerned; but that the old mythological Powers to whom he has declared himself friendly, are about to turn the tide of fortune by interfering in his favour, and for that purpose have resumed possession of their old seats, the chief Mountains enumerated, whence they were wont, of old, to communicate with mortals by those sounds and signs, which have gained for each of the Mountains in question the reputation of being haunted. Ben-Cruachan, which is about one hundred and sixty feet higher than Ben-Lomond; Ben-More, which is five hundred feet higher than BenCruachan; and Ben-Loy and Ben-Doran, which, at least

to the eye, seem to fall little short of their rivals in altitude, are all chief Mountains,-monarchs among numer ous lesser surrounding ones, and therefore were each the seat of the old Ossianic and Fingallian deities. In a fine Celtic Poem called "The Bard's Wish," translated by Mrs. Grant of Laggan, the following description of a Chief Mountain, such as one of these, is given with extreme beauty:

"I see Ben-Ard, chief of a thousand mountains!
Among his locks are the visions of the roes,-
On his head is the sleep of the clouds."

Note 14. p. 40.

"Let COLIN DUвн our slogan be."

Slogan means a war-cry. Each Clan had its own publicly recognized word or phrase constituting this cry, to be used on all general occasions ;-as, for example,

Alpin!" was the public Slogan of the Gregors; and "It's a far cry to Loch-Awe!" that of the Campbells: but on special occasions, such as that described in the Poem, temporary words or phrases were often adopted for the moment, as more suitable and spirit-stirring ;—and hence the adoption of" Colin Dubh!" by Dochart and his garrison, both out of compliment to the spirit of their young Chief; and as an incentive to themselves to war boldly for the protection and sure-keeping of one so dear to them.

Note 15. p. 43.

“And Allan, shouting' Colin Dubh !

And dealing wounds and death around,
As deftly as he harp could sound.”

It is a mistake to suppose that Minstrels in those warlike times never used arms. They were often as great Heroes as Bards,-witness, for example, Ossian, the very Prince and Pattern of the Order. It is true, they handled deadly weapons as seldom as possible; but they were all trained to the use of such, and never were excused from assuming them on occasions, when they and their exclusively martial companions happened to be alike in imminent jeopardy. For this reason, Allan and Ronald took a part in the defence of Dochart, where the danger threatened all equally, and where the assailed were so few in comparison to the assailants, that it would have been disgraceful in any one laying the slightest claim to manhood, to have refrained from aiding his over-matched friends.

Note 16. p. 48.

"At length his horn the victor blows."

Horns were the only warlike instruments of sound known in the Highlands,—and it might perhaps be said