1. Fair as the earliest beam, etc. "This introductory stanza is well worked in with the story. The morning beam 'lights the fearful path on mountain side' which the two heroes of the poem are to traverse, and the comparison which it suggest enlists our sympathy for Roderick, who is to be the victim of defeat" (Taylor). 5. And lights, etc. The MS. has "And lights the fearful way along its side." 10. Sheen. See on i. 208. 14. The dappled sky. Cf. Milton, L'Allegro, 44: "Till the dappled dawn doth rise;" and Shakespeare, Much Ado, v. 3. 25: "and look, the gentle day, Before the wheels of Phoebus, round about Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray." 15. By. The word is used for the rhyme, but perhaps gives the idea of a hurry--muttered off the prayers. 16. Steal. The word here is expressive of haste. 18. Gael. "The Scottish Highlander calls himself, Gael, or Gaul, and terms the Lowlanders Sassenach, or Saxons" (Scott). 22. Wildering. Bewildering. See on i. 274 above. For winded, see on i. 500. 32. Bursting through. That is, as it burst through--"a piece of loose writing" (Taylor). 36. At length, etc. The MS. reads: "At length they paced the mountain's side, And saw beneath the waters wide." 44. The rugged mountain's scanty cloak, etc. The MS. reads: "The rugged mountain's stunted screen Was dwarfish | shrubs | with cliffs between." | copse | 46. Shingles. Gravel or pebbles. See on iii. 171 above. Taylor says: "Note how the details of this description are used in stanza ix.--shingles, bracken, broom." 51. Dank. Damp, moist. Cf. Shakespeare, R. and J. ii. 3. 6: "and night's dank dew;" Milton, Sonnet to Mr. Lawrence: "Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire," etc. 64. Sooth to tell. To tell the truth. See on i. 476 above. Sooth to say, to say sooth, in sooth, in good sooth, etc., are common in old writers. Cf. the Lay, introd. 57: "the sooth to speak." 65. To claim its aid. The MS. has "to draw my blade." 78. Enough. Suffice it that. 81. A knight's free footsteps, etc. The MS. reads: "My errant footsteps | far and wide." A Knight's bold wanderings | 86. I urge thee not. The MS. has "I ask it not," and in 95 "hall" for Doune. 106. Outlawed. The 1st ed. has "exiled." 108. In the Regent's court, etc. Cf. ii. 221 above. 124. Albany. The Regent of 108 above. He was the son of a younger brother of James III., who had been driven into exile by his brother's attempts on his life. He took refuge in France, where his son was made Lord High Admiral. On the death of James IV. he was called home by the Scottish nobles to assume the regency.