1771-1832
[Sidenote: Lockhart’s _Life of Scott_.]
“His personal appearance at this time was not unengaging. A lady of
high rank, who remembers him in the Old Assembly Rooms, says, ‘Young
Walter Scott was a comely creature.’ He had outgrown the sallowness of
early ill-health, and had a fresh, brilliant complexion. His eyes were
clear, open, and well set, with a changeful radiance, to which teeth
of the most perfect regularity and whiteness lent their assistance,
while the noble expanse and elevation of the brow gave to the whole
aspect a dignity far above the charm of mere features. His smile was
always delightful; and I can easily fancy the peculiar intermixture
of tenderness and gravity, with playful innocent hilarity and humour
in the expression, as being well calculated to fix a fair lady’s eye.
His figure, excepting the blemish in one limb, must in those days
have been eminently handsome; tall, much above the usual standard,
it was cast in the very mould of a young Hercules; the head set on
with singular grace, the throat and chest after the truest model of
the antique, the hands delicately finished; the whole outline that of
extraordinary vigour, without as yet a touch of clumsiness. When he
had acquired a little facility of manner, his conversation must have
been such as could have dispensed with any exterior advantages, and
certainly brought swift forgiveness for the one unkindness of nature.
I have heard him, in talking of this part of his life, say, with an
arch simplicity of look and tone which those who were familiar with him
can fill in for themselves--‘It was a proud night with me when I first
found that a pretty young woman could think it worth her while to sit
and talk with me, hour after hour, in a corner of the ball-room, while
all the world were capering in our view.’”--1790.
[Sidenote: Froude’s _Life of Carlyle_.]
“I never spoke with Scott.... Have a hundred times seen him, from of
old, writing in the Courts, or hobbling with stout speed along the
streets of Edinburgh; a large man, pale, shaggy face, fine, deep-browed
gray eyes, an expression of strong homely intelligence, of humour and
good-humour, and, perhaps (in later years amongst the wrinkles), of
sadness or weariness.... He has played his part, and left _none like_
or second to him. _Plaudite!_”
[Sidenote: Sir John Bowring’s _Autobiographical Recollections_.]
“More eloquent men I have known, I think, but I never knew any one so
attractive. The variety of his conversation is stupendous, while it
overflows with the most agreeable anecdotes, and almost every person
who has figured in modern times has in some way or other been connected
with him. His manner of talking is without the smallest pretence, and
is gentle and humorous. His eye has a constant play upon it, and around
it. His dress is that of a substantial farmer,--a short green coat with
steel buttons, striped waistcoat and pantaloons, and he put on light
gaiters when we sallied forth.”