ruins were situated, and brawling in foam and fury with
every shelve and stone which obstructed its passage. A similar contrast was seen
between the level green meadow, in which the ruins were situated, and the large
timber-trees which were scattered over it, compared with the precipitous banks
which arose at a short distance around, partly fringed with light and feathery
underwood, partly rising in steeps clothed with purple heath, and partly more
abruptly elevated into fronts of grey rock, chequered with lichen, and with
those hardy plants which find root even in the most arid crevices of the crags.
    »There was the retreat of learning in the days of darkness. Mr. Lovel!« said
Oldbuck, - around whom the company had now grouped themselves while they admired
the unexpected opening of a prospect so romantic; - there reposed the sages who
were aweary of the world, and devoted either to that which was to come, or to
the service of the generations who should follow them in this. I will show you
presently the library; - see that stretch of wall with square-shafted windows -
there it existed, stored, as an old manuscript in my possession assures me, with
five thousand volumes. And here I might well take up the lamentation of the
learned Leland, who, regretting the downfall of the conventual libraries,
exclaims, like Rachel weeping for her children, that if the Papal laws, decrees,
decretals, clementines, and other such drugs of the devil - yea, if Heytesburg's
sophisms, Porphyry's universals, Aristotle's logic, and Dunse's divinity, with
such other lousy legerdemains (begging your pardon, Miss Wardour) and fruits of
the bottomless pit, - had leaped out of our libraries, for the accommodation of
grocers, candlemakers, soapsellers, and other worldly occupiers, we might have
been therewith contented. But to put our ancient chronicles, our noble
histories, our learned commentaries, and national muniments, to such offices of
contempt and subjection, has greatly degraded our nation, and showed ourselves
dishonoured in the eyes of posterity to the utmost stretch of time - O
negligence most unfriendly to our land!«
    »And, O John Knox,« said the Baronet, »through whose influence, and under
whose auspices, the patriotic task was accomplished!«
    The Antiquary, somewhat in the situation of a woodcock caught in his own
springe, turned short round and coughed, to excuse a slight blush as he mustered
his answer - »as to the Apostle of the Scottish Reformation« -
    But Miss Wardour broke in to interrupt a conversation so