Yeit thar is part that can the weill avance; The above contains almost all the allusions that he makes to himself, if we except his frequent references to the Latin book of his author, "Maister Jhone Blayr." "A worthy clerk, bath wyss and rycht sawage. The foregoing quotations, which may serve as unaltered specimens of the poem, are not difficult of comprehension, but the first may be paraphrased as follows:-All you who read this rustic lay, blame not the book. Although I be imperfect, yet should I have thanks for the labour and pains which I have bestowed upon it, without promise of reward from king or noble. I thought it a pity such good deeds should be smothered, and have done my best to relate them as they occurred, regarding neither friend nor foe. No man is bound to relieve me of the costs of it; and I know (but for this I am not to blame), that my description falls far short of the manner in which such noble deeds should be recorded. Then, in finishing his task, with a consciousness of having discharged it in no ignoble spirit, yet regretting that the subject was neglected when good poets sung in Scotland, he commits the book to the judgment of posterity, confident that it will not be forgotten, notwithstanding his want of eloquence, which he excuses on the ground of his being a "bural man.' The meaning drawn from his use of this phrase is, that he was a peasant by descent, for the word "bural" appears to be our modern word boorish. There is nothing in the book to confirm the uniform tradition that he was a professional minstrel, or that he was blind; indeed, the impression left upon the mind by the book, in reference to the latter part of the tradition, is one of doubt, at least as to his being blind from his birth. We think Ellis, in his notice of him, was impressed with this feeling of doubt when emphasizing the word born, where he says-"That a man born blind should excel in any science is sufficiently extraordinary, though by no means without example; but that he should become an excellent poet is almost miraculous, because the soul of poetry is description. Perhaps, therefore, it may be easily assumed that Henry was not inferior, in point of genius, to either Barbour or Chaucer; or indeed to any poet of any age or country." Tytler, in endeavouring to vindicate his character as a historian from undeserved neglect, both by himself and his brother historians, says-"Some late researches, and an com attentive perusal of his poem, tive of the Life of Wallace, he gives some "Of Wallace life wha has a further feill 2 He got this book and confirmed it himsell Keeping the circumstance of his blindness in view, and the likelihood of his After giving a series of examples to prove the position assumed, he points being ignorant of Latin, so far as he folto the testimony of the Minstrel himself lowed this authority, the only rational regarding the source of his informa- view of the matter that presents itself is, tion, as given in the passage we have that he dictated, in rhyme, the translaquoted in reference to John Blair and tion of it read to him by an ecclesiastic Thomas Gray. He sums up his arguof the monastery in which it was preThis would also account for ment_thus—“It was, therefore, in all served. probability, the Latin Buk of Wallace's the descriptions of scenery, and the asLife, compiled by this worthy ecclesi-pect of the seasons with which the poem astic, Master John Blair, who, as we abounds. That it no longer exists need are elsewhere informed, officiated as his not excite much surprise. chaplain, from which Henry the Minstrel derived those authentic particulars which may be detected cropping out, as geologists say, from beneath the more fabulous superficies of his history.' ." This reasonable view of the Minstrel's literary achievement, is but the adoption of his own account of it; and is indeed the only one which can be held, consistently with respect for his character as a truthful man. At the end of his narra As evidence of the popularity of the Life of Wallace, we find an edition of it published so early as 1570, and many have appeared since then. That edited by Dr Jamieson in 1820 is now reckoned the standard edition. The MS., which was written by John Ramsay, the same who wrote The Bruce, in 1488, while the Minstrel was still living, is I Would have. 2 Understanding. 3 Judgment. William Wallace, or1 he was man of arms Great pity thought that Scotland took such harms, Meikle dolour2 it did him in his mind; For he was wise, right worthy, wight and kind; ander III., the Minstrel turns to Wallace, the In Gowry dwelt still with this worthy proper subject of his poem. Scotland was lost when he was but a child, His father, Malcolm, in the1 Lennox fled, man,3 As he increased, and wit abounded than, moan: Of his good kin they had slain many one; Yet he was then seemly stark4 and bold; The knight, her father, thither he them And he of age was but eighteen year Working the will of Edward that false For all to him there could no man them king, say. ying, Many great wrong they wrought in this Sad of countenance he was both old and region, Destroyed our lords, and break their build- Little of speech, wise, courteous, and ings down. ΙΟ benyng. 10 ADVENTURE OF WALLACE WHILE FISHING IN IRVINE WATER. So on a time he desired to play. To lead his net a child furth with him yeid,1 But he, or2 noon, was in a fellon dread. The Lord Percy was captain then of Ayr; Frae then' he turned, and couth to Glasgow fare.3 Part of the court had Wallace' labour seen, Till him rade five, clad into ganand green, And said soon, "Scot, Martin's fish we wald have!" Wallace meekly again answer him gave. "It were reason, methink, ye should have part, Waith 4 should be dealt, in all place, with free heart." He bade his child, "Give them of our waithing." The Southron said, "As now of thy dealing We will not tak; thou wald give us o'er small." He lighted down, and frae the child took all. Wallace said then, "Gentlemen gif ye be, Leave us some part, we pray for charity. Ane aged knight serves our lady to-day : Gude friend, leave part, and tak not all away." 1 Went. 2 Ere, before. 3 He was on his way from Ayr to Glasgow. 4 Spoil taken in sport. "Thou shall have leave to fish, and tak thee mae, All this forsooth shall in our flitting gae. We serve a lord; thir fish shall till him gang." Wallace answered, said, "Thou art in the wrang." "Whom thous thou, Scot? in faith thou 'serves a blaw." Till him he ran, and out a sword 'gan draw. William was wae he had nae wappins there But the poutstaff, the whilk in hand he bare. Wallace with it fast on the cheek him took, With sae gude will, quhill of his feet he shook. The sword flew frae him a fur-breid 2 on the land. Wallace was glad, and hint 3 it soon in hand; And with the sword awkward he him gave Under the hat, his craig 4 in sunder drave. By that the lave 5 lighted about Wallace, He had no help, only but God's grace. On either side full fast on him they dang, Great peril was gif they had lasted lang. Upon the head in great ire he strak ane; The shearand sword glade to the collar bane. Ane other on the arm he hit so hardily, While hand and sword baith in the field Went till his eme, and tald him of this deed, And he for woe well near worthit to weid, 4 And said, "Son, thir tidings sits me sore, And, be it known, thou may tak scaith therefore." "Uncle," he said, "I will no langer bide; Thir southland horse let see gif I can ride." Then but a child, him service for to mak, His eme's sons he wald not with him tak. This good knight said, "Dear cousin, pray I thee, When thou wants gude, come fetch enough frae me." Silver and gold he gart on to him give, Wallace inclines, and gudely took his leave. His lips round, his nose was square and straight; Bowand 3 brown haird, on brows and breis light; Clear aspre eyne4 like diamondis bright. To Scottismen a great credence he gave, But knowing enemies, they could not him deceive. Thir properties was known into France, Of him to be in good remembrance, Master John Blair that patron couth rasaiff 5 |