“All silent, too, they stood, and still,
     Watching their leader’s beck and will,
     While forward step and weapon show
     They long to rush upon the foe,
     Like the loose crag whose tottering mass
     Hung threatening o’er the hollow pass.”

219.  Verge.  See on iv. 83 above.

230.  Manned himself.  Cf.  Addison’s “manned his soul,” quoted by Wb.

238.  The stern joy, etc.  Cf. iv. 155 above.

239.  Foeman.  The reading of the 1st ed. and that of 1821; “foeman” in many recent eds.

246.  Their mother Earth, etc.  Alluding to the old myths of the earth-born Giants and of Cadmus.

252.  Glinted.  Flashed; a Scottish word.  Jamieson defines glint “to glance, gleam, or pass suddenly like a flash of lightning.”

253.  Glaive.  See on iv. 274 above.  The jack was “a horseman’s defensive upper garment, quilted and covered with strong leather” (Nares).  It was sometimes also strengthened with iron rings, plates, or bosses.  Cf.  Lyly, Euphues:  “jackes quilted, and covered over with leather, fustian, or canvas, over thick plates of yron that are sowed to the same.”  Scott, in the Eve of St. John, speaks of “his plate-jack.”  For spear the 1st ed. has “lance.”

267.  One valiant hand.  The Ms. has “one brave man’s hand.”

268.  Lay.  Were staked.

270.  I only meant, etc.  Scott says:  “This incident, like some other passages in the poem, illustrative of the character of the ancient Gael, is not imaginary, but borrowed from fact.  The Highlanders, with the inconsistency of most nations in the same state, were alternately capable of great exertions of generosity and of cruel revenge and perfidy.  The following story I can only quote from tradition, but with such an assurance from those by whom it was communicated as permits me little doubt of its authenticity.  Early in the last century, John Gunn, a noted Cateran, or Highland robber, infested Inverness-shire, and levied black-mail up to the walls of the provincial capital.  A garrison was then maintained in the castle of that town, and their pay (country banks being unknown) was usually transmitted in specie under the guard of a small escort.  It chanced that the officer who commanded this little party was unexpectedly obliged to halt, about thirty miles from Inverness, at a miserable inn.  About nightfall, a stranger in the Highland dress, and of very prepossessing appearance, entered the same house.  Separate accommodations being impossible, the Englishman offered the newly-arrived guest a part of his supper, which was accepted with reluctance.  By the conversation he found his new acquaintance knew well all the passes of the country, which induced him eagerly to request his company on the ensuing morning.  He neither disguised his business and charge, nor his apprehensions of that celebrated freebooter, John Gunn.  The Highlander