The rise of the ballad in the eighteenth century . undred to thebattle, the Scotch two thousand. The English keep thefield with fifty-three; the Scotch retire v/ith fifty-five: all the rest on each side being slain in the moat remarkable circumstance of this kind, is thedifferent manner in which the Scotch and English kingsreceive the news of this fight, and of the great mensdeaths who commanded it. Then follow six stanzas of thepoem in illustration. At the same time thai our poet shows a laudablepartiality to his country-men, he represents the Scotsafter a manner not unbecoming so
The rise of the ballad in the eighteenth century . undred to thebattle, the Scotch two thousand. The English keep thefield with fifty-three; the Scotch retire v/ith fifty-five: all the rest on each side being slain in the moat remarkable circumstance of this kind, is thedifferent manner in which the Scotch and English kingsreceive the news of this fight, and of the great mensdeaths who commanded it. Then follow six stanzas of thepoem in illustration. At the same time thai our poet shows a laudablepartiality to his country-men, he represents the Scotsafter a manner not unbecoming so bold and brave a Douglas is then described, His sentiments and actionsare every way suitable to an hero. One of us two, sayshe, must die: I am an Earl as well as yourself, so thatyou can have no pretence for refusing the combat: How-ever, says he, tis pity, and indeed would be a sin, thatso many innocent men should perish for our sakes; ratherlet you and I end our quarrel in single fight. Tnreestanzas are quoted, giving the -29- \7hen these brave men had distinguishedthemselves in the hattle and in single oombat with eachother, in the midst of a generous parley full or heroicsentiments, the iDCOtch Earl falls; and with his dyingwords encourages his men to revenge his death, represent-ing to them as the most hitter circumstance of it, thathis rival saw him fall. The two stanzas relating hisdeath are then given, in which he calls his men merry menall. Addis(;on then adds, Merry men, in the languageof those times is no more than a cheerful word for com-panions and fellow soldiers. The editor then adds a/ parj^allel passage in Virgils Aeneid, where Camilla, awoman warrior, instead of weeping over her last agonies,considers (like the hero of whom we are nov/ speaking)how the Dattle should he continued after her death. Turnus did not die in so heroic a manner;tho our poet seems to have had his eye upon Turnussspeech in the last verse, Lord Percy sees my
Size: 1321px × 1890px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttheses, bookyear1911
