Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

LIFE OF JOHN KNOX.
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tears before him. Enchanting, surely, must the charms
of the queen of Scots have been, and iron-hearted the
Reformer who could resist their impression, when they
continue to this day to exercise such a sway over the
hearts of men, that even grave and serious authors, not
addicted to the language of gallantry and romance, can
protest that they cannot read of the tears which she shed
on this occasion, without feeling an inclination to weep
along with her. There may be some, however, who,
knowing how much real misery there is in the world,
are not disposed to waste their feelings unnecessarily,
and who are of opinion, that there was not much to com¬
miserate in the condition of the queen, nor to reprobate
in the conduct of the Reformer. Considering that she
had been so fortunate in her measures, and found her
nobility so ready to gratify her wishes, the passion by
which she suffered herself to be transported was extrava¬
gant, and her tears must hare been those of anger and
not of grief. On the other hand, when we consider that
Knox was at this time deserted by his friends, and stood
almost alone in resisting the will of a princess, who ac¬
complished her measures chiefly by caresses and tears,
we may be disposed to form a more favourable idea of
his conduct and motives. We behold not, indeed, the
enthusiastic lover, mingling his tears with those of his
mistress, and vowing to revenge her wrongs; nor the
man of nice sensibility, who loses every other considera¬
tion in the gratification of his feelings; but we behold
what is more rare, the stern patriot, the rigid reformer,
who, in the discharge of his duty, and in a public cause,
can withstand the tide of tenderness as well as the storm
of passion. There have been times when such conduct
was regarded as the proof of a superior mind ; and the
man who, from such motives, “ hearkened not to the wife
of his bosom, nor knew his own children,” has been the
object not of censure, but admiration, in sacred as well
as pagan story.