The Fair Maid of Perth | Page 9

station at the Wicks of Baiglie may be
approached; and the traveller, by quitting his horse or equipage, and
walking a few hundred yards, may still compare the real landscape with
the sketch which we have attempted to give. But it is not in our power
to communicate, or in his to receive, the exquisite charm which
surprise gives to pleasure, when so splendid a view arises when least
expected or hoped for, and which Chrystal Croftangry experienced
when he beheld, for the first time, the matchless scene.
Childish wonder, indeed, was an ingredient in my delight, for I was not
above fifteen years old; and as this had been the first excursion which I
was permitted to make on a pony of my own, I also experienced the
glow of independence, mingled with that degree of anxiety which the
most conceited boy feels when he is first abandoned to his own
undirected counsels. I recollect pulling up the reins without meaning to
do so, and gazing on the scene before me as if I had been afraid it
would shift like those in a theatre before I could distinctly observe its
different parts, or convince myself that what I saw was real. Since that
hour, and the period is now more than fifty years past, the recollection
of that inimitable landscape has possessed the strongest influence over
my mind, and retained its place as a memorable thing, when much that
was influential on my own fortunes has fled from my recollection. It is
therefore unnatural that, whilst deliberating on what might be brought
forward for the amusement of the public, I should pitch upon some
narrative connected with the splendid scenery which made so much
impression on my youthful imagination, and which may perhaps have

that effect in setting off the imperfections of the composition which
ladies suppose a fine set of china to possess in heightening the flavour
of indifferent tea.
The period at which I propose to commence is, however, considerably
earlier of the remarkable historical transactions to which I have already
alluded, as the events which I am about to recount occurred during the
last years of the 14th century, when the Scottish sceptre was swayed by
the gentle but feeble hand of John, who, on being called to the throne,
assumed the title of Robert the Third.

CHAPTER II
.
A country lip may have the velvet touch; Though she's no lady, she
may please as much.
DRYDEN.
Perth, boasting, as we have already mentioned, so large a portion of the
beauties of inanimate nature, has at no time been without its own share
of those charms which are at once more interesting and more transient.
To be called the Fair Maid of Perth would at any period have been a
high distinction, and have inferred no mean superiority in beauty,
where there were many to claim that much envied attribute. But, in the
feudal times to which we now call the reader's attention, female beauty
was a quality of much higher importance than it has been since the
ideas of chivalry have been in a great measure extinguished. The love
of the ancient cavaliers was a licensed species of idolatry, which the
love of Heaven alone was theoretically supposed to approach in
intensity, and which in practice it seldom equalled. God and the ladies
were familiarly appealed to in the same breath; and devotion to the fair
sex was as peremptorily enjoined upon the aspirant to the honour of
chivalry as that which was due to Heaven. At such a period in society,
the power of beauty was almost unlimited. It could level the highest
rank with that which was immeasurably inferior.
It was but in the reign preceding that of Robert III. that beauty alone
had elevated a person of inferior rank and indifferent morals to share
the Scottish throne; and many women, less artful or less fortunate, had
risen to greatness from a state of concubinage, for which the manners

of the times made allowance and apology. Such views might have
dazzled a girl of higher birth than Catharine, or Katie, Glover, who was
universally acknowledged to be the most beautiful young woman of the
city or its vicinity, and whose renown, as the Fair Maid of Perth, had
drawn on her much notice from the young gallants of the royal court,
when it chanced to be residing in or near Perth, insomuch that more
than one nobleman of the highest rank, and most distinguished for
deeds of chivalry, were more attentive to exhibit feats of horsemanship
as they passed the door of old Simon Glover, in what was called
Couvrefew, or Curfew, Street, than to distinguish themselves in the
tournaments, where the noblest dames of Scotland were spectators of
their address. But