MacGregor defenceless
and unarmed.' His foeman, conjectured to be one of the MacLarens,
entered and paid his compliments, inquiring after the health of his
formidable neighbor. Rob Roy maintained a cold, haughty civility during
their short conference; and so soon as he had left the house, 'Now,' he
said, 'all is over--let the piper play Ha til mi tulidh' [we return no
more], and he is said to have expired before the dirge was finished."

605. Grim and still. Originally "stern and still." In a note to the
printer, sent with the final stanzas, Scott writes: "I send the grand
finale, and so exit the Lady of the Lake from the head she has tormented
for six months. In canto vi. stanza 21,--stern and still, read grim and
still; sternly occurs four lines higher. For a similar reason, stanza
24,--dun deer read fleet deer."

608. And art thou, etc. The MS. has "'And art thou gone,' the Minstrel
said."

609. Foeman's. Misprinted "foeman's" in some eds.

610. Breadalbane. See on ii. 416 above.

614. The shelter, etc. The MS. has "The mightiest of a mighty line."

631. Even she. That is, Ellen.

638. Storied. Referring to the scenes depicted on the painted glass.
Cf. Milton, Il Penseroso, 159: "And storied windows, richly dight." The
change of tense in fall is of course for the rhyme; but we might expect
"lighten" for lightened.

643. The banquet, etc. The MS. reads:

"The banquet gay, the chamber's pride,
Scarce drew one curious glance aside;"

and in 653, "earnest on his game."

665. Of perch and hood. That is, of enforced idleness. See on ii. 525
above. In some eds. this song is printed without any division into
stanzas.

670. Forest. The 1st ed. and that of 1821 have "forests," but we suspect
that Scott wrote forest.

672. Is meet for me. The MS. has "was meant for me." For the ellipsis,
cf. 540 above.

674. From yon dull steeple's," etc. The MS. has "From darkened
steeple's" etc. See on v. 558 above.

677. The lark, etc. The MS. has "The lively lark my matins rung," and
"sung" in the rhyme. The omission of to with ring and sing is here a
poetic license; but in Elizabethan English it is common in many cases
where it would not now be admissible. Cf. Othello, ii. 3. 190: "you were
wont be civil;" F. Q. i. 1. 50: "He thought have slaine her," etc.

680. A hall, etc. The MS. has "a hall should harbor me."

683. Fleet deer. See on 605 above.

707. At morning prime. Ear