Maida (dog)
Maida (1816-1824[1]) was a deerhound belonging to Sir Walter Scott,[2] reported to be his favourite dog. Named after the Battle of Maida, which took place in 1806, he was a gift from Alexander Macdonell of Glengarry,[1] a friend of Scott, and whose brother led the 78th Highlanders in the battle, a victory for the British against the French in the Napoleonic Wars.
Scott wrote to his son Charles that "Old Maida died suddenly in his straw last week, after a good supper, which, considering his weak state, was rather a deliverance; he is buried below his monument, on which the following epitaph is engraved in Latin [Maidae marmorea dormis sub imagine Maida / Ante fores domini sit tibi terra levis],[3] thus Englished by an eminent hand : -
- 'Beneath the sculptured form which late you bore,
- Sleep soundly Maida at your master's door.'"[4]
The monument mentioned is a statue of the dog at the hall door of Scott's home, Abbotsford House.[4]
A statue of Scott at the Scott Monument in Edinburgh includes Maida gazing up at the seated figure.[5] William Allan painted "Sir Walter Scott with His Dog 'Maida'" in 1831.[6] Alexander Nasmyth painted the dog alone.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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