315. All vantageless, etc. Scott says: "The duellists of former times
did not always stand upon those punctilios respecting equality of arms,
which are not judged essential to fair combat. It is true that in formal
combats in the lists the parties were, by the judges of the field, put
as nearly as possible in the same circumstances. But in private duel it
was often otherwise. In that desperate combat which was fought between
Quelus, a minion of Henry III. of France, and Antraguet, with two
seconds on each side, from which only two persons escaped alive, Quelus
complained that his antagonist had over him the advantage of a poniard
which he used in parrying, while his left hand, which he was forced
to employ for the same purpose, was cruelly mangled. When he charged
Antraguet with this odds, 'Thou hast done wrong,' answered he, 'to
forget thy dagger at home. We are here to fight, and not to settle
punctilios of arms.' In a similar duel, however, a young brother of the
house of Aubayne, in Angoulesme, behaved more generously on the like
occasion, and at once threw away his dagger when his enemy challenged it
as an undue advantage. But at this time hardly anything can be conceived
more horridly brutal and savage than the mode in which private quarrels
were conducted in France. Those who were most jealous of the point
of honor, and acquired the title of Ruffines, did not scruple to take
advantage of strength, numbers, surprise, and arms, to accomplish their
revenge."
329. By prophet bred, etc. See iii. 91 fol. above; and for the
expression cf. iv. 124.
347. Dark lightning, etc. The MS. has "In lightning flashed the Chief's
dark eye," which might serve as a comment on Dark lightning.