Sir Francis Doyle speaks very justly of Sir Walter as "among English singers the undoubted inheritor of that trumpet-note, which, under the breath of Homer, has made the wrath of Achilles immortal;" and I do not doubt that there was something in Scott's face, and especially in the expression of his mouth, to suggest this even to his early college companions.

Unfortunately, however, even "one crowded hour of glorious life" may sometimes have a "sensual" inspiration, and in these days of youthful adventure, too many such hours seem to have owed their inspiration to the Scottish peasant's chief bane, the Highland whisky.
In his eager search after the old ballads of the Border, Scott had many a blithe adventure, which ended only too often in a carouse.

It was soon after this time that he first began those raids into Liddesdale, of which all the world has enjoyed the records in the sketches--embodied subsequently in _Guy Mannering_--of Dandie Dinmont, his pony Dumple, and the various Peppers and Mustards from whose breed there were afterwards introduced into Scott's own family, generations of terriers, always named, as Sir Walter expressed it, after "the cruet." I must quote the now classic record of those youthful escapades:-- "Eh me," said Mr.Shortreed, his companion in all these Liddesdale raids, "sic an endless fund of humour and drollery as he had then wi' him.

Never ten yards but we were either laughing or roaring and singing.

Wherever we stopped, how brawlie he suited himsel' to everybody! He aye did as the lave did; never made himsel' the great man or took ony airs in the company.