by Walter Scott
AUTHOR'S NOTES.
Note I., p. 22.--NORSE FRAGMENTS.
Near the conclusion of Chapter II, it is noticed that the old Norwegiansagas were preserved and often repeated by the fishermen of Orkney andZetland, while that language was not yet quite forgotten. Mr. Baikie ofTankerness, a most respectable inhabitant of Kirkwall, and an Orkneyproprietor, assured me of the following curious fact.
A clergyman, who was not long deceased, remembered well when someremnants of the Norse were still spoken in the island called NorthRonaldshaw. When Gray's Ode, entitled the "Fatal Sisters," was firstpublished, or at least first reached that remote island, the reverendgentleman had the well-judged curiosity to read it to some of the oldpersons of the isle, as a poem which regarded the history of their owncountry. They listened with great attention to the preliminarystanzas:--
"Now the storm begins to lour, Haste the loom of hell prepare, Iron sleet of arrowry shower Hurtles in the darken'd air."
But when they had heard a verse or two more, they interrupted thereader, telling him they knew the song well in the Norse language, andhad often sung it to him when he asked them for an old song. They calledit the Magicians, or the Enchantresses. It would have been singular newsto the elegant translator, when executing his version from the text ofBartholine, to have learned that the Norse original was still preservedby tradition in a remote corner of the British dominions. Thecircumstances will probably justify what is said in the text concerningthe traditions of the inhabitants of those remote isles, at thebeginning of the eighteenth century.
Even yet, though the Norse language is entirely disused, except in sofar as particular words and phrases are still retained, these fishers ofthe Ultima Thule are a generation much attached to these ancientlegends. Of this the author learned a singular instance.
About twenty years ago, a missionary clergyman had taken the resolutionof traversing those wild islands, where he supposed there might be alack of religious instruction, which he believed himself capable ofsupplying. After being some days at sea in an open boat, he arrived atNorth Ronaldshaw, where his appearance excited great speculation. He wasa very little man, dark-complexioned, and from the fatigue he hadsustained in removing from one island to another, appeared before themill-dressed and unshaved; so that the inhabitants set him down as one ofthe Ancient Picts, or, as they call them with the usual strong guttural,Peghts. How they might have received the poor preacher in thischaracter, was at least dubious; and the schoolmaster of the parish, whohad given quarters to the fatigued traveller, set off to consult withMr. S----, the able and ingenious engineer of the Scottish Light-HouseService, who chanced to be on the island. As his skill and knowledgewere in the highest repute, it was conceived that Mr. S---- could decideat once whether the stranger was a Peght, or ought to be treated assuch. Mr. S---- was so good-natured as to attend the summons, with theview of rendering the preacher some service. The poor missionary, whohad watched for three nights, was now fast asleep, little dreaming whatodious suspicions were current respecting him. The inhabitants wereassembled round the door. Mr. S----, understanding the traveller'scondition, declined disturbing him, upon which the islanders produced apair of very little uncouth-looking boots, with prodigiously thicksoles, and appealed to him whether it was possible such articles ofraiment could belong to any one but a Peght. Mr. S----, finding theprejudices of the natives so strong, was induced to enter the sleepingapartment of the traveller, and was surprised to recognise in thesupposed Peght a person whom he had known in his worldly profession ofan Edinburgh shopkeeper, before he had assumed his present vocation. Ofcourse he was enabled to refute all suspicions of Peghtism.
Note II., p. 23.--MONSTERS OF THE NORTHERN SEAS.
I have said, in the text, that the wondrous tales told by Pontoppidan,the Archbishop of Upsal, still find believers in the NorthernArchipelago. It is in vain they are cancelled even in the later editionsof Guthrie's Grammar, of which instructive work they used to form thechapter far most attractive to juvenile readers. But the same causeswhich probably gave birth to the legends concerning mermaids,sea-snakes, krakens, and other marvellous inhabitants of the NorthernOcean, are still afloat in those climates where they took their rise.They had their origin probably from the eagerness of curiositymanifested by our elegant poetess, Mrs. Hemans:
"What hidest thou in thy treasure-caves and cells, Thou ever-sounding and mysterious Sea?"
The additional mystic gloom which rests on these northern billows forhalf the year, joined to the imperfect glance obtained of occasionalobjects, encourage the timid or the fanciful to give way to imagination,and frequently to shape out a distinct story from some object half seenand imperfectly examined. Thus, some years since, a large object wasobserved in the beautiful Bay of Scalloway in Zetland, so much in vulgaropinion resembling the kraken, that though it might be distinguished forseveral days, if the exchange of darkness to twilight can be termed so,yet the hardy boatmen shuddered to approach it, for fear of being drawndown by the suction supposed to attend its sinking. It was probably thehull of some vessel which had foundered at sea.
The belief in mermaids, so fanciful and pleasing in itself, is ever andanon refreshed by a strange tale from the remote shores of some solitaryislet.
The author heard a mariner of some reputation in his class vouch forhaving seen the celebrated sea-serpent. It appeared, so far as could beguessed, to be about a hundred feet long, with the wild mane and fieryeyes which old writers ascribe to the monster; but it is not unlikelythe spectator might, in the doubtful light, be deceived by theappearance of a good Norway log floating on the waves. I have only toadd, that the remains of an animal, supposed to belong to this latterspecies, were driven on shore in the Zetland Isles, within therecollection of man. Part of the bones were sent to London, andpronounced by Sir Joseph Banks to be those of a basking shark; yet itwould seem that an animal so well known, ought to have been immediatelydistinguished by the northern fishermen.
Note III., p. 104.--SALE OF WINDS.
The King of Sweden, the same Eric quoted by Mordaunt, "was," says OlausMagnus, "in his time held second to none in the magical art; and he wasso familiar with the evil spirits whom he worshipped, that what waysoever he turned his cap, the wind would presently blow that way. Forthis he was called Windycap." _Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus.Romae, 1555._ It is well known that the Laplanders derive a profitabletrade in selling _winds_, but it is perhaps less notorious, that withinthese few years such a commodity might be purchased on British ground,where it was likely to be in great request. At the village of Stromness,on the Orkney main island, called Pomona, lived, in 1814, an aged dame,called Bessie Millie, who helped out her subsistence by sellingfavourable winds to mariners. He was a venturous master of a vessel wholeft the roadstead of Stromness without paying his offering topropitiate Bessie Millie; her fee was extremely moderate, being exactlysixpence, for which, as she explained herself, she boiled her kettle andgave the bark advantage of her prayers, for she disclaimed all unlawfularts. The wind thus petitioned for was sure, she said, to arrive, thoughoccasionally the mariners had to wait some time for it. The woman'sdwelling and appearance were not unbecoming her pretensions; her house,which was on the brow of the steep hill on which Stromness is founded,was only accessible by a series of dirty and precipitous lanes, and forexposure might have been the abode of Eolus himself, in whosecommodities the inhabitant dealt. She herself was, as she told us,nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy. Aclay-coloured kerchief, folded round her head, corresponded in colour toher corpse-like complexion. Two light-blue eyes that gleamed with alustre like that of insanity, an utterance of astonishing rapidity, anose and chin that almost met together, and a ghastly expression ofcunning, gave her the effect of Hecate. She remembered Gow the pirate,who had been a native of these islands, in which he closed his career,as mentioned in the preface. Such was Bessie Millie, to whom themariners paid a sort of tribute, with a feeling betwixt jest andearnest.
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br /> Note IV., p. 113.--RELUCTANCE TO SAVE A DROWNING MAN.
It is remarkable, that in an archipelago where so many persons must benecessarily endangered by the waves, so strange and inhuman a maximshould have ingrafted itself upon the minds of a people otherwise kind,moral, and hospitable. But all with whom I have spoken agree, that itwas almost general in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and waswith difficulty weeded out by the sedulous instructions of the clergy,and the rigorous injunctions of the proprietors. There is little doubtit had been originally introduced as an excuse for suffering those whoattempted to escape from the wreck to perish unassisted, so that, therebeing no survivor, she might be considered as lawful plunder. A storywas told me, I hope an untrue one, that a vessel having got ashore amongthe breakers on one of the remote Zetland islands, five or six men, thewhole or greater part of the unfortunate crew, endeavoured to land byassistance of a hawser, which they had secured to a rock; theinhabitants were assembled, and looked on with some uncertainty, till anold man said, "Sirs, if these men come ashore, the additional mouthswill eat all the meal we have in store for winter; and how are we to getmore?" A young fellow, moved with this argument, struck the rope asunderwith his axe, and all the poor wretches were immersed among thebreakers, and perished.
Note V., p. 121.--MAIR WRECKS ERE WINTER.
The ancient Zetlander looked upon the sea as the provider of his living,not only by the plenty produced by the fishings, but by the spoil ofwrecks. Some particular islands have fallen off very considerably intheir rent, since the commissioners of the lighthouses have orderedlights on the Isle of Sanda and the Pentland Skerries. A gentleman,familiar with those seas, expressed surprise at seeing the farmer of oneof the isles in a boat with a very old pair of sails. "Had it been Hiswill"--said the man, with an affected deference to Providence, veryinconsistent with the sentiment of his speech--"Had it been _His_ willthat light had not been placed yonder, I would have had enough of newsails last winter."
Note VI., p. 172.--ZETLAND CORN-MILLS.
There is certainly something very extraordinary to a stranger in Zetlandcorn-mills. They are of the smallest possible size; the wheel whichdrives them is horizontal, and the cogs are turned diagonally to thewater. The beam itself stands upright, and is inserted in a stone quernof the old-fashioned construction, which it turns round, and thusperforms its duty. Had Robinson Crusoe ever been in Zetland, he wouldhave had no difficulty in contriving a machine for grinding corn in hisdesert island. These mills are thatched over in a little hovel, whichhas much the air of a pig-sty. There may be five hundred such mills onone island, not capable any one of them of grinding above a sackful ofcorn at a time.
Note VII., p. 234.--THE SWORD-DANCE.
The Sword-Dance is celebrated in general terms by Olaus Magnus. He seemsto have considered it as peculiar to the Norwegians, from whom it mayhave passed to the Orkneymen and Zetlanders, with other northerncustoms.
"OF THEIR DANCING IN ARMS.
"Moreover, the northern Goths and Swedes had another sport to exerciseyouth withall, that they will dance and skip amongst naked swords anddangerous weapons. And this they do after the manner of masters ofdefence, as they are taught from their youth by skilful teachers, thatdance before them, and sing to it. And this play is showed especiallyabout Shrovetide, called in Italian _Macchararum_. For, beforecarnivals, all the youth dance for eight days together, holding theirswords up, but within the scabbards, for three times turning about; andthen they do it with their naked swords lifted up. After this, turningmore moderately, taking the points and pummels one of the other, theychange ranks, and place themselves in an triagonal figure, and this theycall _Rosam_; and presently they dissolve it by drawing back theirswords and lifting them up, that upon every one's head there may be madea square Rosa, and then by a most nimbly whisking their swords aboutcollaterally, they quickly leap back, and end the sport, which theyguide with pipes or songs, or both together; first by a more heavy, thenby a more vehement, and lastly, by a most vehement dancing. But thisspeculation is scarce to be understood but by those who look on, howcomely and decent it is, when at one word, or one commanding, the wholearmed multitude is directed to fall to fight, and clergymen may exercisethemselves, and mingle themselves amongst others at this sport, becauseit is all guided by most wise reason."
To the Primate's account of the sword-dance, I am able to add the wordssung or chanted, on occasion of this dance, as it is still performed inPapa Stour, a remote island of Zetland, where alone the custom keeps itsground. It is, it will be observed by antiquaries, a species of play ormystery, in which the Seven Champions of Christendom make theirappearance, as in the interlude presented in "All's Well that EndsWell." This dramatic curiosity was most kindly procured for my use byDr. Scott of Hazlar Hospital, son of my friend Mr. Scott of Mewbie,Zetland. Mr. Hibbert has, in his Description of the Zetland Islands,given an account of the sword-dance, but somewhat less full than thefollowing:
"WORDS USED AS A PRELUDE TO THE SWORD-DANCE, A DANISH OR NORWEGIANBALLET, COMPOSED SOME CENTURIES AGO, AND PRESERVED IN PAPA STOUR,ZETLAND.
PERSONAE DRAMATIS.[61]
(_Enter_ MASTER, _in the character of_ ST. GEORGE.)
Brave gentles all within this boor,[62] If ye delight in any sport, Come see me dance upon this floor, Which to you all shall yield comfort. Then shall I dance in such a sort, As possible I may or can; You, minstrel man, play me a Porte,[63] That I on this floor may prove a man.
(_He bows, and dances in a line._)
Now have I danced with heart and hand, Brave gentles all, as you may see, For I have been tried in many a land, As yet the truth can testify; In England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain, Have I been tried with that good sword of steel.
(_Draws, and flourishes._)
Yet, I deny that ever a man did make me yield; For in my body there is strength, As by my manhood may be seen; And I, with that good sword of length, Have oftentimes in perils been, And over champions I was king. And by the strength of this right hand, Once on a day I kill'd fifteen, And left them dead upon the land. Therefore, brave minstrel, do not care, But play to me a Porte most light, That I no longer do forbear, But dance in all these gentles' sight; Although my strength makes you abased, Brave gentles all, be not afraid, For here are six champions, with me, staid, All by my manhood I have raised.
(_He dances._)
Since I have danced, I think it best To call my brethren in your sight, That I may have a little rest, And they may dance with all their might; With heart and hand as they are knights, And shake their swords of steel so bright, And show their main strength on this floor, For we shall have another bout Before we pass out of this boor. Therefore, brave minstrel, do not care To play to me a Porte most light, That I no longer do forbear, But dance in all these gentles' sight.
(_He dances, and then introduces his knights, as under._)
Stout James of Spain, both tried and stour,[64] Thine acts are known full well indeed; And champion Dennis, a French knight, Who stout and bold is to be seen; And David, a Welshman born, Who is come of noble blood; And Patrick also, who blew the horn, An Irish knight, amongst the wood. Of Italy, brave Anthony the good, And Andrew of Scotland King; St. George of England, brave indeed, Who to the Jews wrought muckle tinte.[65] Away with this!--Let us come to sport, Since that ye have a mind to war, Since that ye have this bargain sought, Come let us fight and do not fear. Therefore, brave minstrel, do not care To play to me a Porte most light, That I no longer do forbear, But dance in all these gentles' sight.
(_He dances, and advances to JAMES of Spain._)
Stout James of Spain, both tried and stour, Thine acts are known full well indeed, Present thyself within our sight, Without either fear or dread. Count not for favour or for feid, Since of thy acts thou hast been sure; Brave James of Spain, I will thee lead, To prove thy manhood on this floor.
(JAMES _dances_.)
Brave c
hampion Dennis, a French knight, Who stout and bold is to be seen, Present thyself here in our sight, Thou brave French knight, Who bold hast been; Since thou such valiant acts hast done, Come let us see some of them now With courtesy, thou brave French knight, Draw out thy sword of noble hue.
(DENNIS _dances, while the others retire to a side_.)
Brave David a bow must string, and with awe Set up a wand upon a stand, And that brave David will cleave in twa.[66] (DAVID _dances solus._) Here is, I think, an Irish knight, Who does not fear, or does not fright, To prove thyself a valiant man, As thou hast done full often bright; Brave Patrick, dance, if that thou can.
(_He dances._)
Thou stout Italian, come thou here; Thy name is Anthony, most stout; Draw out thy sword that is most clear, And do thou fight without any doubt; Thy leg thou shake, thy neck thou lout,[67] And show some courtesy on this floor, For we shall have another bout, Before we pass out of this boor. Thou kindly Scotsman, come thou here; Thy name is Andrew of Fair Scotland; Draw out thy sword that is most clear, Fight for thy king with thy right hand; And aye as long as thou canst stand, Fight for thy king with all thy heart; And then, for to confirm his band, Make all his enemies for to smart.--(_He dances._)
(_Music begins._)
FIGUIR.[68]
"The six stand in rank with their swords reclining on their shoulders.The Master (St. George) dances, and then strikes the sword of James ofSpain, who follows George, then dances, strikes the sword of Dennis, whofollows behind James. In like manner the rest--the music playing--swordsas before. After the six are brought out of rank, they and the masterform a circle, and hold the swords point and hilt. This circle is dancedround twice. The whole, headed by the master, pass under the swords heldin a vaulted manner. They jump over the swords. This naturally placesthe swords across, which they disentangle by passing under their rightsword. They take up the seven swords, and form a circle, in which theydance round.
"The master runs under the sword opposite, which he jumps overbackwards. The others do the same. He then passes under the right-handsword, which the others follow, in which position they dance, untilcommanded by the master, when they form into a circle, and dance roundas before. They then jump over the right-hand sword, by which meanstheir backs are to the circle, and their hands across their backs. Theydance round in that form until the master calls 'Loose,' when they passunder the right sword, and are in a perfect circle.
"The master lays down his sword, and lays hold of the point of James'ssword. He then turns himself, James, and the others, into a clew. Whenso formed, he passes under out of the midst of the circle; the othersfollow; they vault as before. After several other evolutions, they throwthemselves into a circle, with their arms across the breast. Theyafterwards form such figures as to form a shield of their swords, andthe shield is so compact that the master and his knights dancealternately with this shield upon their heads. It is then laid down uponthe floor. Each knight lays hold of their former points and hilts withtheir hands across, which disentangle by figuirs directly contrary tothose that formed the shield. This finishes the Ballet.
"EPILOGUE.
Mars does rule, he bends his brows, He makes us all agast;[69] After the few hours that we stay here, Venus will rule at last.
Farewell, farewell, brave gentles all, That herein do remain, I wish you health and happiness Till we return again. [_Exeunt._"
The manuscript from which the above was copied was transcribed from _avery old one_, by Mr. William Henderson, Jun., of Papa Stour, inZetland. Mr. Henderson's copy is not dated, but bears his own signature,and, from various circumstances, it is known to have been written aboutthe year 1788.
Note VIII., p. 299--THE DWARFIE STONE.
This is one of the wonders of the Orkney Islands, though it has beenrather undervalued by their late historian, Mr. Barry. The island of Hoyrises abruptly, starting as it were out of the sea, which is contrary tothe gentle and flat character of the other Isles of Orkney. It consistsof a mountain, having different eminences or peaks. It is very steep,furrowed with ravines, and placed so as to catch the mists of theWestern Ocean, and has a noble and picturesque effect from all points ofview. The highest peak is divided from another eminence, called theWard-hill, by a long swampy valley full of peat-bogs. Upon the slope ofthis last hill, and just where the principal mountain of Hoy opens in ahollow swamp, or corrie, lies what is called the Dwarfie Stone. It is agreat fragment of sandstone, composing one solid mass, which has longsince been detached from a belt of the same materials, cresting theeminence above the spot where it now lies, and which has slid down tillit reached its present situation. The rock is about seven feet high,twenty-two feet long, and seventeen feet broad. The upper end of it ishollowed by iron tools, of which the marks are evident, into a sort ofapartment, containing two beds of stone, with a passage between them.The uppermost and largest bed is five feet eight inches long, by twofeet broad, which was supposed to be used by the dwarf himself; thelower couch is shorter, and rounded off, instead of being squared at thecorners. There is an entrance of about three feet and a half square, anda stone lies before it calculated to fit the opening. A sort of skylightwindow gives light to the apartment. We can only guess at the purpose ofthis monument, and different ideas have been suggested. Some havesupposed it the work of some travelling mason but the _cui bono_ wouldremain to be accounted for. The Rev. Mr. Barry conjectures it to be ahermit's cell; but it displays no symbol of Christianity, and the dooropens to the westward. The Orcadian traditions allege the work to bethat of a dwarf, to whom they ascribe supernatural powers, and amalevolent disposition, the attributes of that race in Norse mythology.Whoever inhabited this singular den certainly enjoyed
"Pillow cold, and sheets not warm."
I observed, that commencing just opposite to the Dwarfie Stone, andextending in a line to the sea-beach, there are a number of smallbarrows, or cairns, which seem to connect the stone with a very largecairn where we landed. This curious monument may therefore have beenintended as a temple of some kind to the Northern Dii Manes, to whichthe cairns might direct worshippers.
Note IX., p. 299.--CARBUNCLE ON THE WARD-HILL.
"At the west end of this stone, (_i. e._ the Dwarfie Stone,) stands anexceeding high mountain of a steep ascent, called the Ward-hill of Hoy,near the top of which, in the months of May, June, and July, aboutmidnight, is seen something that shines and sparkles admirably, andwhich is often seen a great way off. It hath shined more brightlybefore than it does now, and though many have climbed up the hill, andattempted to search for it, yet they could find nothing. The vulgartalk of it as some enchanted carbuncle, but I take it rather to be somewater sliding down the face of a smooth rock, which, when the sun,at such a time, shines upon, the reflection causeth that admirablesplendour."--DR. WALLACE'S _Description of the Islands of Orkney_,12mo, 1700, p. 52.
FOOTNOTES:
[61] So placed in the old MS.
[62] _Boor_--so spelt, to accord with the vulgar pronunciation of theword _bower_.
[63] _Porte_--so spelt in the original. The word is known as indicatinga piece of music on the bagpipe, to which ancient instrument, which isof Scandinavian origin, the sword-dance may have been originallycomposed.
[64] _Stour_, great.
[65] _Muckle tinte_, much loss or harm; so in MS.
[66] Something is evidently amiss or omitted here. David probablyexhibited some feat of archery.
[67] _Lout_--to bend or bow down, pronounced _loot_, as _doubt_ is_doot_ in Scotland.
[68] _Figuir_--so spelt in MS.
[69] _Agast_--so spelt in MS.
