Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/94

78 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES in question ; and, as Saint-Amant visited England in 1 63 1, Sir Robert might then have shown him it in MS. But, on the other hand, Saint-Amant published his first volume of poems in 1627 or 1629 (I find both dates given, and have no means of deciding) ; and these two sonnets seem to have been included in it, both referring to his Belle-Isle period. Then there is the direct and specific evidence of the letter cited by M. Livet, which I have given in the first part. Again, we have the two sonnets together in Saint- Amant, while there is no other such piece in Sir Robert. Furthermore, we know that Saint-Amant was a great smoker, while it is not at all probable that Sir Robert, as a favourite of James, indulged in the weed. Lastly, I don't believe that Sir Robert ever sat on a faggot in his life, being far too courtly a gentleman ; whereas Saint-Amant may have done so countless times in one and the other cabaret borgne. Wherefore, although, as a leal Scot, I would fain claim the honour for my countryman of writing this, " one of the earliest sonnets extant in praise of tobacco," as Mr. Besant says, 1 am constrained to yield to Saint-Amant the credit of being the original. And now to finish with our jolly friend. Mr. Besant says : " Though he is a dependant, he is never a parasite. A gentleman he is born, a gentle- man he remains." This is quite true. Strange as it may seem, he was thoroughly independent in every- thing, and could be haughty if his self-respect were touched. As a poet, he says : " If I read the works of another, it is simply to guard myself from repeating his thoughts." One day, says Tallemant, dining at the table of the coadjutor (the celebrated De Retz,