chronicles of the canongate-第58章
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e no greater examples of age than the Lowlands； where I was introduced to two ladies of high quality； one of whom （Lady Loudoun） in her ninety…fourth year； presided at her table with the full exercise of all her powers； and the other （Lady Eglintoun） had attained her eighty…fourth year； without any diminution of her vivacity； and little reason to accuse time of depredations on her beauty。'〃
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〃Lady Eglintoune； though she was now in her eighty…fifth year； and had lived in the retirement of the country for almost half a century； was still a very agreeable woman。 She was of the noble house of Kennedy； and had all the elevation which the consciousness of such birth inspires。 Her figure was majestic； her manners high…bred； her reading extensive； and her conversation elegant。 She had been the admiration of the gay circles of life； and the patroness of poets。 Dr。 Johnson was delighted with his reception here。 Her principles in church and state were congenial with his。 She knew all his merit； and had heard much of him from her son； Earl Alexander； who loved to cultivate the acquaintance of men of talents in every department。〃
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〃In the course of our conversation this day； it came out that Lady Eglintoune was married the year before Dr。 Johnson was born； upon which she graciously said to him； that she might have been his mother； and that she now adopted him； and when we were going away； she embraced him； saying； 'My dear son； farewell！' My friend was much pleased with this day's entertainment； and owned that I had done well to force him out。〃
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〃At Sir Alexander Dick's； from that absence of mind to which every man is at times subject； I told； in a blundering manner； Lady Eglintoune's complimentary adoption of Dr。 Johnson as her son； for I unfortunately stated that her ladyship adopted him as her son； in consequence of her having been married the year AFTER he was born。 Dr。 Johnson instantly corrected me。 'Sir； don't you perceive that you are defaming the Countess？ For； supposing me to be her son； and that she was not married till the year after my birth； I must have been her NATURAL son。' A young lady of quality who was present very handsomely said； 'Might not the son have justified the fault？' My friend was much flattered by this compliment； which he never forgot。 When in more than ordinary spirits； and talking of his journey in Scotland； he has called to me； 'Boswell； what was it that the young lady of quality said of me at Sir Alexander Dick's？' Nobody will doubt that I was happy in repeating it。〃
Note 5。EARL OF WINTON。
The incident here alluded to is thus narrated in Nichols' Progresses of James I。； Vol。III。 p。306：
〃The family〃 （of Winton） 〃owed its first elevation to the union of Sir Christopher Seton with a sister of King Robert Bruce。 With King James VI。 they acquired great favour； who； having created his brother Earl of Dunfermline in 1599； made Robert； seventh Lord Seton； Earl of Winton in 1600。 Before the King's accession to the English throne； his Majesty and the Queen were frequently at Seton； where the Earl kept a very hospitable table； at which all foreigners of quality were entertained on their visits to Scotland。 His Lordship died in 1603； and was buried on the 5th of April； on the very day the King left Edinburgh for England。 His Majesty； we are told； was pleased to rest himself at the south…west round of the orchard of Seton； on the highway； till the funeral was over； that he might not withdraw the noble company； and he said that he had lost a good； faithful； and loyal subject。〃NICHOLS' PROGRESSES OF K。 JAMES I。； VOL。III。 p。306。
Note 6。MACGREGOR OF GLENSTRAE。
〃The 2 of Octr： （1603） Allaster MacGregor of Glenstrae tane be the laird Arkynles； bot escapit againe； bot after taken be the Earle of Argyll the 4 of Januarii； and brought to Edr： the 9 of Januar： 1604； wt： 18 mae of hes friendes MacGregors。 He wes convoyit to Berwick be the gaird； conform to the Earle's promes； for he promesit to put him out of Scottis grund： Sua； he keipit an Hielandman's promes； in respect he sent the gaird to convoy him out of Scottis grund； bot yai wer not directit to pairt wt： him； bot to fetche him bak againe。 The 18 of Januar； he came at evin againe to Edinburghe； and upone the 20 day； he was hangit at the crosse； and ij of his freindes and name； upon ane gallows： himself being chieff； he was hangit his awin hight above the rest of hes freindis。〃BIRRELL'S DIARY； （IN DALZELL'S FRAGMENTS OF SCOTTISH HISTORY）；pp。60；61。
� NOTES TO THE HIGHLAND WIDOW。
Note 7。LOCH AWE。
〃Loch Awe； upon the banks of which the scene of action took place； is thirty…four miles in length。 The north side is bounded by wide muirs and inconsiderable hills； which occupy an extent of country from twelve to twenty miles in breadth； and the whole of this space is enclosed as by circumvallation。 Upon the north it is barred by Loch Eitive； on the south by Loch Awe； and on the east by the dreadful pass of Brandir； through which an arm of the latter lake opens； at about four miles from its eastern extremity； and discharges the river Awe into the former。 The pass is about three miles in length； its east side is bounded by the almost inaccessible steeps which form the base of the vast and rugged mountain of Cruachan。 The crags rise in some places almost perpendicularly from the water； and for their chief extent show no space nor level at their feet； but a rough and narrow edge of stony beach。 Upon the whole of these cliffs grows a thick and interwoven wood of all kinds of trees； both timber； dwarf； and coppice； no track existed through the wilderness； but a winding path； which sometimes crept along the precipitous height； and sometimes descended in a straight pass along the margin of the water。 Near the extremity of the defile； a narrow level opened between the water and the crag； but a great part of this； as well as of the preceding steeps； was formerly enveloped in a thicket； which showed little facility to the feet of any but the martens and wild cats。 Along the west side of the pass lies a wall of sheer and barren crags。 From behind they rise in rough； uneven； and heathy declivities； out of the wide muir before mentioned； between Loch Eitive and Loch Awe； but in front they terminate abruptly in the most frightful precipices； which form the whole side of the pass； and descend at one fall into the water which fills its trough。 At the north end of the barrier； and at the termination of the pass； lies that part of the cliff which is called Craiganuni； at its foot the arm of the lake gradually contracts its water to a very narrow space； and at length terminates at two rocks （called the Rocks of Brandir）； which form a strait channel； something resembling the lock of a canal。 From this outlet there is a continual descent towards Loch Eitive； and from hence the river Awe pours out its current in a furious stream； foaming over a bed broken with holes； and cumbered with masses of granite and whinstone。
〃If ever there was a bridge near Craiganuni in ancient times； it must have been at the Rocks of Brandir。 From the days of Wallace to those of General Wade； there were never passages of this kind but in places of great necessity； too narrow for a boat； and too wide for a leap； even then they were but an unsafe footway formed of the trunks of trees placed transversely from rock to rock； unstripped of their bark； and destitute of either plank or rail。 For such a structure there is no place in the neighbourhood of Craiganuni but at the rocks above mentioned。 In the lake and on the river the water is far too wide； but at the strait the space is not greater than might be crossed by a tall mountain pine； and the rocks on either side are formed by nature like a pier。 That this point was always a place of passage is rendered probable by its facility and the use of recent times。 It is not long since it was the common gate of the country on either side the river and the pass： the mode of crossing is yet in the memory of people living； and was performed by a little currach moored on either side the water； and a stout cable fixed across the stream from bank to bank； by which the passengers drew themselves across in the m
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