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

INTRODUCTION TO ROKEBY. 13
or quite, as well as himself. For this there was
no remedy; the harmony became tiresome and
ordinary, and both the original inventor and his
invention must have fallen into contempt, if he
had not found out another road to public favour.
What has been said of the metre only, must be
considered to apply equally to the structure of the
Poem and of the style. The very best passages
of any popular style are not, perhaps, susceptible
of imitation, but they may be approached by men
of talent; and those who are less able to copy
them, at least lay hold of their peculiar features,
so as to produce a strong burlesque. In either
way, the effect of the manner is rendered cheap
and common; and, in the latter case, ridiculous
to boot. The evil consequences to an author's
reputation are at least as fatal as those which
come upon the musical composer, when his melody
falls into the hands of the street ballad-singer.
Of the unfavourable species of imitation, the
author's style gave room to a very large number,
owing to an appearance of facility to which some
of those who used the measure unquestionably
leaned too far. The effect of the more favourable
imitations, composed by persons of talent, was
almost equally unfortunate to the original minstrel,
by showing that they could overshoot him with his
opinion of some, equalled, if not surpassed, him; and lo!
after three or four years, they turned out to be the Master's
own cornpositions."-BYRON's ITVorks, vol. xv. p. 96.