Un'puhlislied Verses hy tiir W. Scott, by Jas. B. Kerr, 173 



and although, the mechanism is defective, yet there is still some 

 of the glow of his early inBpiration. 



The last sayings and writings of men of genius have an in- 

 terest for us all, as melancholy as it is lasting, To very many 

 in his own land, and need I not say in other lands also, the ab- 

 rupt pause in these verses will be touching. 



The hand that had so long swept the harp of Caledonia was 

 paralysed in its effort to stir the chords again, and the re- 

 sult is a tone, pure, full, and strong, suddenly checked, whose 

 meaning is for ever lost in the depths of Sir Walter's own soul. 



The verses are without place and date, but being a rough 

 draft, this circumstance may account for the want of them. If, 

 as is supposed, they were the last Sir Walter ever wrote, the 

 lines are a striking example of his chivalrous character. If he 

 was at times imprudent, all know how courageous he was, and 

 that his vast intellect and life were sacrificed in his deep desire 

 to be honourable and independent. 



In these verses, after the great exertions Sir Walter made, and 

 at the time living in a foreign land, irritated and anxious to get 

 home, and with his whole system rapidly giving way, may not 

 the fine line taken in all its deep humility, in which he compares 

 himself to '' a withered Scottish thorn" be considered, amidst 

 all his clear and cheerful, yet delicately sketched and poetically 

 elevated descriptions, if not one of the finest in the English 

 language, at least one of the most simple and best that Scott 

 ever wrote ? 



VERSES 

 WRITTEN 



BY 



THE COUNTESS OF WOLLENLUSS 

 Eeques* {sic) a Eussian Lady 



Lady, they say tliy Native land 



Unlike this clime of fruit and flowers f 

 Loves like the Minstrels northern strand 



The sterner share of natures powers 

 Even Beautys {sic) powers of Empery 



Decay in the decaying howersj 

 Untill {sic) even you may set set^^ a task 



Too heavy for the poets powers 



* For ' ' Request " ? t Originally, ' ' clime of fruit flowers and. " i " sun, ' ' 

 obliterated before "bowers." § The word " set " is twice written. 



