[410] _Hudibras_.
[411] John Swanston, a forester at Abbotsford, who did all he could to
replace Tom Purdie.--_Life_, vol. x. p. 66.
[412] Dr. Ferguson, Sir Adam's father, died in 1816.--See _Misc. Prose
Works_, vol. xix. pp. 331-33.
[413] See _Measure for Measure_, Act II. Sc. 1.
[414] _Æneid_ v. 194-7: thus rendered in English by Professor
Conington:--
'Tis not the palm that Mnestheus seeks: No hope of Victory fires his
cheeks: Yet, O that thought!--but conquer they To whom great Neptune
wills the day: Not to be last make that your aim, And triumph by
averting shame.
[415] _King Richard the Third_, Act IV. Sc. 2.
[416] Mr. G.P.R. James, author of _Richelieu_, etc. He afterwards took
Maxpopple for the season.
[417] Mr. Skene tells us that when No. 39 Castle Street was
"displenished" in 1826, Scott sent him the full-length portrait of
himself by Raeburn, now at Abbotsford, saying that he did not hesitate
to claim his protection for the picture, which was threatened to be
paraded under the hammer of the auctioneer, and he felt that his
interposition to turn aside that buffet might admit of being justified.
"As a piece of successful art, many might fancy the acquisition, but for
the sake of the original he knew no refuge where it was likely to find a
truer welcome. The picture accordingly remained many years in my
possession, but when his health had begun to break, and the plan of his
going abroad was proposed, I thought it would be proper to return the
picture, for which purpose I had a most successful copy made of it, an
absolute facsimile, for when the two were placed beside each, other it
was almost impossible to determine which was the original and which the
copy."--_Reminiscences_. Thus forestalling the wish expressed in the
affecting letter now given, which belongs to this day. See _ante_, vol.
i. p. 136 _n_.
"MY DEAR SKENE,--I have had no very pleasant news to send you, as I know
it will give Mrs. Skene and you pain to know that I am suffering under a
hundred little ailments which have greatly encroached upon the custom of
the season which I used to take. On this I could say much, but it is
better to leave alone what must be said with painful feeling, and you
would be vexed with reading.
"One thing I will put to rights with all others respecting my little
personal affairs. I am putting [in order] this house with what it
contains, and as Walter will probably be anxious to have a memorial of
my better days, I intend to beg you and my dear Mrs. Skene ... to have
it [the picture] copied by such an artist as you should approve of, to
supply the blank which must then be made on your hospitable walls with
the shadow of a shade. If the opportunity should occur of copying the
picture to your mind, I will be happy to have the copy as soon as
possible. You must not think that I am nervous or foolishly apprehensive
that I take these precautions. They are necessary and right, and if one
puts off too long, we sometimes are unfit for the task when we desire to
take it up....
"When the weather becomes milder, I hope Mrs. Skene and you, and some of
the children, will come out to brighten the chain of friendship with
your truly faithful,