Who W. S. was we do not know. The date forbids our identifying him with the Bard of Avon. He was probably one of those mysterious personages, who were always at hand to write epistles of commendation to works by Sir Thomas, and to testify on their "book-oath" to his gifts and graces. The second engraved portrait is of great rarity, and only one impression of it is known to be in existence. It was probably meant to be a frontispiece to the unpublished volume of Epigrams described on p. 116, the title of which was to have been _Apollo and the Muses_, but which never found its way into print. In this engraving Sir Thomas is depicted as seated with great complacency upon Mount Parnassus, in the midst of the Muses, seven of whom are pressing upon his attention wreaths of laurel of which he is worthy, "for Judgment, Learning, witt, Invention, sweetness, stile." At his feet is the sacred fountain of Castalia or Hippocrene, into the waters of which the other two Muses are sportively dipping "sprinklers" or asperges. One of them seems inclined to give Sir Thomas a sprinkling, but refrains, either because it was unnecessary or for fear of spoiling his nice clothes. In the background, the winged horse Pegasus is flying sufficiently low down to allow a woman to pluck a couple of feathers from his wings.[150] These are no doubt intended to provide pens for Sir Thomas's next literary undertaking. In the further distance are several feathered creatures, which are probably meant for poetical swans, but which bear a painful likeness to prosaic geese. At the foot of the picture in one corner we have Apollo, playing on his lyre; and on the ground in front are a half-starved dragon and a snake, writhing in impotent rage, as they witness the triumph of Sir Thomas. We can hardly be mistaken in concluding that these last are symbolical representations of envious and carping critics. [Illustration: The Poet surrounded by the Muses.] FOOTNOTES: [97] _Antiquarian Notes_, by C. Fraser-Mackintosh, p. 156. [98] _Antiquarian Notes_, pp. 155-158; _History of the Clan Mackenzie_, by Alex. Mackenzie. [99] The enactment in question runs as follows:--"It being thought expedient by the said Committee that the house of Cromartie be put in a posture of defence, and that for the doing thereof it is requisite some faill [turf] be cast and led, the said Committee ordains all Sir James Fraser's tenants within the parochins [parishes] of Cromartie and Cullicudden, together with those of the Laird of Findrassie, within the parochin of Rosemarkie, to afford from six hours in the morning to six hours at night, one horse out of every oxengait [= about 13 Scotch acres] daily for the space of four days to lead the same faill to the house of Cromartie." Of this enemy, Sir James Fraser, our author remarked at a later time with regrettable bitterness, that he knew only one good thing about him, and that was that he was dead. [100] _Acts of the Parliament of Scotland_, vi. 392.