A book of Highland minstrelsy . d itself was generally haunted, especially on the approach of adeath among the neighbouring inhabitants. The spectre seen by thetraveller had its face hidden — a circumstance usually held to portend evilto the spectator himself, who saw in the muffled form his shadowy like-ness. The gazer, when such an appearance came before him, could, byreversing his plaid or any other part of his vestments, ascertain this factto his satisfaction, as the spectre, if his own, would undergo a similarchange. The Legend of Montrose illustrates this most dramatically inthe dialogue
A book of Highland minstrelsy . d itself was generally haunted, especially on the approach of adeath among the neighbouring inhabitants. The spectre seen by thetraveller had its face hidden — a circumstance usually held to portend evilto the spectator himself, who saw in the muffled form his shadowy like-ness. The gazer, when such an appearance came before him, could, byreversing his plaid or any other part of his vestments, ascertain this factto his satisfaction, as the spectre, if his own, would undergo a similarchange. The Legend of Montrose illustrates this most dramatically inthe dialogue between Eanald of the Mist and Allan Macaulay. The compatibility of such a superstitious disposition with a religiousand sincere faith has been before commented on; the effect of thosevisions would be to sink every serious Highlander on his knees. In hishabitual reference of every occurrence, natural or extraordinary, to thewatchful superintendence of an all-wise Deity, the Gael has left hisposterity a lesson of true THE PORTENTS OF THE NIGHT. What saw ye outbye in the gloamin, guderaan ?Your teeth chatter sairly, your colour is wan !Did ye venture the pass o the mountain by night ?Ye surely have witnessed some terrible sight;Was it aught o this warld, or a kelpie, or sprite ? I cam by the pass o the mountain, Ill never return a the days of my life;The calm caller moonlight was stirred on the cragsBy the glinting of harness, the fluttering of flags ; 264 €f)t ^ortcnt^ of ti)t iStgijt. A troop of armed horsemen rode gallantly byWhere a goat couldna creep on the precipice high,In a long single file, horse by horse, round the cliff;The flash o their weapons gaed past in a never was seen at sic hour, in sic rider or steed of this earths mortal race;And I knelt there in fear wi my plaid on my face. That troop boded naething but evil, gudeman ; The voice o dissension is loud in the Ian; The horse o the Saxon shall trample the vale, And f
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