SOLD ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAIX; TRUCHY, BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS; RUE NEUVE-SAINT-AUGUSTIN; AND BY ALL THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS ON THE CONTINENT. OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. 00C 000 20000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000200000000000 000 000000000000 THE LADY OF THE LAKE; A POEM IN SIX CANTOS. I TO THE MOST NOBLE JOHN JAMES MARQUIS OF ABERCORN, ETC. ETC. ETC. THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. " INTRODUCTION. After the success of "Marmion," I felt inclined to exclaim with Ulysses in the 'Odyssey Οὗτος μὲν δὴ ἄεθλος ἄβατος ἐκτετέλεσται. Νῦν αὐτε σκοπὸν ἄλλον. Odys. x. 1. 5. "One venturous game my hand has won to-day Another, gallants, yet remains to play." The ancient manners, the habits and customs of the aboriginal race by whom the Highlands of Scotland were inhabited, had always appeared to me peculiarly adapted to poetry. The change in their manners, too, had taken place almost within my own time, or at least I had learned many particulars concerning the ancient state of the Highlands from the old men of the last generation. I had always thought the old Scottish Gael highly adapted for poetical composition. The feuds, and political dissensions, which, half a century earlier, would have rendered the richer and wealthier part of the kingdom indisposed to countenance a poem, the scene of which was laid in the Highlands, were now sunk in the generous compassion which the English, more than any other nation, feel for the misfortunes of an honourable foe. The Poems of Ossian had, by their popularity, sufficiently shown, that if writings on Highland subjects were qualified to interest the reader, mere national prejudices were, in the present day, very unlikely to interfere with their success. I had also read a great deal, seen much, and heard more, of that romantic country, where I was in the habit of spending some time every autumn; and the scenery of Loch Katrine was connected with the recollection of many a dear friend and merry expedition of former days. This poem, the action of which lay among [ Published in 4to, June, 1810.] |