‘My dear Sir,—I should do my sentiments towards
you, and all your kindness, great injustice did I not hasten to send you my
best thanks for your beautiful verses on Italy which [are] embellished by such beautiful specimens
of architecture as form a rare specimen of the manner in which the art of
poetry can awake the Muse of Painting. It is in every respect a bijou, and yet
more valued as the mark of your regard than either
| 58 | ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES |
‘My life has undergone an important change since I saw [you] for the well-remembered last time in Piccadilly, when you gave me the spy-glass, which still hangs round my neck, with which I might hope to read, not only more clearly, but with more judgment and better taste. Since that time I have felt a gradual but decisive pressure of years visiting me all at once, and, without anything like formal disease, depriving me of my power to take exercise either on foot or horseback, of which I was once so proud. It is this that makes me look at your volume with particular interest. Having resigned my official connection with the Court of Session, I had promised myself the pleasure of seeing some part of the Continent, and thought of visiting the well-sung scenes of Italy. I am now so helpless in the way of moving about that I think I must be satisfied with the admirable substitute you have so kindly sent me, which must be my consolation for not seeing with my own eyes what I can read so picturesquely described.
‘I sometimes hope I shall prick up heart of grace and come to my daughter Lockhart’s in spring weather. Sometimes I think I had best keep my madness in the background, like the suivante [confidant] of Tilburina in “The Critic.” At all events, I wish I could draw you over the Border in summer or autumn, when we could at least visit some places in that land where, though not very romantic in landscape, every valley has its battle and every stream its song.
‘Pray think of this, and God bless you. I beg my
| SIR WALTER SCOTT | 59 |
