With the failing of his strength, he longed for Abbotsford. As he caught sight of the towers once more, he sprang up with a cry of delight. A few days before his death he called his son-in-law Lockhart to his bedside. "Lockhart," he said, "I may have but a minute to speak to you. My dear, be a good man,- be virtuous,- be religious,- be a good man. Nothing else will give you any comfort when you come to lie here." These were almost his last words. Four days afterward, during which time he showed scarcely any signs of consciousness, he quietly passed away, Sept. 21, 1832, — one of the grandest, but, also, if we think of his disappointed hopes, – one of the saddest characters in English literature.

FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY.

Lockhart, "Life of Scott," Hutton, "Life of Scott" (English Men of Letters), Yonge, "Life of Scott" (Great Writers Series), Carlyle, "Essay on Scott," Irving, "Abbotsford," Hunnewell, "Lands of Scott."

The story of "The Lay of the Last Minstrel." A description of the convent in the second canto of "Marmion." A description of the battle in the sixth canto. A review of the chase in the first canto of "The Lady of the Lake." A critique of the songs in "The Lady of the. Lake." The story of the combat in canto fifth of "The Lady of the Lake.” The romantic element in Scott's metrical romances. Illustrate from any of these romances Scott's attitude toward nature. What are the distinctive features of Scott's poetry, illustrating each point?

elements

of

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What are the six component the novel? Painter, "Guide to Literary Criticism," Ch. XII. Give the plot of "Ivanhoe." Describe the leading characters of Kenilworth." What period and movement are illustrated in "The Talisman"? A description of the most exciting incident or scene in any of these novels. A character study of Rowena and Rebecca in "Ivanhoe." Illustrate from any of these novels the leading features of Scott's genius and manner. A study of Scott's style,

following the suggestions in Painter's "Guide to Literary Criticism."

The first chapter of "The Talisman" is given in the selections of Part II.

LORD BYRON.

371. Personal Elements.- No other poet has so embodied himself in his poetry as Byron. Had he not possessed a powerful individuality, his works would long since have perished. He was utterly lacking in the independent creative power of Shakespeare, who never identified himself with his characters. Throughout Byron's many works, we see but one personproud, misanthropic, sceptical, ungovernable man. Whatever exaggerations of feature there may be in the portrait, we recognize the essential outlines of the poet himself.

a

372. Poetic Characteristics. His poetry is largely autobiographical and his utterance intense. Without the careful artistic polish of many minor poets, his manner is rapid, stirring, powerful. He was, perhaps, the most remarkable poetic genius of the century; yet his powers were not turned to the best account. He lacked the balance of a noble character and a well-regulated life. On reading a collection of Burns's poems, he once exclaimed: "What an antithetical mind! - tenderness, roughness - delicacy, coarseness — sentiment, sensuality soaring and grovelling-dirt and deity-all mixed up in that one compound of inspired clay." The same antitheses might be applied with equal truth to himself.

373. Parentage.- George Gordon, Lord Byron, was born in London, Jan. 22, 1788. His ancestry runs back in an unbroken line of nobility to the time of William the Conqueror. His father was an unprincipled and heartless profligate, who married an heiress to get her property, and who, as soon as this was squandered, abandoned her. His mother was a proud, passionate, hysterical woman, who alternately caressed and abused her child. At one moment treating him with extravagant fondness, at the next she reproached him as a “lame brat," and flung the poker at his head. With such parentage