MACDUFF'S CROSS. INTRODUCTION. THESE few scenes had the honour to be included in a Miscellany, published in the year 1823, by Mrs. Joanna Baillie, and are here reprinted, to unite them with the trifles of the same kind which owe their birth to the author. The singular history of the Cross and Law of Clan MacDuff is given, at length enough to satisfy the keenest antiquary, in The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.* It is here only necessary to state that the Cross was a place of refuge to any person related to MacDuff, within the ninth degree, who, having committed homicide in sudden quarrel, should reach this place, prove his descent from the Thane of Fife, and pay a certain penalty. The shaft of the Cross was destroyed at the Reformation. The huge block of stone which served for its pedestal is still in existence near the town of Newburgh, on a kind of pass which commands the county of Fife to the southward, and to the north, the windings of the magnificent Tay and fertile country of Angusshire. The Cross bore an inscription, which is transmitted to us in an unintelligible form by Sir Robert Sibbald. ABBOTSFORD, January, 1830. PRELUDE. NAY, smile not, Lady, when I speak of witchcraft, And say that still there lurks amongst Some touch of strange enchantment.— rock, Detach'd by storm and thunder,-'t was the pedestal On which, in ancient times, a Cross was rear'd, Carved o'er with words which foil'd philologists; And the events it did commemorate Were dark, remote, and undistinguishable, As were the mystic characters it bore. * Vol. iv. p. 266, in the Appendix to Lord Soulis, "Law of Claṇ McDuff," But, mark, a wizard, born on Avon's bank, Tuned but his harp to this wild northern theme, And, lo! the scene is hallow'd. None shall pass, Now, or in after days, beside that stone, But he shall have strange visions; thoughts and words, That shake, or rouse, or thrill the human heart, Shall rush upon his memory when he hears The spirit-stirring name of this rude symbol ; Oblivious ages, at that simple spell, Shall render back their terrors with their woes, Alas! and with their crimes-and the proud phantoms Shall move with step familiar to his SCENE 1. The summit of a Rocky Pass near to Newburgh, about two miles from the ancient Abbey of Lindores, in Fife. In the centre is MacDuff's Cross, an antique Monument, and, at a small distance, on one side, a Chapel, with a Lamp burning. Enter, as having ascended the Pass, NINIAN and WALDHAVE, Monks of Lindores. NINIAN crosses himself, and seems to recite his devotions, WALDHAVE stands gazing on the prospect, as if in deep contemplation. NIN. Here stands the Cross, good brother, consecrated By the bold Thane unto his patron saint Magridius, once a brother of our house. Canst thou not spare an ave or a creed? Or hath the steep ascent exhausted you? You trode it stoutly, though 'twas rough and toilsome. WAL. I have trode a rougher. NIN. On the Highland hillsScarcely within our sea-girt province here, Unless upon the Lomonds or Bennarty. WAL. I spoke not of the literal path, good father, But of the road of life which I have travell'd, Ere I assumed this habit; it was bounded, Hedged in, and limited by earthly prospects, As ours beneath was closed by dell and thicket. Here we see wide and far, and the broad sky. With wide horizon, opens full around, While earthly objects dwindle. Brother Ninian, Fain would I hope that mental elevation Could raise me equally o'er worldly thoughts, And place me nearer heaven. NIN. 'Tis good morality.-But yet forget not, That though we look on heaven from this high eminence, Yet doth the Prince of all the airy space, Arch-foe of man, possess the realms between. WAL. Most true, good brother; and men may be farther From the bright heaven they aim at, even because They deem themselves secure on't. NIN. (after a pause). You do gazeStrangers are wont to do so-on the prospect. Yon is the Tay roll'd down from Highland hills, That rests his waves, after so rude a race, In the fair plains of Gowrie- farther westward, Proud Stirling rises-yonder, to the east, Dundee, the gift of God, and fair Montrose, And still more northward lie the ancient towers WAL. Of Edzell. NIN. And that the lady threw herself be tween : That then De Berkeley dealt the Baron's death-wound. Enough, that from that time De Berkeley bore A spear in foreign wars. But, it is said, He hath return'd of late; and, therefore, brother, The Prior hath ordain'd our vigil here, To watch the privilege of the sanctuary, And rights of Clan MacDuff. come from Rome, And do not know our ancient usages. Know then, when fell Macbeth beneath the arm Of the predestined knight, unborn of woman, Three boons the victor ask'd, and thrice did Malcolm, Stooping the sceptre by the Thane restored, Assent to his request. And hence the rule, How? know you the That first when Scotland's King assumes the crown, towers of Edzell? NIN. Then have you heard a tale Which when he tells, the peasant shakes his head, And shuns the mouldering and deserted walls. WAL. Why, and by whom, deserted? NIN. Long the tale-Enough to say that the last Lord of Edzell, Bold Louis Lindesay, had a wife, and found WAL. Enough is said, indeed-since a weak woman. Ay, and a tempting fiend, lost Paradise, When man was innocent. NIN. They fell at strife, Men say, on slight occasion: that fierce Lindesay Did bend his sword against De Berkeley's breast, MacDuff's descendant rings his brow with it: And hence, when Scotland's King calls forth his host, MacDuff's descendant leads the van in battle: And last, in guerdon of the crown restored, Red with the blood of the usurping tyrant, The right was granted in succeeding time, That if a kinsman of the Thane of Fife Commit a slaughter on a sudden impulse, And fly for refuge to this Cross MacDuff, For the Thane's sake he shall find sanctuary; For here must the avenger's step be stayed, And here the panting homicide find And, at thy word, the hurrying fugitive safety. WAL. And here a brother of your order watches, To see the custom of the place observed? NIN. Even so;-such is our convent's holy right, Since Saint Magridius-blessed be his memory!— Did by a vision warn the Abbot Eadmir. And chief we watch, when there is bickering Among the neighbouring nobles, now most likely From this return of Berkeley from abroad, Having the Lindesay's blood upon his hand. WAL. The Lindesay, then, was loved among his friends? NIN. Honour'd and fear'd he wasbut little loved; For even his bounty bore a show of sternness; And when his passions waked, he was a Sathan Of wrath and injury. Should such arrive, must here find sanctuary; And, at thy word, the fiery-paced avenger Must stop his bloody course-e'en as swoln Jordan Controll'd his waves, soon as they touch'd the feet Of those who bore the ark. WAL. At midnight I relieve you on your watch, When we may taste together some refreshment: I have cared for it; and for a flask of wine There is no sin, so that we drink it not Until the midnight hour, when lauds have toll'd. Farewell a while, and peaceful watch be with you! [Exit towards the Chapel. WAL. It is not with me, and alas! alas! I know not where to seek it. This monk's mind more room. WAL. How now, Sir Priest! (fiercely) | Is with his cloister match'd, nor lacks Forgive me (recollecting himself)—I was dreaming Of an old baron, who did bear about him Some touch of your Lord Reynold. NIN. Lindesay's name, my brother, Indeed was Reynold ;—and methinks, moreover, That, as you spoke even now, have spoken. he would I brought him a petition from our convent: He granted straight, but in such tone and manner, By my good saint! I thought myself scarce safe Till Tay roll'd broad between us. I must now Unto the chapel-meanwhile the watch is thine; Its petty duties, formal ritual, Its humble pleasures and its paltry troubles, Fill up his round of life; even as some reptiles, They say, are moulded to the very shape, And all the angles of the rocky crevice, In which they live and die. But for myself, Retired in passion to the narrow cell, Couching my tired limbs in its recesses, So ill adapted am I to its limits, That every attitude is agony.How now! what brings him back? Re-enter NINIAN. NIN. Look to your watch, my brother; horsemen come : I heard their tread when kneeling in the chapel. WAL. (looking to a distance). My thoughts have rapt me more than thy devotion, Else had I heard the tread of distant horses Farther than thou couldst hear the sacring bell; But now in truth they come flight and pursuit Are sights I've been long strange to. NIN. See how they gallop down the opposing hill! Yon grey steed bounding down the headlong path, As on the level meadow; while the black, Urged by the rider with his naked sword, Stoops on his prey, as I have seen the falcon Dashing upon the heron.-Thou dost frown WAL. I'll not believe that ever the To lure the craven from the enchanted |