140 PROSERPINA. 



in my mind to work out the meaning of the fable in 

 the ninth chapter of Judges, from what I had seen 

 on that thorny ground of mine, where the bramble 

 was king over all the trees of the wood. But the 

 thoughts are gone from me now ; and as I re-read 

 the chapter of Judges, — now, except in my memory, 

 unread, as it chances, for many a year, — the sadness 

 of that story of Gideon fastens on me, and silences 

 me. This the end of his angel visions, and dream- 

 led victories, the slaughter of all his sons but this 

 youngest,* — and he never again heard of in Israel ! 



You Scottish children of the Rock, taught through 

 all your once pastoral and noble lives by many a 

 sweet miracle of dew on fleece and ground, — once 

 servants of mighty kings, and keepers of sacred 

 covenant ; have you indeed dealt truly with your 

 warrior kings, and prophet saints, or are these ruins 

 of their homes, and shrines, dark with the fire that 

 fell from the curse of Jerubbael ? 



* ' Jotham,' ' Sum perfectio eorum,' or ' Consummatio eorum.' (In- 

 terpretation of name in Vulgate Index. ) 



