i.] PARENTAGE AND BOYHOOD. 5 



all his life long which became the true well-spring of 

 his inspiration in all his minstrelsy and romance. And 

 there is evidence to prove that Keble divined aright. 

 Certainly there is a purity and elevation in Scott's con- 

 ceptions of female character which would well accord 

 with such an experience idealized. One instance more of 

 the old truth that poets 



Learn in suffering what they teach in song.' 



However this may have been, it is certain that the suc- 

 cess of his rival made no break in Scott's friendship with 

 Forbes. Immediately after Sir William's marriage with 

 Miss Belches Stuart, we find him serving along with Scott 

 in that band of mounted volunteers which counted on its 

 roll most of Scott's most intimate friends. This was in 

 1797, when Scott was yet an unknown man. About thirty 



13 afterwards, when Scott's fame was at the full and his 

 dark days had begun, the following entries occur in the 

 poet's diary: 1826, January 20, 'Sir William Forbes 

 called, the same kind, honest friend as ever, with all 

 offers of assistance.' Again, January 26, ' Sir William 

 Forbes took the chair, and behaved as he has ever done, 

 with the generosity of ancient faith and early friendship. 

 In what scenes have Sir William and I not borne a share 

 together, desperate and almost bloody affrays, rivalries, 

 deep drinking matches, and finally, with the kindest 



ngs on both .-ides, somewhat separated by his retiring 

 much within the bosom of his family and I moving little 

 beyond mine ! It is fated our planets should cross, and 

 that at the periods most interesting for me. Down 

 down a hundred thoughts ! ' 



I .in her on in Lockhart's Life we read: * Sir William 



Forbes, whose banking-house was one of Ballantyne's 



editors, crowned his generous efforts for Scott's 



relief by privately paying the whole of Abud's demand 



irly 2,000) out of his own pocket, ranking as an 

 ordinary en-diinr I'm* the amount, and taking care at 



aim- time that his old friend should be allowed to 

 believe that the atiair had m T-< d quietly in the general 



