STANZA XIII.--"As their own Ocean-rocks hold _stance_." _John._--I do not know such an English word as _stance_. _Scott._--Then we'll make it one for the _nance_. IBID.--"And _newer_ standards fly." _James._--I don't like _newer_. _Scott._--"And _other_ standards fly." IBID.--"Or can thy memory fail to _quote_, Heard to thy cost the vengeful note." _James._--Would to God you would alter this _quote_! _John._--Would to God _I_ could!--I certainly should.-- _Scott._--"Or can thy memory fail to know, Heard oft before in hour of woe." Or-- "Or dwells not in thy memory still, Heard frequent in thine hour of ill." STANZA XV.--"Wrung forth by pride, _regret_, and shame." _James._--I have ventured to submit to your choice-- "Wrung forth by pride, _and rage_, and shame." _Regret_ appearing a faint epithet amidst such a combination of bitter feelings. _Scott._--Granted. {p.075} IBID.--"So mingle banner, wain, and gun, Where in one tide of horror run The warriors," etc. _James._--In the first place, warriors _running_ in a tide is a clashing metaphor; in the second, the warriors _running_ at all is a little homely. It is true, no doubt; but really running is little better than scampering. For these causes, one or both, I think the lines should be altered. _Scott._--You are wrong in one respect. A tide is always said to _run_,--but I thought of the tide without attending to the equivoque, which must be altered. Read,-- "Where the tumultuous flight rolls on." STANZA XVI.--"---- found _gallant_ grave." _James._--This is surely a singular epithet to a grave. I think the whole of this stanza eminently fine; and, in particular, the conclusion. _Scott._--"---- found _soldier's_ grave." ---- STANZA XXI.--"_Redoubted_ Picton's soul of fire." _James._--From long association, this epithet strikes me as conveying a semi-ludicrous idea. _Scott._--It is here appropriate, and your objection seems merely personal to your own association. IBID.--"Through his friends' heart to _wound_ his own." _James._--Quære--_Pierce_, or rather _stab_--_wound_ is faint. _Scott._--"Pierce." STANZA XXII.--"Forgive, _brave fallen_, the imperfect lay." _James._--Don't like "brave fallen" at all; nor "appropriate praise," three lines after. The latter in particular is prosaic. _Scott._--"Forgive, _brave dead_," ---- "_The dear-earned praise._" {p.076} CHAPTER XXXVI.