Mac-Murrough, the family BHAIRDH, an aged man, immediately took the hint, and began to chant, with low and rapid utterance, a profusion of Celtic verses, which were received by the audience with all the applause of enthusiasm.  As he advanced in his declamation, his ardour seemed to increase.  He had at first spoken with his eyes fixed on the ground; he now cast them around as if beseeching, and anon as if commanding, attention, and his tones rose into wild and impassioned notes, accompanied with appropriate gestures.  He seemed to Edward, who attended to him with much interest, to recite many proper names, to lament the dead, to apostrophize the absent, to exhort, and entreat, and animate those who were present.  Waverley thought he even discerned his own name, and was convinced his conjecture was right, from the eyes of the company being at that moment turned towards him simultaneously.  The ardour of the poet appeared to communicate itself to the audience.  Their wild and sunburnt countenances assumed a fiercer and more animated expression; all bent forward towards the reciter, many sprang up and waved their arms in ecstasy, and some laid their hands on their swords.  When the song ceased, there was a deep pause, while the aroused feelings of the poet and of the hearers gradually subsided into their usual channel.

The Chieftain, who during this scene had appeared rather to watch the emotions which were excited, than to partake their high tone of enthusiasm, filled with claret a small silver cup which stood by him.  ‘Give this,’ he said to an attendant, ’to Mac-Murrough nan Fonn (i.e. of the songs), and when he has drunk the juice, bid him keep, for the sake of Vich Ian Vohr, the shell of the gourd which contained it.’  The gift was received by Mac-Murrough with profound gratitude; he drank the wine, and, kissing the cup, shrouded it with reverence in the plaid which was folded on his bosom.  He then burst forth into what Edward justly supposed to be an extemporaneous effusion of thanks, and praises of his Chief.  It was received with applause, but did not produce the effect of his first poem.  It was obvious, however, that the clan regarded the generosity of their Chieftain with high approbation.  Many approved Gaelic toasts were then proposed, of some of which the Chieftain gave his guest the following versions:—­’To him that will not turn his back on friend or foe.’  ‘To him that never forsook a comrade.’  ’To him that never bought or sold justice.’  ’Hospitality to the exile, and broken bones to the tyrant.’  ‘The lads with the kilts.’  ’Highlanders, shoulder to shoulder,’—­with many other pithy sentiments of the like nature.

Edward was particularly solicitous to know the meaning of that song which appeared to produce such effect upon the passions of the company, and hinted his curiosity to his host.  ‘As I observe,’ said the Chieftain, ’that you have passed the bottle during the last three rounds, I was about to propose to you to retire to my sister’s tea-table, who can explain these things to you better than I can.  Although I cannot stint my clan in the usual current of their festivity, yet I neither am addicted myself to exceed in its amount, nor do I,’ added he, smiling, ’keep a Bear to devour the intellects of such as can make good use of them.’