Doing research on my family tree a little over a year ago I found that I had ties through my paternal grandmother to Scotland and the McLeod clan. One of the things that really resonated with me was the clan motto, ‘Hold Fast’.
The story goes that there was a poor clansman who was tied to a stake in a pen for killing a deer to feed his family. His punishment was to be gored to death by a bull. No one said anything to their Argyll host until the Chief of the Clan McLeod asked for the man to be released as a gesture of good will. The host suggested the poacher would be spared if the McLeod could stop the bull. As the gate to the pen was opened the Chieftain grabbed the bull by horns to shouts of “Hold Fast Mcleod! Hold Fast!” A motto was born.
Of course bulls and poaching aren’t what I think about when I hear the words ‘Hold Fast’. I think of two hands clasped. Partners in life. Words tumble through my head like roll call. Be true to yourself. Believe. Trust. Hang on.
An image comes to mind. It’s the waterfall scene from the movie The Last of the Mohicans. Can anyone forget Daniel Day Lewis (as Nathaniel) holding Madeline Stowe (as Cora) and saying the lines…
“You stay alive! If they don’t kill you they’ll take you north up to the Huron land. Submit! Do you hear! Be strong! You survive! Stay alive no matter what occurs! I WILL find you! No matter how long it takes. No matter how far. I will find you!
No matter what it takes. No matter how far. Looking into each other’s eyes we believe. She will hold on. He will come for her.
Do you think James Fenimore Cooper ever dreamed something he wrote and published in 1826 would be associated with something so swoon worthy? The Last of the Mohicans was meant to be the narration and history of one lone white man who chose the Indian way of life during The Seven Years War between France and Great Britain. Who’d have thought that it would be a topic of conversation on a romance blog on Valentines Day in 2008? That’s 182 years later. If that’s not holding fast I don’t know what is.
Hold Fast. What’s it mean to you? What do you think of when you see or hear the words?
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Hold Fast can mean so much on all planes - physical, emotional, spiritual. It’s like ‘This too shall pass’ for me. There are many times in life when the only thing getting you through the moment is knowing that if you can just hang on for one more moment and then another and another, it will get better.
Hold Fast, it could be argued, is the center of any romance. To hold on to each other when you aren’t even sure they are the right person to hold onto.
For some reason the scene that is in my head is from a McNaught (can’t remember title) where the hero jousts with the heroine’s family (who are his enemies). He refuses to hurt the heroine’s family because he loves her even though she can’t see her family is trying to kill him. I remember reading this story and practically shrieking at the heroine ‘they are killing him!!!!’.
He held fast to his love of his wife, who he didn’t believe loved him. In the end, in a romance, there is the reward. She loves him.
Okay, I’m rambling.
Cindys
by CIndyS
on February 15th, 2008 at 3:04 am
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Cindy, thanks for coming over and commenting. I didn’t think you were rambling. You made some great observations. You have me intrigued about the McNaught though. I don’t remember one with a joust, but it’s been forever since I read any of her older books.
We should get help to ask us remember.
by Rosie
on February 15th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
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I was recently shopping at the Grandville, MI. Goodwill Store and purchased an interesting small fine china plate for 10 cents. It had the words “MacLeod” on top with some pinkish-purple colored flowers (I don’t know what kind) on top of the word MacLeod and also on the bottom of the plate. It also had the words “Hold” and “Fast” on either side and below the word “MacLeod” with two red flagpoles on either side of a black bull’s head in the center. There also is a green with blue and red and yellow Scottish-tartan banner or ribbon on it. On the back of the plate it says Made in England by Royal Grafton Fine Bone China. I wanted to do some research to find out if MacLeod was a College or University. I guessed it was in either England or possibly Scotland. So I found you and thought you’d find this interesting! I have no idea how old this plate is or how much it’s worth, but i’d like to find out if possible. Thanks for any info. you have. Bye.
