Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-20
From the london Literary Gazette Of Sept ~
SIR WALTER SCOTT

From the London Literary Gazette Of Sept ~ |
SIR WALTER SCOTT
On Friday last, the 2lst OF SEPTEMBER 1907.
at Abbotsford. departed all that was mortar VI
this celebrated man, who had only attained .he
limited period of sixty one years OF age. ihe
leading incidents of his life are too iamhiar u
the world to require recapltulatlon porn
in l77I. he was above thirty years old De'ofe a"t
publication Of his grave note OF the rich NINE vi
poetry and imaginative literature when hau IAN
so long unobserved. il not un'uitiVateu'
likely unc cultivated without any specIhc des'Sh'
thou h the foundations for future tame were ueeP'
" and widely spread. The Minstreisy OF tne
Scottish Border opened the w"ndrous sha'''
and for more than the quarter OF century, "e
prodsction of the splendid treasures below aP-
pe,red in inc xhausible abundance and incalcu.
liable value. The Lay of the last Ministries Mar
mion, Rokeby. the Lady OF the Lake. the VI.
sion of Don Roderlck, the Lord OF the Isles,
were all given tn the world within the time when
the Horatian rule prescribes for a single work;
and these, in turn, were followed by tie equal
~ fertile glow of the Waveriy novels, which nave
made an epoch in the literature of our day, and
will be the delight of mankind for generations
10 come The labOrs OF the pen were also
known to Sir Walter Scott. who, in the midst VI
these extraordinary emanaions OF genius, per-
formed the drudgery of editing Dryden and
Swift, and % writing the history OF Napoleon;
besides innumerable contributions to periodicals,
dramas and essays, in every species of compost
ton.
His epistolary correspondence Was also very
extensive; aud we are informed that, toSet"er
with the diary which he regularly Kept, seiec-
ton Of his letters, sc. will form mol less than ten
volumes of the highest interest From his son
IA n liz
completion of his duty; and whether we look to
his near relationship, his information, or his con-
Genial talents, we must feel that 1t could not
devolve upon a more competent individual.
Of Sir Walter Scott's legal and official career,
or Of is p-cuniary circumstances, 1t Is not Tor US
to speak; and We congratulate ourselves that The
touching strain which now annex from the pen
If l. E. l. enables US to leave these matters oil
worldly record TO others
Our sky has lost another star.
The earth has claimed ITS own,
Aud INTO dread eternity
A glorious one is zone.
He uno could give departed things
So mur' ght md breath.
He is h'r ne'f with the .'ast--
CO. .a., fr1u. lie 70 death.
1t lsa ..,- ... ss.d grase
That ma ar sfa.u~r ''";
Tie meancst ia flowers hide
Has sumr famln,r 90.
But KIN red sorrn" is Ia: -ot
AMID the general gloom;
Grief is religion f,' for hi,n
Whose temple is his tornb.
Thou of the future and the past,
How shal We hunol the.s
Shall we build up pyra'u,d
Amid the painless sea?
Shall we bring red god from the east
Aud marble fr0m tie west,
And ca'ved po'phyrv. thai the fame
BE worthy Of rs guest?
Or shall we seek the native land,
And chon>e some anc,en, hill,
To b. thy statue, firmly wrought
With all the scul p,or's skill?
Methlnks, as they are common signs
| 10 every common wo.
That We should do some mighty thing
| To mark who lies below.
But this is folly: thou needst not
! The sculpture or the shrine:
! The heart is the sole monument
For memories like thine.
| The pyramids in Egypt rose
To mark some monarch's fame;
| Imperishabie is the tomb,
| But what the founders name!
| Small need for tribute unto thee,
To let the fancy roam
! To thee. who hast by many hearth
! Az altar and hone;
Each little bookshelf! where thy works
| Are carefully enshrined.
| There is thy trophy. there is left
Thy heritage OF mind
How many such delightful hours
Rise TN our saddenrd mood,
When we have wed to thee and thine
The charm VI solitude!
How easerly we caught the book!
How earnestly we read!
How actual seemed the living scenes
Thy vivid colors spread!
And not to one dominion bound
Has been thy varied power;