The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 79 (Color Image)

0079	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

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AGE, 69. MESSAGE TO THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE—THE END Ixxi

Illustrissimi Domini, ob honores tanto nimios quanto immeritos!

Mihi robora deficiunt, vita collabitur, accipiatis voluntatem pro

facto. Cum corde pleno et gratissimo moriturus vos, Illustrissimi

Domini, saluto.

YULE."

Sunday, 29th December, was a day of the most dense black

fog, and he felt its oppression, but was much cheered by a

visit from his ever faithful friend, Collinson, who, with his usual

unselfishness, came to him that day at very great personal

inconvenience.

On Monday, 3oth December, the day was clearer, and Henry

Yule awoke much refreshed, and in a peculiarly happy and even

cheerful frame of mind. He said he felt so comfortable. He

spoke of his intended book, and bade his daughter write about

the inevitable delay to his publisher : " Go and write to John

Murray," were indeed his last words to her. During the morn-

ing he saw some friends and relations, but as noon approached

his strength flagged, and after a period of unconsciousness, he

passed, peacefully away in the presence of his daughter and of

an old friend, who had come from Edinburgh to see him, but

arrived too late for recognition. Almost at the same time

that Yule fell asleep, his " stately message," 76 was being read

under the great Dome in Paris. Some two hours after Yule had

passed away, F.-M. Lord Napier of Magdala, called on an

errand of friendship, and at his desire was admitted to see the

last of his early friend. When Lord Napier came out, he said to

the present writer, in his own reflective way : " He looks as if he

had just settled to some great work." With these suggestive

words of the great soldier, who was so soon, alas, to follow his old

friend to the work of another world, this sketch may fitly close,

The following excellent verses (of unknown authorship) on

Yule's death, subsequently appeared in the Academy : 77

" ` Moriturus vos saluto'

Breathes his last the dying scholar—Tireless student, brilliant writer ; He ` salutes his age' and journeys To the Undiscovered Country.

er.

76 So Sir M. E. Grant Duff well calls it. Academy, 29th March, 189o.

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