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

2

PREFACE TO

induced to complete one of them, and present it
as a separate publication.l
It is not in this place that an examination
of the works of the master whom he has here
adopted as his model, can, with propriety, be
introduced; since his general acquiescence in the
favourable suffrage of the public must necessarily
be inferred from the attempt he has now made.
He is induced, by the nature of his subject, to
offer a few remarks on what has been called
ROMANTIC POETRY;-the popularity of which
has been revived in the present day, under the
auspices, and by the unparalleled success, of one
individual.
The original purpose of poetry is either religious or historical, or, as must frequently happen,
a mixture of both. To modern readers, the poems
of Homer have many of the features of pure
[Sir Walter Scott, in his Introduction to the Lord of the
Isles, given in the preceding volume, says,-" Being much
urged by my intimate friend, now unhappily no more, William Erskine, I agreed to write the little romantic tale called
the ' Bridal of Triermain;' but it was on the condition, that
he should make no serious effort to disown the composition,
if report should lay it at his door. As he was more than
suspected of a taste for poetry, and as I took care, in several
places, to mix something which might resemble (as far as
was in my power) my friend's feeling and manner, the train
easily caught, and two large editions wore sold. A third
being called for, Lord Kinnedder became unwilling to aid
any longer a deception which was going further than he
expected or desired, and the real author's name was given."]