The monastery; The abbot.

270 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
attract a greater degree of interest than its immediate predecessor. A taking
title, or the announcement of a popular subject, is a recipe for success much
in favour with booksellers, but which authors will not always find efficacious. The cause is worth a moment's examination.
There occur in every country some peculiar historical characters, which
are, like a spell or charm, sovereign to excite curiosity and attract attention,
since every one in the slightest degree interested in the land which they
belong to, has heard much of them, and longs to hear more. A tale turning
on the fortunes of Alfred or Elizabeth in England, or of Wallace or Bruce
in Scotland, is sure by the very announcement to excite public curiosity to
a considerable degree, and ensure the publisher's being relieved of the
greater part of an impression,. even before the contents of the work are
known. This is of the last importance to the bookseller, who is at once, to
use a technical phrase, " brought home," all his outlay being repaid. But
it is a different case with the author, since it cannot be denied that we are
apt to feel least satisfied with the works of which we have been induced, by
titles and laudatory advertisements, to entertain exaggerated expectations.
The intention of the work has been anticipated, and misconceived or misrepresented, and although the difficulty of executing the work again reminds
us of Hotspur's task of "o'er-walking a current roaring loud," yet the
adventurer must look for more ridicule if he fails, than applause if he executes, his undertaking.
Notwithstanding a risk, which should make authors pause ere they adopt
a theme which, exciting general interest and curiosity, is often the preparative for disappointment, yet it would be an injudicious regulation which
should deter the poet or painter from attempting to introduce historical portraits, merely from the difficulty of executing the task in a satisfactory
manner. Something must be trusted to the generous impulse, which often
thrusts an artist upon feats of which he knows the difficulty, while he trusts
courage and exertion may afford the means of surmounting it.
It is especially when he is sensible of losing ground with the public, that
an author may be justified in using with address, such selection of subject
or title as is most likely to procure a rehearing. It was with these feelings
of hope and apprehension, that I venture to awaken, in a work of fiction,
the memory of Queen Mary, so interesting by her wit, her beauty, her
misfortunes, and the mystery which still does, and probably always will,
overhang her history. In doing so, I was aware that failure would be a
conclusive disaster, so that my task was something like that of an enchanter
who raises a spirit over whom he is uncertain of possessing an effectual
control; and I naturally paid attention to such principles of composition, as
I conceived were best suited to the historical' ovel.
Enough has been already said to explain the purpose of composing the
Abbot. The historical references are, as usual, explained in the notes. That
which relates to Queen Mary's escape from Lochleven Castle, is a more
minute account of that romantic adventure, than is to be found in the histories of the period.
ABBOTSFORD, }
l it January, 1831.|