He truly lives and makes the most of life Who well hath studied its intrinsic worth, And learnt to lay it down with resignation; Can like thee, Balmerino! lay it down, And deem it not his own, when honour claims it. See the unconquer'd captive (matchless man!), Collected in his own integrity; Facing with such a brow the king of terrors, And treading on the utmost verge of life, Serene as on a summer's ev'ning walk; Draws more amazing eyes upon his scaffold [Sidenote: _fol._ 114.] Than ever gaz'd on laurell'd heroes car; Triumphant in his fall o'er all that crusht him. Amazement seiz'd the crowded theatre, Struck with the awful scene; and throb'd a heart In ev'ry breast but his. The headsman trembl'd That rais'd the fatal axe. Nor trembl'd he On whom 'twas falling. Falls the fell edge; Nor shrinks the mangl'd victim! What are stars and garters? All titles, dignities, all crowns and sceptres, Compar'd with such an exit? When these perish Their owners be as they had never been, In deep oblivion sunk. This greater name, As long as any sense of virtue lasts, Shall live and fragrant smell to after times, Exhibiting a pattern how to die, And far the fairest former times have seen. _Copy of a Letter to a gentleman in Holland, vindicating the character of Arthur, Lord Balmerino, in a certain important point._ [Sidenote: 1746 Sept.] Dear Sir,--I have not yet been able to answer the cries of the officers for beating orders, and I can conceive no other reason for our Ministry's refusing them than that of the [Sidenote: _fol._ 115.] Young Chevalier's being in Scotland, and that they thought that his escape might have been saved through their means. But now that he is safe arrived in France, I hope that we shall meet with no more difficulties. I had the honour to be of Lord Balmerino's acquaintance, and it was my misfortune to be pitch'd upon to attend upon him in the Tower at his last moments, and upon the scaffold, where I was witness to a behaviour that even exceeded all that we read of in the heroes of antiquity. His whole behaviour was so composed, so decent that it greatly surprized the sheriffs, the clergymen, his friends and the spectators; and at the same time not a soldier present but was moved by his intrepidity.