expressed on receiving, in 1818, a copy of this first
edition, a small dark quarto of 1688, from his friend
Constable. He was breakfasting when the present was
delivered, and said, "This is indeed the resurrection of an
old ally--I mind _spelling_ these lines." He read aloud the
jingling epistle to his own great-great-grandfather, which,
like the rest, concludes with a broad hint, that as the
author had neither lands nor flocks--"no estate left except
his designation"--the more fortunate kinsman who enjoyed,
like Jason of old, a fair share of _fleeces_, might do worse
than bestow on him some of King James's _broad pieces_. On
rising from table, Sir Walter immediately wrote as follows on
the blank leaf opposite to poor Satchells' honest
title-page--

"I, Walter Scott of Abbotsford, a poor scholar, no soldier,
but a soldier's lover,
In the style of my namesake and kinsman do hereby discover,
That I have written the twenty-four letters twenty-four
million times over;
And to every true-born Scott I do wish as many golden pieces
As ever were hairs in Jason's and Medea's golden fleeces."

The rarity of the original edition of Satchells is such, that
the copy now at Abbotsford was the only one Mr. Constable had
ever seen--and no wonder, for the author's envoy is in these
words:--

"Begone, my book, stretch forth thy wings and fly
Amongst the nobles and gentility;
Thou'rt not to sell to scavengers and clowns,
But given to worthy persons of renown.
The number's few I've printed, in regard
My charges have been great, and I hope reward;
I caus'd not print many above twelve score,
And the printers are engaged that they shall print no more."]

But, if the scholarship of _John the Lamiter_ furnished his descendant
with many a mirthful allusion, a far greater favorite was the memory
of _William the Boltfoot_, who followed him in the sixth generation:--

"The Laird and Lady of Harden
Betwixt them procreat was a son
Called William Boltfoot of Harden."

The emphasis with which this next line was quoted I can never
forget:--

"_He did survive to b