of more shelter and security. Stones, or rather large masses and fragments of rocks, of a composite kind, perfectly different from the strata of the lake, were scattered upon the bare rocky beach, in the strangest and most precarious situations, as if abandoned by the torrents which had borne them down from above. Some lay loose and tottering upon the ledges of the natural rock, with so little security, that the slightest push moved them, though their weight might exceed many tons. These detached rocks, or stones, were chiefly what is called plum-pudding stones. The bare rocks, which formed the shore of the lakes, were a species of granite. The opposite side of the lake seemed quite pathless and inaccessible, as a huge mountain, one of the detached ridges of the Cuillen Hills, sinks in a profound and perpendicular precipice down to the water. On the left-hand side, which we traversed, rose an higher and equally inaccessible mountain, the top of which strongly resembled the shivered crater of an exhausted volcano. I never saw a spot in which there was less appearance of vegetation of any kind. The eye rested on nothing but barren and naked crags, and the rocks on which we walked by the side of the loch, were as bare as the pavements of Cheapside. There are one or two small islets in the loch, which seem to bear juniper or some such low bushy shrub. Upon the whole, though I have seen many scenes of more extensive desolation, I never witnessed any in which it pressed more deeply upon the eye and the heart than at Loch Corisken ; at the same time that its grandeur elevated and redeemed it from the wild and dreary character of utter barrenness."

Note IV.

Men were they all of evil mien,

Down-look'd, unwilling to be seen.-P. 109.

The story of Bruce's meeting the banditti is copied, with such alterations as the fictitious narrative rendered necessary, from a striking incident in the monarch's history, told by Barbour, and which I will give in the words of the hero's biographer, only modernizing the orthography. It is the sequel to the adventure of the blood-hound, narrated in Note XIX. upon Canto II. It will be remembered that the narrative broke off, leaving the Bruce escaped from his pursuers, but worn out with fatigue, and having no other attendant but his fosterbrother.

And the good king held forth his way,
Betwixt him and his man, while they
Passed out through the forest were;
Syne in the moor they entered there.
It was both high, and long, and broad;
And or they half it passed had,
They saw on side three men coming,
Like to light men, and wavering.
Swords they had, and axes also;
And one of them, upon his hals*
A mekill bounden weather bore.

* Neck.

They meet the king, and halsed him there. And the king them their haulsing yauld ;+ And asked whether they would?

They said, Robert the Bruce they sought;
For meet with him giff that they might,
Their duelling with him would they ma'.‡
The king said," Giff that ye will see,
Hold furth your way with me,
And I shall make you soon him se.'
They perceived, by his speaking,
That he was the self-same Robert King.
And changed countenance, and late ;§
And held nought in the first state.
For they were foes to the king,
And thought to come into skulking;
And dwell with him, while that they saw
Their point, and bring him thereof daw.
They granted till his speech forthy,¶
But the king, that was witty,
Perceived well, by their having,
That they loved him nothing.
And said, "Fellows, you must all three,
Further acquaint till that we be,

All be your selven furth go.

And on the same wish we two

Shall follow behind, well near."

*Saluted. + Make.

Kill him.

↑ Returned their salute. § Gesture or manner.

Therefore.

Quoth they," Sir, it is no mister*

To trow in us any ill."

"None do I," said he;" but I will

That ye go forth thus, while we

Better with other knowen be."

"We grant," they said," since ye will so."
And forth upon their gate gan go.
Thus went they till the night was near,
And then the foremost coming were
Till a waste husband-house ;† and there
They slew the weather that they bear,
And struck fire to roast their meat;
And asked the king if he would eat,
And rest him till the meat was dight.
The king, that hungry was, I hight,
Assented to their speech in hy,
But he said he would anerly+

At a fire, and they all three

On no wise with them together be.
In the end of the house they should ma'
Another fire; and they did sua.

They drew them in the house end,
And half the weather till him send.
And they roasted in haste their meat,
And fell right freshly for to eat.
For the king well long fasted had ;

*There is no need.

† Husbandman's house, cottage. *Alone.

And had right much travel made;
Therefore he eat full egrely.
And when he had eaten hastily,
He had to sleep so mekil will,
That he might set no let theretill.
For when the wames* filled are,
Men worthyst heavy evermore;
And to sleep draws heavyness.
The king, that all for-travelled‡ was,
Saw that him worthyt sleep need was ;
Till his fostyr-brother he says,

66 May I trust in thee, me to awake,
Till I a little sleeping take ?"

"Ya, sir," he said, "till I may dree."

The king then winked a little way,
And sleeped not full entirely;

But glanced up oft suddenly,

For he had dread of these three men,
That at the t' other fire were then.
That they his foes were he wyst;
Therefore he sleeped, as fowll on twist.§
The king sleeped but a little than,
When sic sleep fell on his man,
That he might not hold up his eye,
But fell in sleep and routed high.

* Bellies.

† Becomes.

+ Fatigued.

Endure.

§ Bird on bough.