Page:Marmion - Walter Scott (ed. Bayne, 1889).pdf/292

 '''Stanza XXIX. ll. 595-9.''' Cp. the 'rash, fruitless war,' &c., of Thomson's 'Edwin and Eleonora,' i. 1, and Cowper's 'Task;' v. 187:—

Stanza XXX. This description of Edinburgh is one of the passages mentioned by Mr. Ruskin in 'Modern Painters' as illustrative of Scott's quick and certain perception of the relations of form and colour. 'Observe,' he says, 'the only hints at form given throughout are in the somewhat vague words "ridgy," "massy," "close," and "high," the whole being still more obscured by modern mystery, in its most tangible form of smoke. But the colours are all definite; note the rainbow band of them—gloomy or dusky red, sable (pure black), amethyst (pure purple), green and gold—a noble chord throughout; and then, moved doubtless less by the smoky than the amethystine part of the group,

1.632. In the demi-volte (one of seven artificial equestrian movements) the horse rises on his hind feet and makes a half-turn. Cp. below, v. 33.

'''Stanza XXXI. l. 646.''' 6 o'clock a.m., the first canonical hour of prayer.

'''ll. 650-1.''' St. Catherine of Siena, a famous female Spanish saint, and St. Roque of France, patron of those sick of the plague, who died at Montpelier about 1327.

l. 655. Falkland, in the west of Fife, at base of Lomond Hills, a favourite residence of the Stuart kings, and well situated for hunting purposes. The ancient stately palace is now the property of the Marquis of Bute.

'''Stanza XXXII. l. 679. stowre,''' noise and confusion of battle. Cp. 'Faery Queene,' I. ii. 7, 'woeful stowre.'

author:George Ellis, to whom this Introduction is addressed, is "the well-known coadjutor of Mr. Canning and Mr. Frere in the "Anti Jacobin," and editor of "Specimens of Ancient English Romances," &c. He died 10th April, 1815, aged 70 years; being succeeded in his estates by his brother, Charles Ellis, Esq., created in 1827 Lord Seaford.'—. See 'Life of Scott' and '.'