Dickwasmuchdisposedtotakethesword，buthisboldspiritwasquailedbythesupernaturalterrorsofthehall，andhethoughttounsheaththeswordfirst，mightbeconstruedintodefiance，andgiveoffencetothepowersoftheMountain。Hetookthebuglewithatremblinghand，andafeeblenote，butloudenoughtoproduceaterribleanswer。Thunderrolledinstunningpealsthroughtheimmensehall；horsesandmenstartedtolife；the，steedssnorted，stamped，grindedtheirbits，andtossedonhightheirheads-thewarriorssprungtotheirfeet，clashedtheirarmour，andbrandishedtheirswords。Dick’sterrorwasextremeatseeingthewholearmy，whichhadbeensolatelysilentasthegrave，inuproar，andabouttorushonhim。Hedroppedthehorn，andmadeafeebleattempttoseizetheenchantedsword；butatthesamemomentavoicepronouncedaloudthemysteriouswords：-
Woetothecoward，thateverhewasborn，Whodidnotdrawtheswordbeforeheblewthehorn！’’
Atthesametimeawhirlwindofirresistiblefuryhowledthroughthelonghall，boretheunfortunatehorse-jockeyclearoutofthemouthofthecavern，andprecipitatedhimoverasteep，bankofloosestones，wheretheshepherdsfoundhimthenextmorning，withjustbreathsufficienttotellhisfearfultale，afterconcludingwhichheexpired。
Thislegend，withseveralvariations，isfoundinmanypartsofScotlandandEngland-thesceneissometimeslaidinsomefavouriteglenoftheHighlands，sometimesinthedeepcoal-minesofNorthumberlandandCumberland，whichrunsofarbeneaththeocean。ItisalsotobefoundinReginaldScott’sbookonWitchcraft，whichwaswritteninthesixteenthcentury。Itwouldbeinvaintoaskwhatwastheoriginalofthetradition。
Thechoicebetweenthehornandswordmay，perhaps，includeasamoral，thatitisfool-hardytoawakendangerbeforewehavearmsinourhandstoresistit。
Althoughadmittingofmuchpoeticalornament，itisclearthatthislegendwouldhaveformedbutanunhappyfoundationforaprosestory，andmusthavedegeneratedintoamerefairytale。Dr。JohnLeydenhasbeautifullyintroducedthetraditioninhisScenesofInfancy：-
MysteriousRhymer，doomedbyfate’sdecree，StilltorevisitEildon’sfatedtree；
Whereofttheswain，atdawnofHallow-day，HearsthyfleetbarbwithwildimpatienceneighSaywhoishe，withsummonslongandhigh，Shallbidthecharmedsleepofagesfly，RollthelongsoundthroughEildon’scavernsvast，Whileeachdarkwarriorkindlesattheblast？
Thehorn，thefalchiongraspwithmightyhand，AndpealproudArthur’smarchfromFairy-land？
ScenesofInfancy，_PartI。_-
Inthesamecabinetwiththeprecedingfragment，thefollowingoccurredamongother_disjectamembra。_Itseemstobeanattemptatataleofadifferentdescriptionfromthelast，butwasalmostinstantlyabandoned。
Theintroductionpointsoutthetimeofthecompositiontohavebeenabouttheendoftheeighteenthcentury。
Fillabumper，’’saidtheKnight；theladiesmayspareusalittlelonger-FillabumpertotheArchdukeCharles。’’
Thecompanydidduehonourtothetoastoftheirlandlord。
ThesuccessoftheArchduke，’’saidthemuddyVicar，willtendtofurtherournegotiationatParis；andif’’
Pardontheinterruption，Doctor，’’quothathinemaciatedfigure，withsomewhatofaforeignaccent；butwhyshouldyouconnectthoseeventsunlesstohopethatthebraveryandvictoriesofouralliesmaysupersedethenecessityofadegradingtreaty？’’
Webegintofeel，Monsieurl’Abb，’’answeredtheVicar，withsomeasperity，thatacontinentalwarenteredintoforthedefenceofanallywhowasunwillingtodefendhimself，andfortherestorationofaroyalfamily，nobility，andpriesthood，whotamelyabandonedtheirownrights，isaburdentoomuchevenfortheresourcesofthiscountry。’’
AndwasthewarthenonthepartofGreatBritain，’’rejoinedtheAbb，agratuitousexertionofgenerosity？Wastherenofearofthewide-wastingspiritofinnovationwhichhadgoneabroad？Didnotthelaitytremblefortheirproperty，theclergyfortheirreligion，andeveryloyalheartfortheconstitution？Wasitnotthoughtnecessarytodestroythebuildingwhichwasonfire，eretheconflagrationspreadaroundthevicinity？’’
Yet，ifupontrial，’’saidtheDoctor，thewallswerefoundtoresistourutmostefforts，Iseenogreatprudenceinperseveringinourlabouramidthesmoulderingruins。’’
What，Doctor，’’saidtheBaronet，mustIcalltoyourrecollectionyourownsermononthelategeneralfast？-didyounotencourageustohopethattheLordofHostswouldgoforthwithourarmies，andthatourenemies，whoblasphemedhim，shouldbeputtoshame？’’
Itmaypleaseakindfathertochastenevenhisbelovedchildren，’’
answeredtheVicar。
Ithink，’’saidagentlemannearthefootofthetable，thattheCovenantersmadesomeapologyofthesamekindforthefailureoftheirpropheciesatthebattleofDumbar，whentheirmutinouspreacherscompelledtheprudentLesleytogodownagainstthePhilistinesinGilgal。’’
TheVicarfixedascrutinizingandnotaverycomplacenteyeuponthisintruder。Hewasayoungmanofmeanstature，andratherareservedappearance。
Earlyandseverestudyhadquenchedinhisfeaturesthegaietypeculiartohisage，andimpresseduponthemaprematurecastofthoughtfulness。
Hiseyehad，however，retaineditsfire，andhisgestureitsanimation。
Hadheremainedsilent，hewouldhavebeenlongunnoticed；butwhenhespoke，therewassomethinginhismannerwhicharrestedattention。
Whoisthisyoungman？’’saidtheVicarinalowvoice，tohisneighbour。
AScotchmancalledMaxwell，onavisittoSirHenry，’’wastheanswer。
Ithoughtso，fromhisaccentandhismanners，’’saidtheVicar。
Itmaybehereobserved，thattheNorthernEnglishretainrathermoreoftheancienthereditaryaversiontotheirneighboursthantheircountrymenoftheSouth。Theinterferenceofotherdisputants，eachofwhomurgedhisopinionwithallthevehemenceofwineandpolitics，renderedthesummonstothedrawing-roomagreeabletothemoresoberpartofthecompany。
Thecompanydispersedbydegrees，andatlengththeVicarandtheyoungScotchmanaloneremained，besidestheBaronet，hislady，daughters，andmyself。Theclergymanhadnot，itwouldseem，forgottheobservationwhichrankedhimwiththefalseprophetsofDunbar，forheaddressedMr。
Maxwelluponthefirstopportunity。
Hem！Ithink，sir，youmentionedsomethingaboutthecivilwarsoflastcentury？Youmustbedeeplyskilledinthem，indeed，ifyoucandrawanyparallelbetwixtthoseandthepresentevildays-dayswhichI
amreadytomaintainarethemostgloomythateverdarkenedtheprospectsofBritain。’’
Godforbid，Doctor，thatIshoulddrawacomparisonbetweenthepresenttimesandthoseyoumention。Iamtoosensibleoftheadvantagesweenjoyoverourancestors。Factionandambitionhaveintroduceddivisionamongus；butwearestillfreefromtheguiltofcivilbloodshed，andfromalltheevilswhichflowfromit。Ourfoes，sir，arenotthoseofourownhousehold；andwhilewecontinueunitedandfirm，fromtheattacksofaforeignenemy，howeverartful，orhoweverinveterate，wehave，Ihope，littletodread。’’
Haveyoufoundanythingcurious，Mr。Maxwell，amongthedustypapers？’’saidSirHenry，whoseemedtodreadarevivalofpoliticaldiscussion。
MyinvestigationamongstthemledtoreflectionswhichIhavejustnowhinted，’’saidMaxwell；andIthinktheyareprettystronglyexemplifiedbyastorywhichIhavebeenendeavouringtoarrangefromsomeofyourfamilymanuscripts。’’
Youarewelcometomakewhatuseofthemyouplease，’’saidSirHenry；theyhavebeenundisturbedforinanyaday，andIhaveoftenwishedforsomepersonaswellskilledasyouintheseoldpot-hooks，totellmetheirmeaning。’’
ThoseIjustmentioned，’’answeredMaxwell，relatetoapieceofprivatehistory，savouringnotalittleofthemarvellous，andintimatelyconnectedwithyourfamily：ifitisagreeable，Icanreadtoyoutheanecdotes，inthemodernshapeintowhichIhavebeenendeavouringtothrowthem，andyoucanthenjudgeofthevalueoftheoriginals。’’
Therewassomethinginthisproposalagreeabletoallparties。SirHenryhadfamilypride，whichpreparedhimtotakeaninterestinwhateverrelatedtohisancestors。Theladieshaddippeddeeplyintothefashionablereadingofthepresentday。LadyRatcliffandherfairdaughtershadclimbedeverypass，viewedeverypine-shroudedruin，heardeverygroan，andliftedeverytrap-door，incompanywiththenotedheroineofUdolpho。Theyhadbeenheard，however，toobserve，thatthefamousincidentoftheBlackVeilsingularlyresembledtheancientapologueoftheMountaininLabour，sothattheywereunquestionablycritics，aswellasadmirers。Besidesallthis，theyhadvalorouslymountedencroupebehindtheghostlyhorsemanofPrague，throughallhisseventranslators，andfollowedthefootstepsofMoorthroughtheforestofBohemia。Moreover，itwasevenhinted(butthiswasagreatermysterythanalltherest)，thatacertainperformance，calledthe_Monk，_inthreeneatvolumes，hadbeenseen，byapryingeye，intheright-handdraweroftheIndiancabinetofLadyRatcliff’sdressingroom。Thuspredisposedforwondersandsigns，LadyRatcliffandhernymphsdrewtheirchairsroundalargeblazingwood-fire，andarrangedthemselvestolistentothetale。TothatfireIalsoapproached，movedthereuntopartlybytheinclemencyoftheseason，andpartlythatmydeafness，whichyouknow，cousin，IacquiredduringmycampaignunderPrinceCharlesEdward，mightbenoobstacletothegratificationofmycuriosity，whichwasawakenedbywhathadanyreferencetothefateofsuchfaithfulfollowersofroyalty，asyouwellknowthehouseofRatcliffhaveeverbeen。Tothiswood-firetheVicarlikewisedrewnear，andreclinedhimselfconvenientlyinhischair，seeminglydisposedtotestifyhisdisrespectforthenarrationandnarratorbyfallingasleepassoonasheconvenientlycould。BythesideofMaxwell(bytheway，IcannotlearnthatheisintheleastrelatedtotheNithsdalefamily)
wasplacedasmalltableandacoupleoflights，bytheassistanceofwhichhereadasfollows：-
=JournalofJanVonEulen。=
Onthe6thNovember1645，I，JanVonEulen，merchantinRotterdam，embarkedwithmyonlydaughteronboardofthegoodvesselVryheidofAmsterdam，inordertopassintotheunhappyanddisturbedkingdomofEngland。7thNovember-abriskgale-daughtersea-sick-myselfunabletocompletethecalculationwhichIhavebegun，oftheinheritanceleftbyJaneLansacheofCarlisle，mylatedearwife’ssister，thecollectionofwhichistheobjectofmyvoyage。8thNovember-windstillstormyandadverse-ahorriddisasternearlyhappened-mydearchildwashedoverboardasthevessellurchedtoleeward-Memorandum，torewardtheyoungsailorwhosavedher，outofthefirstmonieswhichIcanrecoverfromtheinheritanceofherauntLansache。9thNovember-calm-P。M。lightbreezesfromN。N。W。Italkedwiththecaptainabouttheinheritanceofmysister-in-law，JaneLansache-Hesaysheknowstheprincipalsubject，whichwillnotexceed1000invalue。_N。B。_HeisacousintoafamilyofPetersons，whichwasthenameofthehusbandofmysister-in-law；sothereisroomtohopeitmaybeworthmorethanhereports。10thNovember，10A。M-
MayGodpardonalloursins！-AnEnglishfrigate，bearingtheParliamentflag，hasappearedintheoffing，andgiveschase-11A。M。Shenearsuseverymoment，andthecaptainofourvesselpreparestoclearforaction-
MayGodagainhavemercyuponus！’’
Here，’’saidMaxwell，thejournalwithwhichIhaveopenedthenarrationendssomewhatabruptly。’’
Iamgladofit，’’saidLadyRatcliff。
But，Mr。Maxwell，’’saidyoungFrank，SirHenry’sgrandchild，shallwenothearhowthebattleended？’’
Idonotknow，cousin，whetherIhavenotformerlymadeyouacquaintedwiththeabilitiesofFrankRatcliff。ThereisnotabattlefoughtbetweenthetroopsofthePrinceandoftheGovernment，duringtheyears17456，ofwhichheisnotabletogiveanaccount。Itistrue，Ihavetakenparticularpainstofixtheeventsofthisimportantperioduponhismemorybyfrequentrepetition。
No，mydear，’’saidMaxwell，inanswertoyoungFrankRatcliff-No，mydear，Icannottellyoutheexactparticularsoftheengagement，butitsconsequencesappearfromthefollowingletter，despatchedbyGarboneteVonEulen，daughterofourjournalist，toarelationinEngland，fromwhomsheimploredassistance。Aftersomegeneralaccountofthepurposeofthevoyage，andoftheengagement，hernarrativeproceedsthus：-
Thenoiseofthecannonhadhardlyceased，beforethesoundsofalanguagetomebuthalfknown，andtheconfusiononboardourvessel，informedmethatthecaptorshadboardedus，andtakenpossessionofourvessel。Iwentondeck，wherethefirstspectaclethatmetmyeyeswasayoungman，mateofourvessel，who，thoughdisfiguredandcoveredwithblood，wasloadedwithirons，andwhomtheywereforcingoverthesideofthevesselintoaboat。Thetwoprincipalpersonsamongourenemiesappearedtobeamanofatallthinfigure，withahigh-crownedhatandlongneckband，andshort-croppedheadofhair，accompaniedbyabluffopen-lookingelderlymaninanavaluniform。`Yarely！yarely！pullaway，myhearts！’saidthelatter，andtheboatbearingtheunluckyyoungmansooncarriedhimonboardthefrigate。Perhapsyouwillblamemeformentioningthiscircumstance；butconsider，mydearcousin，thismansavedmylife，andhisfate，evenwhenmyownandmyfather’swereinthebalance，couldnotbutaffectmenearly。
`Inthenameofhimwhoisjealous，eventoslaying，’saidthefirst’’-
