Artornish tower. They also see a small vessel, the sport of the winds and waves, which with difficulty reaches the castle, and from which, after some parley with the Warder, are landed two noble persons, and a female under their care. With their reception in Artornish the canto concludes; and, except, perhaps, the scene on their arrival, and a few slight sketches of the situation and feelings of Edith, this part contains but little that is worthy of selection. The description of the bridal feast, in the second canto, has several animated lines but the real power and poetry of this author do not appear to us to be called out until the occasion of the Highland quarrel which follows the feast. While the company is yet waiting for the Holy Man' to celebrate the nuptials, (an arrival which Ronald does not anticipate with much impatience,) it is discovered that the strangers are "The Bruce," Edward, his brother, and the lady Isabel. The Earl of Lorn, stung with revengeful feelings for the death of the Red Comyn, who had been killed, as his country's enemy, by "The Bruce," rises in fierce defiance against him; and the picture of the Bridal-hall turned into the arena of an approaching battle is fine and original. Lord Ronald has in vain interfered to protect the strangers, and to save the rights of hospitality from violation: "Talk not to me," fierce Lorn replied, "Of odds or match!-when Comyn died, But At Ronald's side that hour withstood Brave Torquil from Dunvegan high, Soon as they saw the broad-swords glance, Wild was the scene - each sword was bare, Eyes, hands, and brandish'd weapons met; While thus for blows and death prepared, Till on the crowded hall there lay Ere bursts the thunder on the hill.' We pass over the alarm of the ladies, the arrival of the Abbot, his accusation of "The Bruce" for the murder of Comyn, the calm and dignified answer of the King, and proceed as follows: • Like man by prodigy amazed, Upon the King the Abbot gazed; His breathing came more thick and fast, Flush'd Flush'd is his brow, through every vein "De Bruce! I rose with purpose dread Who stood on Zophim, heaven-controul'd, I bless thee, and thou shalt be bless'd!" Again that light has fired his eye, Shall tell thy tale of freedom won, And sinks the momentary blaze. Brethren Brethren, our errand here is o'er, Our task discharged. - Unmoor, unmoor!" The train refused all longer stay, Embark'd, raised sail, and bore away.' In the third canto, we have the flight of Edith from Artornish, the dismissal of Edward Bruce with the lady Isabel to Ireland, and the approach of the King and Lord Ronald to the Hebrides. Here are some vivid and (we have no doubt) exact descriptions of scenery : (St. Mary! what a scene is here!' Page 97.) but we meet with little action or interest in the conduct of the poem until we arrive at the cave of some Highlanders, who, as usual, turn out to be banditti, or rather hired assassins. In the corner of their savage abode, sits a melancholy and speechless boy, their prisoner by chance of war, by whose warning signal the King is awakened in time to save his own life, although not that of Allan, his faithful page; and the dreams of the different individuals are well contrasted, previously to the fearful catastrophe which we have mentioned. In the conflict, (where, as throughout the poem, the personal strength of King Robert is faithfully recorded from the traditions of the day,) the mute and captive youth is actively instrumental in assisting Bruce and the Lord of the Isles, and, after the ruffians have been dispatched, seems by the confession of the chieftains themselves, to have well deserved his deliverance: resting on his bloody blade, The valiant Bruce to Ronald said, And clasps his hands, to testify For strange deliverance given. His speechless gesture thanks hath paid, Of wayward lot like mine; A land Was false, that she had hoisted sail.". Yet, ere they left that charnel-cell, And the mute page moves slow behind.' We scarcely know whether we could have selected a passage from the poem that will more fairly illustrate its general merits and pervading blemishes, than the one which we have just quoted. The same happy mixture of moral remark and vivid painting of dramatic situations frequently occurs, and is as frequently debased by prosaic expressions and couplets, and by every variety of ungrammatical licence, or even barbarism. Our readers, in short, will immediately here discover the powerful hand that has so often presented them with descriptions calculated at once to exalt and animate their thoughts, and to lower and deaden the language which is their vehicle:-but, as we have before observed, again and again we believe, Mr. Scott is inaccessible even to the mildest and the most just reproof on this subject. We really believe that he cannot write correct English; and we therefore dismiss him as an incurable, with unfeigned compassion for this one fault, and with the highest admiration of his many redeeming virtues. Our critical vengeance will much better be wreaked (wroke,' if Mr. Scott |