Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

whose genius is so unquestionable, and who shines with a dazzling brightness amongst the inferior luminaries by whom he is surrounded, nothing almost is known. From his own verses it appears that he followed the court. He lived a companion of the great and opulent, yet poor and often in want; he died in such extreme obscurity, that the place where he closed his eyes, and the time where he was gathered to his fathers, are both alike unknown. In his curious poem entitled a Lament for the Makars,' composed, in all probability, during his last sickness, he pathetically laments his having survived all his tuneful brethren.

Syne he hes all my brethren tane,
He will not lat me live alane.
Perforce I man his next prey be,
Timor Mortis Conturbat Me.

My learned friend Mr. Laing, of Edinburgh, the secretary of the Bannatyne Club, has kindly communicated to me an edition of the whole works of Dunbar, containing many pieces hitherto unpublished, which he means shortly to present to the world. From this edition the quotations in the above life of the poet are taken; and I only regret that his biographical collections regarding Dunbar, with the notes illustrative of his poetry and the times in which he lived, were not in such a state as to allow of my consulting them. The whole work however, will, I trust, soon be before the public.

GAVIN DOUGLAS.

1474-1522.

GAVIN DOUGLAS

1474-1522.

THE life of Bishop Douglas, the admirable translator of Virgil,' has already been written by Mackenzie, Sage, and Dr. Irving; and little can be added to the particulars which have been collected by the industry and erudition of these authors. He appears to have been born about the year 1474, and, unlike his celebrated compatriot, Dunbar, enjoyed the advantage of illustrious descent, a circumstance of no small importance in those feudal days. His father was Archibald, sixth Earl of Angus; his mother, the lady Elizabeth Boyd, daughter of Robert Lord Boyd, high-chamberlain; and of this marriage, Gavin was the third son. If we are to believe the

Eulogy' of the historian of the House of Angus, the father of the future poet was a remarkable person. He was a man," says this quaint writer, 'every way accomplished, both for mind and body. He was of stature tall, and strong made; his countenance full of majesty, and such as bred reverence in the beholders; wise and eloquent of speech, upright and square in his actions, sober and moderate in his desires, valiant and courageous, liberal, loving, and kind to his

« AnteriorContinuar »