Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 1 - 1819.djvu/223

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE BRIDE OF LAMMERMOOR.
213

"It will be, however, one day," replied the Master; "men will not always start at these nick-names as at a trumpet-sound. As social life is better protected, its comforts will become too dear to be hazarded without some better reason than speculative politics."

"It is fine talking," answered Bucklaw; "but my heart is with the old song,—


"To see good corn upon the rigs,
And a gallows built to hang the Whigs,
And the right restored where the right should be,
O that is the thing that would wanton me."


"You may sing as loudly as you will, cantabit vacuus,"—answered the Master; "but I believe the Marquis is too wise—at least too wary, to join you in such a burthen. I suspect he alludes to a revolution in the Scottish Privy-council, rather than in the British kingdoms."

"O, confusion to your state-tricks," exclaimed Bucklaw, "your cold calculating manœuvres, which old gentlemen in