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CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE,

CANTO III.

Note 1, page 12, line 5.

In "pride of place" here last the eagle flew. "Pride of place" is a term of falconry, and means See Macbeth, &c.j

the highest pitch of flight.

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"An Eagle towering in his pride of place

Was by a mousing Owl hawked at and hilled."

Note 2, page 13, line 9.

Such as Harmodius drew on Athens' tyrant lord. See the famous Song on Harmodius and Aristogiton. The best English translation is in Bland's Anthology, by Mr. Denman.

"With myrtle my sword will I wreathe," &c.

Note 3, page 13, line 17.

And all went merry as a marriage - bell.

On the night previous to the action, it is said that a hall was given at Brussels.

Notes 4 and 5, page 16, line 9.

And Evan's, Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears.

Sir Evan Cameron, and his descendant Donald, the "gentle Lochiel" of the "forty-five."

Note 6, page 16, line 10.

And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves. The wood of Soignies is supposed to be a remnant of the "forest of Ardennes," famous in Boiardo's Orlando, and immortal in Shakespeare's "As you like it." It is also celebrated in Tacitus as being the spot of successful defence by the Germans against the Roman encroachI have ventured to adopt the name connected with nobler associations than those of mere slaughter.

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Note 7, page 18, line 9.

I turn'd from all she brought to those she could not bring.

My guide from Mont St. Jean over the field seemed intelligent and accurate. The place where Major Howard fell was not far from two tall and solitary trees (there was a third cut down, or shivered in the battle) which stand a few yards from each other at a pathway's side. Benath these he died and was buried. The body has since been removed to England. A small hollow for the pressent marks where it lay, but will probably soon be effaced; the plough has been upon it, and the grain is,

After pointing out the different spots where Picton and other gallant men had perished; the guide said, “here Major Howard lay; I was near him when wounded." I told him my relationship, and he seemed then still more anxious to point out the particular spot and circumtances. The place is one of the most marked in the field from the peculiarity of the two trees abovementioned.

I went on horseback twice over the field, comparing it with my recollection of similar scenes. As a plain,

Waterloo seems marked out for the scene of some great action, though this may be mere imagination: I have viewed with attention those of Platea, Troy, Mantinea, Leuctra, Chaeronea, and Marathon; and the field around Mout St. Jean and Hougoumont appears to want little but a better cause, and that undefinable but impressive halo which the lapse of ages throws around a celebrated spot, to vie in interest with any or all of these, except perhaps the last mentioned.

Note 8, page 20, line 6.

Like to the apples on the Dead Sea's shore. The (fabled) apples on the brink of the lake Asphaltes were said to be fair without, and within ashes, Tacitus, Histor. I. 5. 7.

Note 9, page 23, line last.

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Vide

For sceptred cynics earth were far too wide a den.

The great error of Napoleon, "if we have writ our annals true," was a continued obstrusion on mankind of his want of all community of feeling for or with them; perhaps more offensive to human vanity than the active cruelty of more trembling and suspicius tyranny.

Such were his speeches to public assemblies as well as individuals; and the single expression which he is said to have used on returning to Paris after the Russian winter had destroyed his army, rubbing his hands over a fire, “This is pleasanter than Moscow," would probably alienate more favour from his cause than the destruction and reverses which led to the remark.

Note 10, pag 27, line 6.

What want these outlaws conquerors should have?

"What wants that knave

That a king should have?”

was King James's question on meeting Johnny Armstrong and his followers in full accoutrements.. See the Ballad.

Note 11, page 31, line 1.

*The castled crag of Drachenfels.

The castle of Drachenfels stands on the highest summit of "the Seven Mountains," over the Rhine banks; it is in ruins, and connected with some singular traditions: it is the first in view on the road from Bonn, but on the opposite side of the river; on this bank, nearly facing it, are the remains of another called the Jew's castle, and a large cross commemorative of the murder of a chief by his brother: the number of castles and cities along the course of the Rhine on both sides is very great, and their situations remarkably beautiful.

Note 12, page 33, line last.

The whiteness of his soul, and thus men o'er him wept.

The monument of the young and lamented General Marceau (killed by a rifle - ball at Alterkirchen on the last day of the fourth year of the French republic) still remains as described.`

The inscriptions on his monument are rather too long, and not required: his name was enough; France adored, and her enemies admired; both wept over him. His funeral was attended by the generals and detachments from both armies. In the same grave General Hoche is interred, a gallant man also in every sense

of the word, but though he distinguished himself greatly in battle, he had not the good fortune to die there; his death was attended by suspicions of poison.

A separate monument (not over his body, which is buried by Marceau's) is raised for him near Andernach, opposite to which one of his most memorable exploits was perfomed, in throwing a bridge to an island on the Rhine, The shape and style are different from that of Marceau's, and the inscription more simple and pleasing, "The Army of the Sambre and Meuse

"to its Commander in Chief

"Hoche."

This is all, and as it should be. Hoche was esteemed among the first of France's ealier generals before Buonaparte monopolized her triumphs. He was the destined commander of the invading army of Ireland,

Note 13, page 34, line 1.

Here Ehrenbreitstein, with her shattered wall. Ehrenbreitstein, i. e. "the broad Stone of Honour," one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, was dismantled and blown up by the French at the truce of Leoben. It had been and could only be reduced by famine or treachery. It yielded to the former, aided by surprise. After having seen the fortifications of Gibraltar and Malta, it did not much strike by comparison, but the situation is commanding, General Marceau besieged it in vain for some time, and I slept in a room where I was shown a window at which he is said to have been standing observing the progress of the siege by moonlight, when a ball struck immediately below it.

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