Palaces and towers;

Earth sayeth to the earth,

All shall be ours.”’

—On the occasion of an excursion with a friend to Dumfriesshire and Galloway, Scott’s money happened to run out; and he borrowed from his companion a pound-note at Tinwald Manse, and two pounds at the inn of Beattock Bridge. The payment of the loan became the subject of a bit of pleasantry. Returning home, he enclosed three pounds to his friend, with the following lines:

‘One at Tinwald Manse, and two at Beattock Brig,

That makes three, if Cocker’s worth a fig;

Borrow while you may, pay when you can,

And at the last you’ll die an honest man!’]

[3]

‘From Soldan Turk I this Forest wan