the north. Much of the night is to pass. He nods by
the mossy rock. Hark! the whirlwind is in the woods! A
low murmur in the vale! It is the mighty army of the
dead returning from the air. The moon rests behind the
hill. The beam is still on the lofty rock. Long are
the shadows of the trees. Now it is dark all over.
Night is dreary, silent, and dark. Receive me, my
friends, from the night."

The chief replies:

"Let clouds rest on the hills, spirits fly, and
travellers fear. Let the winds of the woods arise, the
sounding storms descend. Roar streams, and windows
flap, and green-winged meteors fly! Let the pale moon,
from behind the hills, enclose her head in clouds!
Night is alike to me, blue, stormy, or gloomy the sky.
Night flies before the beam when it is poured on the
hill. The young day returns from his clouds, but we
return no more.... Raise the song, and strike the
harp; send round the shells of joy. Suspend a hundred
tapers on high. Maids and youths, begin to dance. Let
some grey bard be near me to tell the deeds of other
times, of kings renowned in our land, of chiefs we
behold no more. Thus let the night pass until morning
shall appear on our hills. Then let the bow be at
hand, the dogs, the youths of the chase. We shall
ascend the hill with day, and awake the deer."

From the foregoing, we obtain a glimpse of the superstitions and
customs of remote ages. Greek mythology is confessedly the creation
of poets; and to the bards of our own country we are indebted for some
of our strangest fictions. Fletcher of Saltoun must have been fully
aware of the poetic influence; for he expressed himself as willing to
let any one who pleased make the laws, if he were permitted to compose
the national ballads.

CHAPTER XVII.

Shakspeare--An Outline of his Composition--"The
Tempest"--Ship at Sea in a Storm--Miranda beseeching
Prospero to allay the Wild Waters--Ariel's Readiness
to serve his Master--The Witch Sycorax--Ariel kept in
a Cloven Pine twelve years--Caliban's Evil
Wish--Mischief by Ariel--Neptune chased--Charmed
Circle--Miracles--"Midsummer Night's Dream"--Exploits
of a Fairy--Doings of Puck--Charmed Flower--Titania
and her Attendants--Ghosts and
Spirits--Song--"Macbeth"--Weird Sisters--Hecate an