Masonic Poets Of Scotland—No. Ii.

the covering of genius . The prototypes had been studied by the author till each became the representative of a class . They are not faint ancl shadowy phantoms ; they live , they act , and move as befits the station which they are supposed to

occupy—they love , they fight , they feed , they sorrow , as human beings might be expected to do . Let us instance a few examples : — The crack of Bailie M " 'Wheeble's whip cuts short the ill-timed quotation of Davie Gellatley

when , after the harrying of Tulleveolan , he carols the snatch of song , " Our gear ' s a' gane . " In " Guy Mannering , " who can forget the adjuration of Meg Merrilees to the affrighted Dominie , as , spell-bound , in the cave of contraband goods , and

there , amidst his affright , smelling wistfully the steam rising from the savoury cauldron , the sixfeet , half-insane beldame dips a huge spoon in the boiling mess , and , as the lantern jaws are gaping

with astonishment , exclaims , " Eat , ye worricow !" In truth , in this , one of the wildest of Scott ' s fictions , under some aspects , the characters are admirably depicted , —Hatterick , the grim and surly ; Mannering , the accomplished and spirited

gentleman and soldier ; Meg - , the weird enchantress , letting fall from her half-crazed brain words of eloquent remonstrance ; Sampson , redeeminghis awkwardness by steadfast goodness of heart , yet showing his simplicity after the smoke and

din of the conflict clear away , and Ellengowan ' s heir is found , after the ringing pistol-shot has pierced the bosom of unhappy Meg , gravely purposing to resume Bertram's juvenile studies at the point where they had been interrupted so

many years before;—all this , we say , is purely Shakespearian , in its claim on human hearts , its " holding of the mirror up to nature , " its homage to the home affections , and entitled the author to take a first rank amongst writers of fiction .

Or what shall we say of Dandie Dinmont , with his rough-spun honesty and affection , his terriers almost as life-like as himself , the fruit of Scott ' s observation on the borders and among the Cheviot hills ? representative of a race now

wellnigh vanished ; of Dousterswivel , the quack and impostor ; of the "Antiquary , " with his study chairs covered with the identical " calthrops " that did damage to the feet of Edward ' s horses at Bannockbum ; of Edie Ochiltree ; or of Bailie

Nicol Jarvie , whose "faiiher" was a deacon , and who is represented as doing and enduring so much in his adventurous pilgrimage to the wilds

and fastnesses occupied by his " cousin Rah ?" How true to nature the exclamation of the indie - O nant Highlandman , as in despair the luckless magistrate , in the frenzy of fear , brandishing the red-hot poker , burns an " awsome" hole in the

plaid of the Gael , " big eneuch , " the spluttering Highlandman remarks , to let through it a " muckle kail-pat ! " How true to Scottish nature the keeper of the change-house , the symbol of preoccupation before her door , intently , amidst the

ringing and emptying of the stoups , pretending—> a wakeful eye upon the " lawing " all the whileto read worthy Mr . Boston's " Crook in the Lot !" How accurate , in the " Fortunes of Nigel , " the representation of the founder of one of the nobler

institutions of our town , called by James II . "jingling Geordie , " worthy specimen of the merchant class of the " Krames" and "

Luckenbooths ; " or the inimitable portraiture of Ritchie Moniplies , faithful , yet self-seeking-, presenting the petition of Lord Glenvarloch , yet thrusting also , under the timid monarch's nose , " a sifflication regarding monies due by his Majesty ' s maist

gracious mither ! " As a specimen of real downright humour , we may quote the following * .- —The scene is Blackheath . " Down came the king and a' his nobles , dressed out in his hunting' suit of green , double-laced , and laid down with gowd . I

minded the very face o' him , though it was long since I saw him . But , my certie , lad , thought I , times are changed since ye came fleeing down the back stairs of auld Holyrood House , in great fear , having your breeks in your hand without time to put them on , and Frank Stewart , the wild Earl of Bothwell , hard at your haunches . " Take

Royal James's own account of the transaction : — - "Yesterday , nae farther gane , just as we were , mounted , and about to ride forth , in rushed a thorough Edinburgh gutter-blood—a ragged rascal , every dud on whose back was bidding

good day to the other , with a coat and hat that would have served a peas-bogie , and without havings or reverence , thrust into our hands , like a sturdy beggar , some supplication about debts owing by our gracious mither , and sic like trash ,

whereat the horse spangs on end , and , but for our admirable sitting , " ( " the king , " said Ritchie , " sits nae muckle better than a daft pock on the saddle , " ) " wherein wc have been thought to excel maist sovereign princes , as well as subjects , in Europe , I promise you we would have been laid endlang on the causeway . " " Your Majesty is their com-