على وجهه الجريء خطّ العمرُ الناضج أثرَه الحكيم خفيفاً، لكنه لم يُطفئ انفتاحَ الحقيقة ولا حماسةَ الشباب المتّقدة. ففيه مرحٌ وبهجةٌ مقبلة، والرغبة في الفعل، والنفس التي تجرؤ.

“On his bold visage middle age Had slightly press'd its signet sage, Yet had not quench'd the open truth And fiery vehemence of youth: Forward and frolic glee was there, The will to do, the soul to dare.”Walter Scott — Poetical Works ... With a biographical and critical memoir by Francis Turner Palgrave. (The Globe edition.) (1866)