oyal zeal
shown to Rossetti during this crisis by Mr. Bell Scott, and by Dr. Hake
and his son. As to Mr. Theodore Watts, whose brotherly devotion to him,
and beneficial influence over him from that time forward are so well
known, this must be considered by those who witnessed it to be almost
without precedent or parallel even in the beautiful story of literary
friendships, and it does as much honour to the one as to the other. No
light matter it must have been to lay aside one's own long-cherished
life-work and literary ambitions to be Rossetti's closest friend and
brother, at a moment like the present, when he imagined the world to be
conspiring against him; but through these evil days, and long after them
down to his death, the friend that clung closer than a brother was with
him, as he himself said, to protect, to soothe, to comfort, to divert,
to interest, and inspire him--asking, meantime, no better reward than
the knowledge that a noble mind and nature was by such sacrifice lifted
out of sorrow. Among the world's great men the greatest are sometimes
those whose names are least on our lips, and this is because selfish
aims have been so subordinate in their lives to the welfare of others
as to leave no time for the personal achievements that win personal
distinction; but when the world comes to the knowledge of the price
that has been paid for the devotion that enables others to enjoy their
renown, shall it not reward with a double meed of gratitude the fine
spirits to whom ambition has been as nothing against fidelity of
friendship? Among the latest words I heard from Rossetti was this:
"Watts is a hero of friendship;" and indeed he has displayed his
capacity for participation in the noblest part of comradeship, that
part, namely, which is far above the mere traffic that too often goes by
the name, and wherein self-love always counts upon being the gainer. If
in the end it should appear that he has in his own person done less than
might have been hoped for from one possessed of his splendid gifts,
let it not be overlooked that he has influenced in a quite incalculable
degree, and influenced for good, several of the foremost among those who
in their turn have influenced the age. As Rossetti's faithful friend,
and gifted medical adviser, Mr. John Marshall has often declared, there
were periods when Rossetti's very life may be said to have hung upon Mr.
Watts's power to cheer and soothe.

Efforts were afoot about the