"Among a few other friends from a distance, Sir Walter received this summer [1829] a short visit from Mr. Hallam, and made in his company several of the little excursions which had in former days been of constant recurrence. Mr. Hallam had with him his son, Arthur, a young gentleman of extraordinary abilities, and as modest as able, who not long afterwards was cut off in the very bloom of opening life and genius. His beautiful verses, 'On Melrose seen in Company with Scott,' have since been often printed." "I lived an hour in fair Melrose: It was not when 'the pale moonlight' Its magnifying charm bestows; Yet deem I that I 'viewed it right.' The wind-swept shadows fast careered, Like living things that joyed or feared, Adown the sunny Eildon Hill, And the sweet winding Tweed the distance crowned well. "I inly laughed to see that scene Wear such a countenance of youth, Though many an age those hills were green, And yonder river glided smooth, Ere in these now disjointed walls The Mother Church held festivals, And full-voiced anthemings the while Swelled from the choir, and lingered down the echoing aisle. "I coveted that Abbey's doom: For if, I thought, the early flowers Of our affection may not bloom, Like those green hills, through countless hours, Grant me at least a tardy waning Some pleasure still in age's paining; Though lines and forms must fade away, Still may old Beauty share the empire of Decay! "But looking toward the grassy mound Where calm the Douglas chieftains lie, Who, living, quiet never found, I straightway learnt a lesson high: And well I knew that thoughtful mien Of him whose early lyre had thrown Over these mouldering walls the magic of its tone. "Then ceased I from my envying state, And knew that aweless intellect Hath power upon the ways of Fate, And works through time and space uncheck'd. That minstrel of old Chivalry In the cold grave must come to be; But his transmitted thoughts have part In the collective mind, and never shall depart. "It was a comfort, too, to see Those dogs that from him ne'er would rove, And always eyed him reverently, With glances of depending love. They know not of that eminence Which marks him to my reasoning sense; They know but that he is a man, And still to them is kind, and glads them all he can. "And hence their quiet looks confiding, Hence grateful instincts seated deep, By whose strong bond, were ill betiding, They'd risk their own his life to keep. What joy to watch in lower creature Such dawning of a moral nature, And how (the rule all things obey) They look to a higher mind to be their law and stay!"