The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. 25
was, indeed, little occasion for pause or hesitation,
when a troublesome rhyme might be aceommodated by an alteration of the stanza, or where an
incorrect measure might be remedied by a variation in the rhyme. It was finally published in
1805, and may be regarded as the first work in
which the writer, who has been since so voluminous, laid his claim to be considered as an original
author.
The book was published by Longman and
Company, and Archibald Constable and Company. The principal of the latter firm was then
commencing that course of bold and liberal industry which was of so much advantage to his
country, and might have been so to himself,' but
for causes which it is needless to enter into here.
The work, brought out on the usual terms of
division of profits between the author and publishers, was not long after purchased by them fbr
~500, to which Messrs. Longman and Company
afterwards added ~100, in their own unsolicited
kindness, in consequence of the uncommon success of the work. It was handsomely given to
supply the loss of a fine horse, which broke down
suddenly while the author was riding with one of
the worthy publishers.1
It would be great affectation not to own frankly,
that the Author expected some success from " The
[I1 Mr. Owen Rees. - ED.]