Series 1 > Grameid: an heroic poem descriptive of the campaign of Viscount Dundee in 1689, and other pieces

423-4441 SCOTI GRAMEIDOS LIB. II.
63
Fertur, et ad nitidam Stobhalli substitit arcem.
Et jam census agit rationem, et nomine fisci
Exigit, immissis vicina per oppida turmis,
Publica finitimos et colligit aera per agros.
Sed jam Phoebus equis declivior exit anhelis,
Et nox atra polo nigrantibus incubat alis.
Indulgent placido dum cuncta animantia somno,
Et curas animo et duros posuere labores,1
Gramus equos atque arma vigil rapit ocius, acres
Et rauco ciet aere viros, illi ilicet omnes
Circumstant, saltuque ingentia membra caballis
Subjiciunt, et nota ducum vexilla sequuntur.
Ipse praeit, socios et sic hortatur euntes:
‘ Erigite in dubiis mavortia pectora rebus,
Invicti validis et fortia forte lacertis
Arma viri, duroque manus assuescite Marti.
Me deturbati patria de sede Monarchae
Torquet amor, qui nunc ignotis exulat oris,
Et cura innocui tangit praecordia nati,
Cogit et horrisoni tentare pericula belli.
Et magni jam Regis honos et gloria nostram
Poscit opem, simul et patriae titubantis imago
Here he makes valuations of cess,2 and raises the taxes in the name
of the Exchequer, parties being sent out to the neighbouring
towns; and he collects the public dues in the surrounding country.
When night had settled down upon the sky, and all things were
finding repose, the wakeful Graham quickly arms and mounts, and
calls up his men with trumpet sound. They soon gather around,
big men, yet taking the saddle at a bound, and forming up under
their various leaders. He himself goes before them, and thus
exhorts his friends : £ Rouse ye, and prepare to meet danger with
stout heart and hand. The love of the dethroned and exiled King,
and the welfare of his heir, stirs my heart, and moves me to try
the issues of war. The honour and glory of a great King claim
our aid, and the picture of our country falling, or, by our arms.
Roman road above the river. Does the word ‘ nitidam ’ mean that Stobhall
was then a white-washed house ?
1 Var. lect. A colon after ‘ labores.’
2 ‘ Census agit ’ will not scan. The reference is to the cess or assess taxes
which we know Claverhouse seized at Dunkeld, Perth, and Dundee, and col¬
lected throughout parts of Angus and Perth.