witnessed by Edith from the Gillies-hill*; Rebecca watches the attack on Torquilstone from a window of the castle +; and Allan-bane looks down upon the battle of Beal'-anduine from a height overhanging the Trosachs‡. The natural and sublime comparison of hostile ranks engaging to an agitated sea, is introduced in the four passages last referred to, in Risingham's narrative of the battle of MarstonMoors, in the description of the British line charging at Waterloo, and in the account of a similar movement by the French, in Paul's Letters. An approaching body of troops is likened to a dark cloud**. God and the Cause!" —'God and the King!' are the cries at Marston-Moor††. At Langside, God and the Queen!' resounded from the one party; God and the King!' thundered from the other‡‡. That fine incident in the battle of Flodden,

"Fast as shaft could fly,

Blood-shot his eyes, his nostrils spread,
The loose rein dangling from his head,
Housing and saddle bloody red,

Lord Marmion's steed rush'd by,"

Marmion, Canto VI. St. 27.

is introduced again in the engagement at Loudon-hill: 'At length horses, whose caparisons shewed that they

* Lord of the Isles, Canto VI. St. 20.

+ Ivanhoe, vol. ii. ch. 15.

§ Rokeby,

|| Field of Waterloo, St. 13.

Lady of the Lake, Canto VI. St. 15.
Canto I. St. 13.

¶ Letter VIII. 3d Ed. p. 162.

** As in Ivanhoe, vol. iii. ch. 14. Monastery, vol. iii. ch. 11.

Lady of the Lake, Canto VI. St. 15.

++ Rokeby, Canto I. St. 12.

‡‡ Abbot, vol. iii. ch. 10.

belonged to the Life-Guards, began to fly masterless out ' of the confusion. Dismounted soldiers next appeared, for

saking the conflict,' &c.-Tales of My Landlord, First Series, vol. iii. ch. 4.

It is thus a third time touched upon :

"But ere I cleared that bloody press,

Our northern horse ran masterless."

Rokeby, Canto I. St. 19.

And again in the Lord of the Isles:
“The Earl hath won the victory.

Lo! where yon steeds run masterless,
His banner towers above the press."

Canto VI. St. 18.

In the fight by Loch Katrine the armies suddenly shift

their ground:

"As the dark caverns of the deep

Suck the wild whirlpool in,

So did the deep and darksome pass
Devour the battle's mingled mass;
None linger now upon the plain,

Save those who ne'er shall fight again."

Lady of the Lake, Canto VI. St. 18.

And thus in the battle of Inverlochy:

'Allan's threats had forced his own clan from the spot, ' and all around had pressed onwards towards the lake, car❝rying before them noise, terror, and confusion, and leaving 'behind only the dead and the dying.'-Legend of Montrose, last vol. ch. 11.

The difficult subject of a tournament in which several knights engage at once, is admirably treated by the novelist in Ivanhoe, and by his rival in the Bridal of Triermain; and the leading thought in both descriptions is the sudden and tragic change from a scene of pomp, gaiety, and youthful pride, to one of misery, confusion, and death:

The tide of battle seemed to flow now toward the 'southern, now toward the northern extremity of the lists, as the one or the other party prevailed. Meantime the clang of the blows, and the shouts of the combatants 'mixed fearfully with the sound of the trumpets, and 'drowned the groans of those who fell, and lay rolling de'fenceless beneath the feet of the horses. The splendid 6 armour of the combatants was now defaced with dust and 'blood, and gave way at every stroke of the sword and 'battle-axe. The gay plumage, shorn from the crests, 'drifted upon the breeze like snow-flakes. All that was 'beautiful and graceful in the martial array had disappeared, and what was now visible was only calculated to ' awake terror or compassion.'-Ivanhoe, vol. i. ch. 12.

"The lists with painted plumes were strown,
Upon the wind at random thrown.—

The
spears drew blood, the swords struck flame,
And, horse and man, to ground there came
Knights, who shall rise no more!

Gone was the pride the war that graced,
Gay shields were cleft, and crests defaced,
And steel coats riven, and helms unbraced,

And pennons stream'd with gore.

And now the trumpet's clamours seem
Like the shrill sea-bird's wailing scream,
Heard o'er the whirlpool's gulphing stream,

The sinking seaman's knell!"

Bridal of Triermain, Canto II. St. 24.

In the following highly poetical passages, describing the awful spectacle of a conflagration, there are points of resemblance, if possible, more striking than any I have yet noticed :

"Matilda saw -for frequent broke

From the dim casements gusts of smoke,
Yon tower, which late so clear defined
On the fair hemisphere reclined,

Now, swathed within the sweeping cloud,
Seem giant-spectre in his shroud;
Till, from each loop-hole flashing light,
A spout of fire shines ruddy bright,

And, gathering to united glare,
Streams high into the midnight air,

A dismal beacon, far and wide

That wakened Greta's slumbering side."

Rokeby, Canto V. St. 34.

'The fire now began to rise high, and thick clouds of ⚫ smoke rolled past the window, at which Bertram and Din'mont were stationed. Sometimes, as the wind pleased, the 'dim shroud of vapour hid every thing from their sight; 'sometimes a red glare illuminated both land and sea, and 'shone full on the stern and fierce figures, who, wild with ❝ ferocious activity, were engaged in loading the boats. The 'fire was at length triumphant, and spouted in jets of

'flame out at each window of the burning building.'-Guy Mannering, vol. iii. ch. 9.

'One turret was now in bright flames, which flashed out furiously from window and shot-hole.'—Ivanhoe, vol. iii. ch. 1.

'Ravenswood- -was about to ascend the hill towards the 'castle, the broad and full conflagration of which now flung 'forth a high column of red light, that flickered far to sea'ward upon the dashing waves of the ocean.-Bride of Lammermoor, vol. ii. ch. 11.

The 'giant spectre' shall also make his appearance, though in a shroud of a different fashion.

"--the tower itself,-tall and narrow, and built of a greyish stone, stood glimmering in the moonlight, like the sheeted spectre of some huge giant.'-Bride of Lammermoor, vol. i. ch. 6.

A huge red glaring bonfire soon arose,-sending up a ' tall column of smoke and flame,-and illuminating the fero'cious faces and wild gestures of the rioters who surrounded 'the place, as well as the pale and anxious groupes of those who, from windows in the vicinage, watched the progress ' of this alarming scene.'-Heart of Mid-Lothian, vol. i. ch. 5.

"And in the red and dusky light

His comrade's face each warrior saw,
Nor marvell'd it was pale with awe."

Lord of the Isles, Canto V. St. 14.

"The alarm is caught-the draw-bridge falls,
The warriors hurry from the walls,
But, by the conflagration's light,

Upon the lawn renew the fight.