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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: In this he has been held by excellent judges to have been in some
degree successful. The contempt of commerce entertained by young
men having some pretence to gentility, the poverty of the country
of Scotland, the national disposition to wandering and to
adventure, all conduced to lead the Scots abroad into the
military service of countries which were at war with each other.
They were distinguished on the Continent by their bravery; but in
adopting the trade of mercenary soldiers, they necessarily
injured their national character. The tincture of learning,
which most of them possessed, degenerated into pedantry; their
good breeding became mere ceremonial; their fear of dishonour no
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