LETTERS ON
118
E may sics
premise by observing that the clas-
had not forgotten to enrol
mythology a deities,
Good
in their
certain species of subordinate
resembling the modern elves in their habits. Mr. Gibb, of the Advocates' Library (whom
old
lawyers whose youth he assisted in their studies by his knowledge of that noble collection, are bound to name with gratitude), used to point out amongst the all
ancient altars under his charge, one which is consecrated Diis campestribus , and usually added, with a
wink,
" The
Fairies,
This
ye ken."*
relic
of antiquity
was discovered near Roxburgh Castle, and a vicinity more delightfully appropriate to the abode of the silvan
deities
can hardly be found. Two rivers of conmade yet more remarkable by the fame
siderable size,
which has rendered them
in
some
sort classical, unite
beneath the vestiges of an extensive castle, renowned in the wars with England, and for the valiant, noble, and even royal blood, which has their
streams
been shed around and before
it
;
a landscape, orna-
and huge abbey tower of Kelso, arising out of groves of aged trees the modern mansion of Fleurs, with its terrace, its woods, and its extensive lawn, form altogether a kingdom for
mented with the
distant village
;
Oberon and Titania to reign in, or any spirit who, before their time, might love scenery of which the majesty, *
Another altar of elegant form, and perfectly preserved, was, within these few weeks, dug np near the junction of the Leader and the Tweed, in the neighbourhood of the village of Newstead, to the east of Melrose. It was inscribed by Carrius Domitianus, the prefect of the twentieth legion, to the god STLVANUS ; forming another instance how much the wild and silvan character of the country disposed the feelings of the Romans to acknowledge the presence of the rural The altar is preserved at Drygrange, the seat of Mr. Tod. deities.