a royal poet-第3章
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In the midst of his musing； as he casts his eye downward； he beholds
〃the fairest and the freshest young floure〃 that ever he had seen。
It is the lovely Lady Jane； walking in the garden to enjoy the
beauty of that 〃fresh May morrowe。〃 Breaking thus suddenly upon his
sight； in the moment of loneliness and excited susceptibility； she
at once captivates the fancy of the romantic prince； and becomes the
object of his wandering wishes； the sovereign of his ideal world。
There is； in this charming scene； an evident resemblance to the
early part of Chaucer's Knight's Tale； where Palamon and Arcite fall
in love with Emilia； whom they see walking in the garden of their
prison。 Perhaps the similarity of the actual fact to the incident
which he had read in Chaucer may have induced James to dwell on it
in his poem。 His description of the Lady Jane is given in the
picturesque and minute manner of his master； and being doubtless taken
from the life； is a perfect portrait of a beauty of that day。 He
dwells； with the fondness of a lover； on every article of her apparel；
from the net of pearl； splendent with emeralds and sapphires； that
confined her golden hair； even to the 〃goodly chaine of small
orfeverye〃* about her neck； whereby there hung a ruby in shape of a
heart； that seemed； he says； like a spark of fire burning upon her
white bosom。 Her dress of white tissue was looped up to enable her
to walk with more freedom。 She was accompanied by two female
attendants； and about her sported a little hound decorated with bells；
probably the small Italian hound of exquisite symmetry； which was a
parlor favorite and pet among the fashionable dames of ancient
times。 James closes his description by a burst of general eulogium：
* Wrought gold。
In her was youth； beauty； with humble port；
Bounty； richesse； and womanly feature；
God better knows then my pen can report；
Wisdom； largesse；* estate；*（2） and cunning*（3） sure；
In every point so guided her measure；
In word； in deed； in shape； in countenance；
That nature might no more her child advance。
* Largesse； bounty。
*（2） Estate； dignity。
*（3） Cunning； discretion。
The departure of the Lady Jane from the garden puts an end to this
transient riot of the heart。 With her departs the amorous illusion
that had shed a temporary charm over the scene of his captivity； and
he relapses into loneliness； now rendered tenfold more intolerable
by this passing beam of unattainable beauty。 Through the long and
weary day he repines at his unhappy lot； and when evening
approaches； and Phoebus； as he beautifully expresses it； had 〃bade
farewell to every leaf and flower；〃 he still lingers at the window；
and； laying his head upon the cold stone； gives vent to a mingled flow
of love and sorrow； until； gradually lulled by the mute melancholy
of the twilight hour； he lapses； 〃half sleeping； half swoon；〃 into a
vision； which occupies the remainder of the poem； and in which is
allegorically shadowed out the history of his passion。
When he wakes from his trance； he rises from his stony pillow；
and； pacing his apartment； full of dreary reflections； questions his
spirit； whither it has been wandering； whether； indeed； all that has
passed before his dreaming fancy has been conjured up by preceding
circumstances； or whether it is a vision； intended to comfort and
assure him in his despondency。 If the latter； he prays that some token
may be sent to confirm the promise of happier days； given him in his
slumbers。 Suddenly； a turtle dove； of the purest whiteness； comes
flying in at the window； and alights upon his hand； bearing in her
bill a branch of red gilliflower； on the leaves of which is written；
in letters of gold； the following sentence：
Awake！ awake！ I bring； lover； I bring
The newis glad that blissful is； and sure
Of thy comfort； now laugh； and play； and sing；
For in the heaven decretit is thy cure。
He receives the branch with mingled hope and dread； reads it with
rapture： and this； he says； was the first token of his succeeding
happiness。 Whether this is a mere poetic fiction； or whether the
Lady Jane did actually send him a token of her favor in this
romantic way； remains to be determined according to the faith or fancy
of the reader。 He concludes his poem； by intimating that the promise
conveyed in the vision and by the flower is fulfilled； by his being
restored to liberty； and made happy in the possession of the sovereign
of his heart。
Such is the poetical account given by James of his love adventures
in Windsor Castle。 How much of it is absolute fact； and how much the
embellishment of fancy； it is fruitless to conjecture： let us not；
however； reject every romantic incident as incompatible with real
life； but let us sometimes take a poet at his word。 I have noticed
merely those parts of the poem immediately connected with the tower；
and have passed over a large part； written in the allegorical vein； so
much cultivated at that day。 The language； of course； is quaint and
antiquated； so that the beauty of many of its golden phrases will
scarcely be perceived at the present day； but it is impossible not
to be charmed with the genuine sentiment； the delightful artlessness
and urbanity； which prevail throughout it。 The descriptions of
nature too； with which it is embellished； are given with a truth； a
discrimination； and a freshness； worthy of the most cultivated periods
of the art。
As an amatory poem； it is edifying in these days of coarser
thinking； to notice the nature； refinement； and exquisite delicacy
which pervade it； banishing every gross thought or immodest
expression； and presenting female loveliness； clothed in all its
chivalrous attributes of almost supernatural purity and grace。
James flourished nearly about the time of Chaucer and Gower； and was
evidently an admirer and studier of their writings。 Indeed； in one
of his stanzas he acknowledges them as his masters； and； in some parts
of his poem； we find traces of similarity to their productions； more
especially to those of Chaucer。 There are always； however； general
features of resemblance in the works of contemporary authors； which
are not so much borrowed from each other as from the times。 Writers；
like bees； toll their sweets in the wide world； they incorporate
with their own conceptions the anecdotes and thoughts current in
society； and thus each generation has some features in common；
characteristic of the age in which it lived。
James belongs to one of the most brilliant eras of our literary
history； and establishes the claims of his country to a
participation in its primitive honors。 Whilst a small cluster of
English writers are constantly cited as the fathers of our verse；
the name of their great Scottish compeer is apt to be passed over in
silence； but he is evidently worthy of being enrolled in that little
constellation of remote but never…failing luminaries； who shine in the
highest firmament of literature； and who； like morning stars； sang
together at the bright dawning of British poesy。
Such of my readers as may not be familiar with Scottish history
（though the manner in which it has of late been woven with captivating
fiction has made it a universal study）； may be curious to learn
something of the subsequent history of James； and the fortunes of
his love。 His passion for the Lady Jane； as it was the solace of his
captivity； so it facilitated his release； it being imagined by the
court that a connection with the blood royal of England would attach
him to its own interests。 He was ultimately restored to his liberty
and crown； having previously espoused the Lady Jane； who accompanied
him to Scotland； and made him a most tender and devoted wife。
He found his kingdom in great confusion； the feudal chieftains
having taken advantage of the troubles and irregularities of a long
interregnum to strengthen themselves in their possessions； and place
themselves above the power
