sank in death; the freshness of its spirit, like morning dew sparkling on the heath flowers of Ellen's Isle; its exquisitely assorted and contrasted characters,—and because we have known from boyhood so well the scenery of the poem: Glenartney's hazel shade; the wild heights of Uamvar; lone Glenfinlas; Ben Ledi's heaving sides and hoary summit; the down-rushing masses of Ben Venue; Loch Achray, as sweet, if not so solitary still, as when Allan Bane uttered his thrilling farewell; and the gnarled defile of the Trosachs, in which to fancy's ear the horn of Fitz-James is heard still sounding for evermore.' In the unmixed delight afforded by this poem there is no parallel in literature, save in two or three of the author's own novels, or in a few of Shakspeare's plays; and he that has given that to all readers may well defy carping criticism. Walter Savage Landor justly magnifies its closing verses as unequalled in princely dignity and gracefulness.

In the same propitious year Scott recommenced Waverley, but threw it again aside upon a cold criticism from James Ballantyne.

CHAPTER VII

ASHESTIEL TO ABBOTSFORD-GLIMPSE OF FAMILY, DOMESTIC CIRCUMSTANCES, AND HOME LIFE.

N the Lady of the Lake Scott's poetical career had come to its height. He had come to the first 'Rest and be Thankful' in his upward course. Even then, indeed, as usually happens, the chariot of his triumph had a slave riding behind it. But before speaking of the business entanglements which were beginning slowly to gather round him, we shall now look at his domestic circumstances, growing family, and his change of residence, and what it implied.

Scott's married life, as we saw, commenced under auspices on the whole favourable. We aware that rumours affecting Mrs. Scott's prudence, education, economy, and other still more indispensable virtues in the female charac

are

ter, were long and are still afloat, and that many did not hesitate to say that the match was un

happy, and that she was

life-companion for Scott.

by no means a fitting

But, in the first place,

we wonder where a lady exactly adapted to and on the level of a man like Scott could at that time be found. Would Miss Stuart of Fettercairn have been the person? She was never tried, and we have our doubts on the matter. Joanna Baillie we have called his 'soul's sister,' but a soul's sister may be sometimes a poor heart and home wife. (We shall quote immediately what Miss Baillie herself says of Mrs. Scott.) The marriage, no doubt, was a hasty one; but hasty marriages have often been happy,-the difference only being, that the disenchantment which takes place in all marriages to a certain extent may, in these 'love at first sight' matches, begin a little sooner, and contrast somewhat more strongly with the first effervescence of feeling. But in them, as well as in the others, the re-reaction, so beautifully described by Emerson in his paper on 'Love,' usually takes place, and the object of ardent first passion becomes

'A gentle wife-though fairy none;'

and a thorough good understanding' established

between them makes up for the once wild and tumultuous love of espousals. We think this was the case with Scott. If his wife did not come up to the high-strung expectations he had formed when courting her at Gilsland, or toasting her all that September night with Shortrede, she was nevertheless an affectionate partner, a kind mother; and her faults, whatever they were, did not compromise her status in society, and bore hardest on herself. Scott, when he met Byron in London in 1815, spoke to him warmly of his domestic comfort, and the unhappy poet (then himself married) envied his friend's lot. Henry Crabb Robinson records the following in his journal: 'Mrs. Walter Scott was spoken of rather disparagingly, when Miss Baillie gave her this good word: "When I visited her, I saw a great deal to like. She seemed to admire and look up to her husband. She was very kind to her guests. Her children were well bred, and the house was in excellent order. And she had some smart roses in her cap, and I did not like her the less for that." Scott, as we shall see, sincerely and deeply mourned her loss. Altogether, Mrs., latterly Lady Scott, although neither a Minerva nor a Venus, neither a Miss Baillie, Mrs. Hemans, or Madame de Stael, neither a Rebecca, Jeanie Deans, or Die Vernon, was a very fair speci

men of a poet's wife, and so Scott accordingly rated her.

Scott had in all four children, two boys and two girls. Charlotte Sophia, afterwards Mrs. Lockhart, was born on the 15th November 1799. She is described as by far the best of the family, the likest her father, was his special favourite, and devoted to him, amiable, full of a gentle enthusiasm, and a beautiful singer of the 'auld Scottish sangs' and Border ballads. Walter, also a great favourite of the father, was born 28th October 1801. Scott, in his later days, doted on his son's personal appearance and athletic accomplishments, and used to say, 'Isn't he a fine fellow?' The intellect of the sire, however, like Hamlet in the mutilated play, was, we fear, omitted by special desire; nor was the paternal prudence conspicuous in the character. Ann, born 2d February 1803, was the wag of the family, with a good deal of tart, sardonic humour in her composition, as well as warm attachment to her father. Charles, the youngest, was born on the 24th December 1805, studied at Lampeter and Oxford, became a clerk in the Foreign Office, was attached to the Embassy at Naples, and accompanied his father part of his last melancholy journey.

Scott warmly loved children, his own and others.

G