182 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



verently did he progress her domains for wild and 

 beautiful fancies wherewith to beflower his page. 

 He revived the old, elfin superstitions of his coun- 

 try strewed with ideal structures the valley ed hills, 

 and cast over them a new mantle of glowing and 

 kindly associations. Much of what the Ettrick 

 Shepherd has written will continue imperishable, and 

 much also lie entombed with himself, or, at any rate, 

 remain, as matter of mere curiosity, whereon may 

 speculate some sage unborn philosopher, the pride 

 and paragon of a future century. 



Hogg, talking of him as the man, not the poet, 

 was out of his element in society. He appeared to 

 anything but advantage abroad from his own fire- 

 side. His real character became disguised among 

 follies and affectations, to which, in his calm and 

 natural moments, he was an utter stranger. To 

 such as knew him intimately, these failings had a 

 very different seeming from what they possessed in 

 the eyes of others. The latter regarded them as 

 habitual and monstrous improprieties; the former 

 as mere vagaries of the moment, brought into play, 

 certainly, without forethought, but in perfect inno- 

 cence and in want of wrong motive. At home 

 within his family circle, the Ettrick Shepherd 

 was a different being ; he had the feelings of the 

 husband, the father, and the Christian and was, 

 besides, without measure benevolent and hospitable, 

 full of those charities which commend themselves 

 to the heart, and so winning in his conduct and 



