Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

"the crafty. '
121
supporters as well as those who deceived him, we are
unable to see the least bitterness in this. It is excel-
lent fooling, and occasionally the turns of phrase,
though exceedingly profane, are extremely funny
but there is no bitterness in it, nor cause of com-
plaint, that we can see. The only " personality
lies in the curious fact that both Pringle and Cleg-
horn were so lame as to use crutches when they
walked : whence " the great noise as if it had been
the noise of many chariots " which attended their
coming and going.
The picture of the rival power. Constable, long
before this time known as " the Crafty " among these
wild young Tories, forms an admirable pendant to that
of the two beasts :
—
And in those days and at that time there lived also a man
that was crafty in counsel and cunning in all manner of working;
and the man was an upright and a just man, one who
feared God and eschewed evil; and he never was accused
before any judge of fraud, or of perjury, or of deceit : for the
man was honourable among the sons of men.
And I beheld the man, and he was comely and well-favoured,
and he had a notable horn in his forehead with which he ruled
the nations.
And I saw the horn that it had eyes, and a mouth speaking
great things, and it magnified itself even to the Prince of the
host, and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised
and prospered.
And when this man saw the Book, and beheld the things
that were in the Book, he was troubled in spirit and much cast
down.
And he said unto himself, " Why stand I idle here, and why
do I not bestir myself ?—lo ! this Book shall become a de-
vouring sword in the hand of mine adversary, and with it will
he root up or loosen the horn that is in my forehead, and the
hope of my gains shall perish from the face of the, earth."
" ;