[70] This is the subject of D. G. Rossetti’s fine poem, “The King’s Tragedy.”
[71] At the beginning of the action he had taken his place in front of his little
band of cavalry. He bade them follow him, and rode forward. But it seemed to
be decreed that, on that day, the lowland Scotch should in both armies appear to
disadvantage. The horse hesitated. Dundee turned round, stood up in his stirrups,
and, waving his hat, invited them to come on. As he lifted his arm, his cuirass
rose, and exposed the lower part of his left side. A musket ball struck him: his
horse sprang forward, and plunged into a cloud of smoke and dust, which hid
from both armies the fall of the victorious general. A person named Johnstone
was near him, and caught him as he sank down from the saddle. “How goes the
day?” said Dundee. “Well for King James,” answered Johnstone; “but I am sorry
for your lordship.” “If it is well for him,” answered the dying man, “it matters
the less for me.” He never spoke again: but when, half an hour later, Lord
Dunfermline and some other friends came to the spot, they thought that they
could still discover some faint remains of life. The body, wrapped up in two
plaids, was carried to the Castle of Blair.—Macaulay, chap. xiii.
[72] Æneid. lib. vii. l. 87.
[73] Milton.
END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CURIOSITIES OF
SUPERSTITION
This file should be named 41566-h.txt or 41566-h.zip
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/5/6/41566
Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed.
Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one owns a
United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy
and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying