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penury。〃
Some seven years succeeded of schoolmastering and verse…writing： the
Latin paraphrase of the Psalms； another of the 〃Alcestis〃 of Euripides； an
Epithalamium on the marriage of poor Mary Stuart； noble and sincere；
however fantastic and pedantic； after the manner of the times； 〃Pomps；〃
too； for her wedding； and for other public ceremonies； in which all the
heathen gods and goddesses figure； epigrams； panegyrics； satires； much of
which latter productions he would have consigned to the dust…heap in his
old age； had not his too fond friends persuaded him to republish the follies
and coarsenesses of his youth。 He was now one of the most famous
scholars in Europe； and the intimate friend of all the great literary men。
Was he to go on to the end； die； and no more？ Was he to sink into the
mere pedant； or； if he could not do that； into the mere court versifier？
The wars of religion saved him； as they saved many another noble soul；
from that degradation。 The events of 1560…62 forced Buchanan； as they
forced many a learned man besides； to choose whether he would be a child
of light or a child of darkness； whether he would be a dilettante classicist；
or a preacherit might be a martyrof the Gospel。 Buchanan may have
left France in 〃The Troubles〃 merely to enjoy in his own country elegant
and learned repose。 He may have fancied that he had found it； when he
saw himself； in spite of his public profession of adherence to the
Reformed Kirk； reading Livy every afternoon with his exquisite young
sovereign； master； by her favour； of the temporalities of Crossraguel
Abbey； and by the favour of Murray； Principal of St。 Leonard's College in
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St。 Andrew's。 Perhaps he fancied at times that 〃to…morrow was to be as to…
day； and much more abundant；〃 that thenceforth he might read his folio；
and write his epigram； and joke his joke； as a lazy fortable pluralist；
taking his morning stroll out to the corner where poor Wishart had been
burned； above the blue sea and the yellow sands； and looking up to the
castle tower from whence his enemy Beaton's corpse had been hung out；
with the fortable reflection that quieter times had e； and that
whatever evil deeds Archbishop Hamilton might dare； he would not dare
to put the Principal of St。 Leonard's into the 〃bottle dungeon。〃
If such hopes ever crossed Geordie's keen fancy； they were
disappointed suddenly and fearfully。 The fire which had been kindled in
France was to reach to Scotland likewise。 〃Revolutions are not made
with rose…water；〃 and the time was at hand when all good spirits in
Scotland； and George Buchanan among them； had to choose； once and for
all； amid danger； confusion； terror； whether they would serve God or
Mammon； for to serve both would be soon impossible。
Which side； in that war of light and darkness； George Buchanan took；
is notorious。 He saw then； as others have seen since； that the two men in
Scotland who were capable of being her captains in the strife were Knox
and Murray； and to them he gave in his allegiance heart and soul。
This is the critical epoch in Buchanan's life。 By his conduct to Queen
Mary he must stand or fall。 It is my belief that he will stand。 It is not
my intention to enter into the details of a matter so painful； so shocking； so
prodigious； and now that that question is finally set at rest； by the writings
both of Mr。 Froude and Mr。 Burton； there is no need to allude to it further；
save where Buchanan's name is concerned。 One may now have every
sympathy with Mary Stuart； one may regard with awe a figure so stately；
so tragic； in one sense so heroic；for she reminds one rather of the heroine
of an old Greek tragedy； swept to her doom by some irresistible fate； than
of a being of our own flesh and blood； and of our modern and Christian
times。 One may sympathise with the great womanhood which charmed
so many while she was alive； which has charmed； in later years； so many
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noble spirits who have believed in her innocence； and have doubtless been
elevated and purified by their devotion to one who seemed to them an
ideal being。 So far from regarding her as a hateful personage； one may
feel oneself forbidden to hate a woman whom God may have loved； and
may have pardoned； to judge from the punishment so swift； and yet so
enduring； which He inflicted。 At least； he must so believe who holds that
punishment is a sign of mercy； that the most dreadful of all dooms is
impunity。 Nay； more； those 〃Casket〃 letters and sonnets may be a relief to
the mind of one who believes in her guilt on other grounds； a relief when
one finds in them a tenderness； a sweetness； a delicacy； a magnificent self…
sacrifice； however hideously misplaced； which shows what a womanly
heart was there； a heart which； joined to that queenly brain； might have
made her a blessing and a glory to Scotland； had not the whole character
been warped and ruinate from childhood； by an education so abominable；
that anyone who knows what words she must have heard； what scenes she
must have beheld in France； from her youth up； will wonder that she
sinned so little： not that she sinned so much。 One may feel； in a word；
that there is every excuse for those who have asserted Mary's innocence；
because their own high…mindedness shrank from believing her guilty：
but yet Buchanan； in his own place and time； may have felt as deeply that
he could do no otherwise than he did。
The charges against him； as all readers of Scotch literature know well；
may be reduced to two heads。 1st。 The letters and sonnets were
forgeries。 Maitland of Lethington may have forged the letters； Buchanan；
according to some； the sonnets。 Whoever forged them； Buchanan made
use of them in his Detection； knowing them to be forged。 2nd。 Whether
Mary was innocent or not； Buchanan acted a base and ungrateful part in
putting himself in the forefront amongst her accusers。 He had been her
tutor； her pensioner。 She had heaped him with favo