This we could not do, but we saw the abbey at the close of a fine day, as the sun threw its rays aslant in long lines across the grand ruins. We are met by a young maiden whose father has charge of the premises. We pay our shilling to enter, and first of all are impressed with the great _beauty_ of the place. It is a large church, once belonging to the abbey, the latter having long since been destroyed. The nave, aisles, and transepts are roofless. Here and there, neatly piled against the walls, are fallen stones that once were part of the edifice. The floor is covered with that velvety grass which delights to take possession of places like this; and it is not to be blamed, for the grass is emblematic of mortals who would do the same if they could. The walls are solid and lofty, and a part of the groined ceiling of the choir remains. The windows are perfect in their stone tracery of mullions and transoms. Instinctively we look for the great chancel with its east window,--and adore, and see the force of Scott's description:-- The moon on the east oriel shone Through slender shafts of shapely stone, By foliaged tracery combined. Thou wouldst have thought some fairy hand 'Twixt poplars straight the osier wand, In many a freakish knot had twined; Then framed a spell when work was done And changed the willow wreaths to stone. In this wall, under this window, was buried the heart of Robert Bruce. Here are tombs of men too great to have their dust mingle with common soil. We are delighted with the ivy, climbing at random,--sometimes very thick and grand in its mantling power. We pass out of the side door, and are in the burial-ground of two or three acres. Not cared for by mortals, Nature--in great unison with her possessions and conscious of her sacred trust--prohibits the intrusion of rambling vine or unsightly weed. How varied are the views of tower and gable, of buttress unbroken or in partial ruin! Remove a stone, or repair one, and you do injury. Here repose the ashes of monk and nun, who centuries ago entered their free immortality.