a royal poet-第4节

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hand。　Several　centuries　have　gone　by；　yet　the　garden　still

flourishes　at　the　foot　of　the　Tower。　It　occupies　what　was　once　the

moat　of　the　Keep；　and　though　some　parts　have　been　separated　by

dividing　walls；　yet　others　have　still　their　arbors　and　shaded　walks；

as　in　the　days　of　James；　and　the　whole　is　sheltered；　blooming；　and

retired。　There　is　a　charm　about　a　spot　that　has　been　printed　by　the

footsteps　of　departed　beauty；　and　consecrated　by　the　inspirations　of

the　poet；　which　is　heightened；　rather　than　impaired；　by　the　lapse　of

ages。　It　is；　indeed；　the　gift　of　poetry　to　hallow　every　place　in　which

it　moves；　to　breathe　around　nature　an　odor　more　exquisite　than　the

perfume　of　the　rose；　and　to　shed　over　it　a　tint　more　magical　than

the　blush　of　morning。

　　Others　may　dwell　on　the　illustrious　deeds　of　James　as　a　warrior

and　a　legislator；　but　I　have　delighted　to　view　him　merely　as　the

companion　of　his　fellow…men；　the　benefactor　of　the　human　heart；

stooping　from　his　high　estate　to　sow　the　sweet　flowers　of　poetry　and

song　in　the　paths　of　common　life。　He　was　the　first　to　cultivate　the

vigorous　and　hardy　plant　of　Scottish　genius；　which　has　since　become　so

prolific　of　the　most　wholesome　and　highly…flavored　fruit。　He　carried

with　him　into　the　sterner　regions　of　the　north　all　the　fertilizing

arts　of　southern　refinement。　He　did　every　thing　in　his　power　to　win

his　countrymen　to　the　gay；　the　elegant；　and　gentle　arts；　which

soften　and　refine　the　character　of　a　people；　and　wreathe　a　grace　round

the　loftiness　of　a　proud　and　warlike　spirit。　He　wrote　many　poems；

which；　unfortunately　for　the　fulness　of　his　fame；　are　now　lost　to

the　world；　one；　which　is　still　preserved；　called　〃Christ's　Kirk　of　the

Green；〃　shows　how　diligently　he　had　made　himself　acquainted　with　the

rustic　sports　and　pastimes；　which　constitute　such　a　source　of　kind　and

social　feeling　among　the　Scottish　peasantry；　and　with　what　simple

and　happy　humor　he　could　enter　into　their　enjoyments。　He　contributed

greatly　to　improve　the　national　music；　and　traces　of　his　tender

sentiment；　and　elegant　taste；　are　said　to　exist　in　those　witching

airs；　still　piped　among　the　wild　mountains　and　lonely　glens　of

Scotland。　He　has　thus　connected　his　image　with　whatever　is　most

gracious　and　endearing　in　the　national　character；　he　has　embalmed

his　memory　in　song；　and　floated　his　name　to　after　ages　in　the　rich

streams　of　Scottish　melody。　The　recollection　of　these　things　was

kindling　at　my　heart　as　I　paced　the　silent　scene　of　his

imprisonment。　I　have　visited　Vaucluse　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　a

pilgrim　would　visit　the　shrine　at　Loretto；　but　I　have　never　felt

more　poetical　devotion　than　when　contemplating　the　old　Tower　and　the

little　garden　at　Windsor；　and　musing　over　the　romantic　loves　of　the

Lady　Jane　and　the　Royal　Poet　of　Scotland。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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