The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

WOODSTOCK. 33
various factions. But the general stream of report, so far as Woodstock
was concerned, had of late run uniformly in one direction. Day after day
they had been informed, that the fatal fiat of Parliament had gone out, for
selling the park of Woodstock, destroying its lodge, disparking its forest, and
erasing, as far as they could be erased, all traces of its ancient fame. Many
of the citizens were likely to be sufferers on this occasion, as several of
them enjoyed, either by sufferance or right, various convenient privileges
of pasturage, cutting firewood, and the like, in the royal chase; and all
the inhabitants of the little borough were hurt to think, that the scenery
of the place was to be destroyed, its edifices ruined, and its honours rent
away. This is a patriotic sensation often found in such places, which
ancient distinctions and long-cherished recollections of former days, render
so different from towns of recent date. The natives of Woodstock felt it in
the fullest force. They had trembled at the anticipated calamity; but now,
when it was announced by the appearance of those dark, stern, and at the
same time omnipotent soldiers - now that they heard it proclaimed by the
mouth of one of their military preachers -they considered their fate as
inevitable. The causes of disagreement among themselves were for the
time forgotten, as the congregation, dismissed without psalmody or benediction, went slowly and mournfully homeward, each to his own place of
abode.
b~aphtr tlt junnh.
Come forth, old man-Thy daughter's side
Is now the fitting place for thee:
When time hath quell'd the oak's bold pride,
The youthful tendril yet may hide
The ruins of the parent tree.
WHEN the sermon was ended, the military orator wiped his brow; for,
notwithstanding the coolness of the weather, he was heated with the vehemence of his speech and action. He then descended from the pulpit, and
spoke a word or two to the corporal who commanded the party of soldiers,
who, replying by a sober nod of intelligence, drew his men together, and
marched them in order to their quarters in the town.
The preacher himself, as if nothing extraordinary had happened, left the
church and sauntered through the streets of Woodstock, with the air of a
stranger who was viewing the town, without seeming to observe that he was
himself in his turn anxiously surveyed by the citizens, whose furtive yet
frequent glances seemed to regard him as something alike suspected and
dreadful, yet on no account to be provoked. He heeded them not, but
stalked on in the manner affected by the distinguished fanatics of the day;
a stiff solemn pace, a severe and at the same time a contemplative look, like
that of a man discomposed at the interruptions which earthly objects forced
upon him, obliging him by their intrusion to withdraw his thoughts for an
instant from celestial things. Innocent pleasures of what kind soever they
held in suspicion and contempt, and innocent mirth they abominated. It
was, however, a cast of mind that formed men for great and manly actions,
as it adopted principle, and that of an unselfish character, for the ruling
motive, instead of the gratification of passion. Some of these men were
indeed hypocrites, using the cloak of religion only as a covering for their
ambition; but many really possessed the devotional character, and the severe
republican virtue, which others only affected. By far the greater number
VOL. X.-3