Stanza xxix. lines 595-9.  Cp. the ‘rash, fruitless war,’ &c., of Thomson’s ‘Edwin and Eleonora,’ i. 1, and Cowper’s ‘Task,’ v. 187:—­

     ’War’s a game which, were their subjects wise,
      Kings would not play at.’

Stanza XXX.  This description of Edinburgh is one of the passages mentioned by Mr. Ruskin in ‘Modern Painters’ as illustrative of Scott’s quick and certain perception of the relations of form and colour.  ‘Observe,’ he says, ’the only hints at form given throughout are in the somewhat vague words “ridgy,” " massy,” “close,” and “high,” the whole being still more obscured by modern mystery, in its most tangible form of smoke.  But the colours are all definite; note the rainbow band of them—­gloomy or dusky red, sable (pure black), amethyst (pure purple), green and gold—­a noble chord throughout; and then, moved doubtless less by the smoky than the amethystine part of the group,

     “Fitz-Eustace’ heart felt closely pent,” &c.’

line 632.  In the demi-volte (one of seven artificial equestrian movements) the horse rises on his hind feet and makes a half-turn.  Cp. below, v. 33.

Stanza XXXI. line 646. 6 o’clock a.m., the first canonical hour of prayer.

lines 650-1.  St. Catherine of Siena, a famous female Spanish saint, and St. Roque of France, patron of those sick of the plague, who died at Montpelier about 1327.

line 655.  Falkland, in the west of Fife, at base of Lomond Hills, a favourite residence of the Stuart kings, and well situated for hunting purposes.  The ancient stately palace is now the property of the Marquis of Bute.

Stanza xxxii. line 679. stowre, noise and confusion of battle.  Cp.  ‘Faery Queene,’ I. ii. 7, ‘woeful stowre.’

INTRODUCTION TO CANTO FIFTH.

’George Ellis, to whom this Introduction is addressed, is “the well-known coadjutor of Mr. Canning and Mr. Frere in the “Anti-Jacobin,” and editor of “Specimens of Ancient English Romances,” &c.  He died 10th April, 1815, aged 70 years; being succeeded in his estates by his brother, Charles Ellis, Esq., created in 1827 Lord Seaford.’—­ Lockhart.  See ‘Life of Scott’ and ’Dictionary of National Biography.’

line 36.  See Introd. to Canto ii.

line 37.  ’The Old Town of Edinburgh was secured on the north side by a lake, now drained, and on the south by a wall, which there was some attempt to make defensible even so late as 1745.  The gates, and the greater part of the wall, have been pulled down, in the course of the late extensive and beautiful enlargement of the city.  My ingenious and valued friend, Mr. Thomas Campbell, proposed to celebrate Edinburgh under the epithet here borrowed.  But the “Queen of the North” has not been so fortunate as to receive from so eminent a pen the proposed distinction.’—­Scott.

line 57.  ’Since writing this line, I find I have inadvertently borrowed it almost verbatim, though with somewhat a different meaning, from a chorus in “Caractacus":—­