Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/423

JAMES HOGG 407 ensis, and friend of Scott, and for many years the only believer in Hogg's literary abilities, and his warm friend to the last. He thus describes our poet, not yet a poet in verse, on their first acquaintance : " About nineteen years of age, Hogg was rather above the middle height, of faultless symmetry of form ; he was of almost unequalled agility and swiftness. His face was then round and full, and of a ruddy com- plexion, with light blue eyes that beamed with gaiety, glee, and good-humour, the effect of the most exu- berant animal spirits. His head was covered with a singular profusion of light-brown hair, which he was obliged to wear coiled up under his hat. On enter- ing church on a Sunday, where he was all his life a regular attender, he used, on lifting his hat, to raise his right hand to assist a graceful shake of his head in laying back his long hair, which rolled down his back and fell below his loins. And every female eye was upon him, as, with light step, he ascended the stair to the gallery where he sat." Among the fore- most in all active and athletic exercises, well stocked with songs and ballads, even before he set about com- posing himself, playing the violin with heart and soul, handsome and good humoured, he was always wel- come company among the lads and lassies. In his old age he sang, with humour not unpathetic, of himself when young, and that fire- streaming Norse mane of his, in " The Cutting o' My Hair " : — " Mysell for speed had not my marrow Thro' Teviot, Eltrick, Tweed, and Yarrow ; Strang, straight, and swift lii<e winged arrow At market, tryst, or fair.