DORA MARCELLI,

THE LAST OF HER RACE.

А РОЕМ,

BY

DAVID WARDLAW SCOTT.

"All things that we ordained festival,
Turn from their office to black funeral:
Our instruments to melancholy bells;
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast;
Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change;
Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse,
And all things change them to the contrary."

Shakspere.

EDINBURGH:

WILLIAM TAIT, PRINCE'S STREET.

LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO. DUBLIN: J. CUMMING.

MDCCCXLIII.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by WILLIAM TAIT, Prince's Street.

PREFACE.

THE scene of this Poem lies chiefly near the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond, where Dora Marcelli dwelt under the guardianship of a Chief, to whose son, Aidan, she was betrothed a short time prior to the stirring events of the year 1745. When Prince Charles resolved on his enterprise, to regain, by a last effort, the throne of his ancestors, Aidan joined his standard, and became an active supporter of his claims; and the Author has taken advantage of this circumstance to delineate the leading features of a campaign so remarkable in Scottish history, so replete with romantic adventure, and so intimately connected with the family recollections and national feelings of our country.

By blending together the incidents of history, descriptions of manners and scenery, and reflections of his own mind, the Author has endeavoured to render his Poem at once interesting and instructive. How far he has been successful remains yet to be proved. He trusts, however,

that he is not mistaken in believing, that, amid many imperfections, it will be found to be in entire consonance with moral and religious principle, without which no work of fancy can be redeemed from contempt.

EDINBURGH, December, 1842.