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NOTES

INTRODUCTION TO CANTO FIRST

William Stewart Rose, a poetical friend, whose home in HampMr. Rose shire Scott visited when he went to London on business. took Scott about the New Forest and to the Isle of Wight. When Rose visited Scotland Scott entertained him by taking him fishing, and hunting hares.

LINE 36. The gathering blast. If the student will now turn to the introduction to Canto Fourth and read, beginning at line 74, he will find a natural continuation of the thought. Scott's introduction of Nelson, Pitt, and Fox is a just tribute, and was doubtless a popular hit, but it makes much the same impression on one now as would be produced by the introduction into Evangeline of a brief eulogy on Washington, Franklin, Sam Adams, and Marion.

72. Gadite wave. Gades of old.

The Bay of Trafalgar, not far from Cadiz, or

82. Hafnia, Copenhagen. Scott is enumerating the scenes of Nelson's naval victories.

111. Palinure's. Palinurus, the pilot of Æneas. Virgil, Eneid, V. 833.

127. His rival slumbers nigh. Fox and Pitt lie near together in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey.

203. Ye heard the Border Minstrel. Scott credits Fox and Pitt with having spoken words of praise for his Border Minstrelsy and Lay of the Last Minstrel.

259. Morgana's fated house. For a brief account of the romance of Morte d'Arthur, see Scott's Notes in any complete edition of his works.

310. Thy fair achievement. The reference is to the literary work of Mr. Rose, to whom this introduction is addressed.

312. Ytene's oaks. The New Forest in Hampshire.

314. Ascapart and Bevis bold. Ascapart was a giant who figured in the old romances. He was thirty feet high, and could carry under his arm a horseman with his steed. He was conquered by Sir Bevis of Southampton, and the story of the conflict is told in the romance entitled the History of Bevis of Hampton, which was known to Scott in the translation of Mr. George Ellis.

315. Red King. William Second, surnamed Rufus, accidentally killed by Walter Tyrrell in the year 1100. Boldrewood was a part of the New Forest in Hampshire.

321-325. Amadis. The references are to characters in the romances of Amadis de Gaul, translated by Rose in 1803, and of Partenopex de Blois, translated by Rose in 1807.

321. So famed in hall. So well known in the minstrel songs chanted in the hall at the feasts.

322. For Oriana. In behalf of Oriana, his loved one, Amadis overcame the power of the Necromancer.

CANTO FIRST

1. The castle. "The ruinous castle of Norham is situated on the southern bank of the Tweed, about six miles above Berwick, and where that river is still the boundary between England and Scotland. The extent of its ruins, as well as its historical importance, show it to have been a place of magnificence as well as strength. It was repeatedly taken and retaken during the wars between England and Scotland; and, indeed scarce any happened in which it had not a principal share. Norham Castle is situated on a steep bank which overhangs the river."-SCOTT, Notes.

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