Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/273

 THE CASTLES

the north east coast of Scotland, in the most romantic part of the Highlands, stood the castle of Athlin; an edifice built on the summit of a rock, whose base was in the sea. This pile was venerable from its antiquity, and from its gothic structure; but more venerable from the virtues which it enclosed. It was the residence of the still beautiful widow and the children, of the noble Earl of Athlin, who was slain by the hand of Malcolm, a neighbouring chief, proud, oppressive, revengeful; and still residing in all the pomp of feudal greatness, within a few miles of the castle of Athlin. Encroachment on the domain of Athlin, was the occasion of the animosity which subsisted between the chiefs. Frequent broils had happened between their clans, in which that of Athlin had generally been victorious. Malcolm, whose pride was touched by the defeat of his people; whose ambition was curbed by the authority, and whose greatness was rivalled by the power of the Earl, conceived for him that deadly hatred which opposition to its favourite passions naturally excites in a mind like his, haughty, and unaccustomed to controul; and he meditated his destruction. He planned his purpose with all that address which so eminently marked his character, and in a battle which was attended by the chiefs of each party in person, he contrived by a curious finesse, to entrap the Earl, accompanied by a small detachment in his wiles, and there slew him. A general rout of his clan ensued, which was followed by a dreadful