‘In “L’Envoy” Sir Walter’s boundless benevolence, after wishing all desirable gifts to statesmen and heroes, and of course to
‘Lovely lady bright,
What can I wish but faithful knight?
even includes that occasionally troublesome personage not often honoured with poet’s notice—
‘To thee, dear school-boy, whom my lay
Has cheated of thy hour of play,
Light task, and merry holiday!
To all, to each, a fair good-night,
And pleasing dreams and slumbers light!
‘I was a small school-boy,’ said Mr. Banneret, ‘when I knew by heart a large portion of Marmion; and at not particularly protracted intervals I seem to have been enjoying Sir Walter’s works, prose, poetry, and even the records of his noble life, ever since. Marmion, with the glamour of valour blinding the reader to his vices, is a boy’s hero—brave, unscrupulous, successful, until