’Well pronounced, Flora; blow for blow, as Conan [See Note 19.] said to the devil.  Now do you two talk of bards and poetry, if not of purses and claymores, while I return to do the final honours to the senators of the tribe of Ivor.’  So saying, he left the room.

The conversation continued between Flora, and Waverley; for two well-dressed young women, whose character seemed to hover between that of companions and dependants, took no share in it.  They were both pretty girls, but served only as foils to the grace and beauty of their patroness.  The discourse followed the turn which the Chieftain had given it, and Waverley was equally amused and surprised with the account which the lady gave him of Celtic poetry.

‘The recitation,’ she said, ’of poems, recording the feats of heroes, the complaints of lovers, and the wars of contending tribes, forms the chief amusement of a winter fireside in the Highlands.  Some of these are said to be very ancient, and if they are ever translated into any of the languages of civilized Europe, cannot fail to produce a deep and general sensation.  Others are more modern, the composition of those family bards whom the chieftains of more distinguished name and power retain as the poets and historians of their tribes.  These, of course, possess various degrees of merit; but much of it must evaporate in translation, or be lost on those who do not sympathize with the feelings of the poet.

’And your bard, whose effusions seemed to produce such effect upon the company to-day,—­is he reckoned among the favourite poets of the mountain?’

’That is a trying question.  His reputation is high among his countrymen, and you must not expect me to depreciate it.’ [The Highland poet almost always was an improvisatore.  Captain Burt met one of them at Lovat’s table.]

’But the song, Miss Mac-Ivor, seemed to awaken all those warriors, both young and old.’

’The song is little more than a catalogue of names of the ’Highland clans under their distinctive peculiarities, and an exhortation to them to remember and to emulate the actions of their forefathers.’

’And am I wrong in conjecturing, however extraordinary the guess appears, that there was some allusion to me in the verses which he recited?’

’You have a quick observation, Captain Waverley, which in this instance has not deceived you.  The Gaelic language, being uncommonly vocalic, is well adapted for sudden and extemporaneous poetry; and a bard seldom fails to augment the effects of a premeditated song, by throwing in any stanzas which may be suggested by the circumstances attending the recitation.’

’I would give my best horse to know what the Highland bard could find to say of such an unworthy Southron as myself.’

’It shall not even cost you a lock of his mane.—­Una, Mavourneen! (She spoke a few words to one of the young girls in attendance, who instantly curtsied, and tripped out of the room.)—­I have sent Una to learn from the bard the expressions he used, and you shall command my skill as dragoman.’