“Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I.”
- Source
- The Lady of the Lake
- Date
- 1810
Meaning of “Come one, come all! this rock shall fly…”
Fitz-James refuses intimidation despite being surrounded, using the rock image to express a determination not to be moved from his position by threats.
Where does it come from?
The Lady of the Lake, Canto V, “The Combat,” stanza X, Project Gutenberg #45888. Fitz-James says “Come one, come all!” with his back against a rock after Roderick Dhu’s signal reveals armed followers around him. The defiant rock image is fictional martial speech in Scott’s historical romance in verse rather than current safety, combat or self-help advice.