Which marks security to please ; We add, chiefly on account of their brevity. the following lines, which immediately succeed the description of the funeral rites of the English champion: No longer steel-clad warriors ride Along thy wild and willow'd shore ; As if thy waves, since Time was born, "Unlike the tide of human time, Which, though it change in ceaseless flow, It's earliest course was doom'd to know; Fell by the side of great Dundee. pp. 93, 94. There are several other detached passages "The harp's wild notes, though hush'd the song, of equal beauty, which might be quoted in The mimic march of death prolong; pp. 155, 156. The close of the poem is as follows: "Hush'd is the harp-the Minstrel gone. pp. 193, 194. proof of the effect which is produced by this dramatic interference of the narrator; but we hasten to lay before our readers some of the more characteristic parts of the performance. The ancient romance owes much of its interest to the lively picture which it affords of the times of chivalry, and of those usages, manners, and institutions which we have been accustomed to associate in our minds, with a certain combination of magnificence with simplicity, and ferocity with romantic honour. The representations contained in those performances, however, are for the most part too rude and naked to give complete satisfaction. The execution is always extremely unequal; and though the writer sometimes touches upon the appropriate feeling with great effect and felicity, still this appears to be done more by accident than design; and he wanders away immediately into all sorts of ludicrous or uninteresting details, without any apparent consciousness of incongruity. These defects Mr. Scott has corrected with admirable address and judg ment in the greater part of the work now before us; and while he has exhibited a very striking and impressive picture of the old feudal usages and institutions, he has shown still greater talent in engrafting upon those descriptions all the tender or magnanimous emotions to which the circumstances of the story naturally give rise. Without impairing the antique air of the whole piece, or violating the simplicity of the ballad style, he has contrived in this way, to impart a much greater dignity, and more powerful interest to his production, than could ever be attained by the unskilful and unsteady delineations of the old romancers. Nothing, we think, can afford a finer illustration of this remark, than the opening stanzas of the whole poem; they transport us at once into the days of knightly daring and feudal hostility; at the same time that they suggest, and in a very interesting way, all those softer sentiments which arise out of some parts of the description. "The feast was over in Branksome tower; And the Ladye had gone to her secret bower; No living wight, save the Ladye alone, "The tables were drawn, it was idlesse all; Or crowded round the ample fire. [spell pp. 9, 10. After a very picturesque representation of the military establishment of this old baronial fortress, the minstrel proceeds, "Many a valiant knight is here; But he, the Chieftain of them all, "Can piety the discord heal, Or staunch the death-feud's enmity? In mutual pilgrimage, they drew; For chiefs, their own red falchions slew. While Cessford owns the rule of Car, While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, Shall never, never be forgot! Old Teviot's maids and matron's lent: Her son lisp'd from the nurse's knee'And, if I live to be a man, My father's death reveng'd shall be!' Then fast the mother's tears did seek To dew the infant's kindling cheek."-pp.12-15. There are not many passages in English poetry more impressive than some parts of this extract. As another illustration of the prodigious improvement which the style of the old romance is capable of receiving from a more liberal admixture of pathetic sentiments and gentle affections, we insert the following passage; where the effect of the picture is finely assisted by the contrast of its two compartments. "So pass'd the day-the ev'ning fell, 'Twas near the time of curfew bell; Far more fair Margaret lov'd and bless'd On the high turret, sitting lone, Is yon the star o'er Penchryst-Pen, And, spreading broad its wav'ring light, "The Seneschal, whose silver hair, In these passages, the poetry of Mr. Scott is entitled to a decided preference over that of the earlier minstrels; not only from the greater consistency and condensation of his imagery, but from an intrinsic superiority in the nature of his materials. From the improvement of taste, and the cultivation of the finer feelings of the heart, poetry acquires, in a refined age, many new and invaluable elements, which are necessarily unknown in a period of greater simplicity. The description of external objects, however, is at all times equally inviting, and equally easy; and many of the pictures which have been left by the ancient romancers must be admitted to possess, along with great diffuseness and homeliness of diction, an exactness and vivacity which cannot be easily exceeded. In this had fewer advantages; but we do not think part of his undertaking, Mr. Scott therefore In the following description of Melrose, which that his success has been less remarkable. introduces the second canto, the reader will observe how skilfully he calls in the aid of sentimental associations to heighten the effect of the picture which he presents to the eye: "If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die; When distant Tweed is heard to rave, The whole scene of the duel, or judicial combat, is conducted according to the strict And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave; ordinances of chivalry, and delineated with Then go!-but go alone the while- Was never scene so sad and fair!"-pp. 35, 36. all the minuteness of an ancient romancer. The modern reader will probably find it rather tedious; all but the concluding stanzas, which are in a loftier measure. In the following passage he is less ambitious; and confines himself, as an ancient"'Tis done, 'tis done! that fatal blow minstrel would have done on the occasion, to a minute and picturesque representation of the visible object before him : "When for the lists they sought the plain, And much, in courteous phrase, they talk'd Costly his garb-his Flemish ruff His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt, The same scrupulous adherence to the style of the old romance, though greatly improved in point of brevity and selection, is discernible in the following animated description of the feast, which terminates the poem : "The spousal rites were ended soon; The hooded hawks, high perch'd on beam, And all is mirth and revelry."-pp. 166, 167. The following picture is sufficiently antique in its conception, though the execution is evidently modern: "Ten of them were sheath'd in steel, With corslet laced, Pillow'd on buckler cold and hard; Has stretch'd him on the bloody plain; And smooth his path from earth to heaven! As through the lists he ran; Loose wav'd his silver beard and hair, Still props him from the bloody sod, And bids him trust in God! We have already made so many extracts from this poem, that we can now only afford to present our readers with one specimen of the songs which Mr. Scott has introduced in the mouths of the minstrels in the concluding canto. It is his object, in those pieces, to exemplify the different styles of ballad narrative which prevailed in this island at different periods, or in different conditions of society. The first is constructed upon the rude and simple model of the old Border ditties, and produces its effect by the direct and concise narrative of a tragical occurrence. The second, sung by Fitztraver, the bard of the accomplished Surrey, has more of the richness and polish of the Italian poetry, and is very beautifully written, in a stanza resembling that of Spenser. The third is intended to represent that wild style of composition which prevailed among the bards of the northern continent, somewhat softened and adorned by the minstrel's residence in the south. We prefer it, upon the whole, to either of the two former, and shall give it entire to our readers; who will probably be struck with the poetical Ieffect of the dramatic form into which it is thrown, and of the indirect description by which every thing is most expressively told, without one word of distinct narrative. "O listen, listen, ladies gay! No haughty feat of arms I tell; "-Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew! Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch, Nor tempt the stormy frith to-day. "The black'ning wave is edg'd with white; To inch and rock the sea-mews fly; The fishers have heard the Water-Sprite, Whose screams forbode that wreck is nigh. Last night the gifted seer did view A wet shroud roll'd round Ladye gay: Why cross the gloomy frith to-day?" A wondrous blaze was seen to gleam; 'Twas broader than the watch-fire light, And brighter than the bright moonbeam. "It glar'd on Roslin's castled rock, It redden'd all the copse-wood glen; Both vaulted crypt and altar's pale; Blaz'd every rose-carv'd buttress fair- But the sea holds lovely Rosabelle ! "And each St. Clair was buried there, With candle, with book, and with knell; But the Kelpy rung, and the Mermaid sung The dirge of lovely Rosabelle !"-pp. 181-184. From the various extracts we have now given, our readers will be enabled to form a tolerably correct judgment of this poem; and if they are pleased with these portions of it which have now been exhibited, we may venture to assure them that they will not be disappointed by the perusal of the whole. The whole night-journey of Deloraine-the opening of the wizard's tomb-the march of the English battle-aud the parley before the walls of the castle, are all executed with the same spirit and poetical energy, which we think is conspicuous in the specimens we have already extracted; and a great variety of short passages occur in every part of the poem, which are still more striking and meritorious, though it is impossible to detach them, without injury, in the form of a quotation. It is but fair to apprise the reader, on the other hand, that he will meet with very heavy passages, and with a variety of details which are not likely to interest any one but a Borderer or an antiquary. We like very well *Isle. to hear "of the Gallant Chief of Otterburne," or "the Dark Knight of Liddisdale,” and feel the elevating power of great names, when we read of the tribes that mustered to the war, "beneath the crest of old Dunbar, and Hepburn's mingled banners." But we really cannot so far sympathise with the local partialities of the author, as to feel any glow of patriotism or ancient virtue in hearing of the Todrig or Johnston clans, or of Elliots, Armstrongs, and Tinlinns; still less can we relish the introduction of Black John of Athelstane, Whitslade the Hawk, Arthur-fire-the-braes, Red Roland Forster, or any other of those wor thies who "Sought the beeves that made their broth, In Scotland and in England both," into a poem which has any pretensions to seriousness or dignity. The ancient metrical romance might have admitted those homely personalities; but the present age will not endure them: And Mr. Scott must either sacrifice his Border prejudices, or offend all his readers in the other parts of the empire. There are many passages, as we have already insinuated, which have the general character of heaviness, such is the minstrel's account of his preceptor, and Deloraine's lamentation over the dead body of Mus grave: But the goblin page is, in our opinion. the capital deformity of the poem. We have already said that the whole machinery is useless: but the magic studies of the lady, and the rifled tomb of Michael Scott, give occasion to so much admirable poetry, that we can on no account consent to part with them. The page, on the other hand, is a perpetual burden to the poet, and to the reader: it is an undignified and improbable fiction, which excites neither terror, admiration, nor astonishment; but needlessly debases the strain of the whole work, and excites at once our incredulity and contempt. He is not a "tricksy spirit," like Ariel, with whom the imagination is irresistibly enamoured; nor a tiny monarch, like Oberon, disposing of the desti nies of mortals: He rather appears to us to be an awkward sort of a mongrel between Puck and Caliban; of a servile and brutal nature; and limited in his powers to the indulgence of petty malignity, and the infliction of despicable injuries. Besides this objection to his character, his existence has no support from any general or established superstition. Fairies and devils, ghosts, angels, and witches, are creatures with whom we are all familiar, and who excite in all classes of mankind emotions with which we can easily be made to sympathise. But the story of Gilpin Horner can never have been believed out of the village where he is said to have made his appearance; and has no claims upon the credulity of those who were not originally of his acquaintance. There is nothing at all interesting or elegant in the scenes of which he is the hero; and in reading those passages, we really could not help suspecting that they did not stand in the romance when the aged minstrel recited it to the royal Charles and his mighty earls, but were inserted afterwards to suit the taste of the cottagers among whom he begged his bread on the Border. We entreat Mr. Scott to inquire into the grounds of this suspicion; and to take advantage of any decent pretext he can lay hold of for purging "The Lay" of this ungraceful intruder. We would also move for a Quo Warranto against the spirits of the river and the mountain; for though they are come of a very high lineage, we do not know what lawful business they could have at Branksome castle in the year 1550. We have called the negligence which could leave such lines as these in a poem of this nature inexcusable; because it is perfectly evident, from the general strain of his composition, that Mr. Scott has a very accurate ear for the harmony of versification, and that he composes with a facility which must lighten the labour of correction. There are some smaller faults in the diction which might have. been as well corrected also: there is too much alliteration; and he reduplicates his words too often. We have "never, never," several times; besides 'tis o'er, 'tis o'er" — "in vain, in vain"-"'tis done, 'tis done;" and several other echoes as ungraceful. Of the diction of this poem we have but little to say. From the extracts we have already given, our readers will perceive that We will not be tempted to say any thing the versification is in the highest degree ir- more of this poem. Although it does not regular and capricious. The nature of the contain any great display of what is properly work entitled Mr. Scott to some licence in this called invention, it indicates perhaps as much respect, and he often employs it with a very vigour and originality of poetical genius as any pleasing effect; but he has frequently ex-performance which has been lately offered to ceeded its just limits, and presented us with the public. The locality of the subject is such combinations of metre, as must put the likely to obstruct its popularity; and the auteeth of his readers, we think, into some jeopardy. He has, when he pleases, a very melodious and sonorous style of versification, but often composes with inexcusable negligence and rudeness. There is a great number of lines in which the verse can only be made out by running the words together in a very unusual manner; and some appear to us to have no pretension to the name of verses at all. What apology, for instance, will Mr. Scott make for the last of these two lines?For when in studious mood he pac'd St. Kentigern's hall." or for these?— "How the brave boy in future war, Should tame the unicorn's pride." thor, by confining himself in a great measure to the description of manners and personal adventures, has forfeited the attraction which might have been derived from the delineation of rural scenery. But he has manifested a degree of genius which cannot be overlooked, and given indication of talents that seem well worthy of being enlisted in the service of the epic muse. The notes, which contain a great treasure of Border history and antiquarian learning, are too long, we think, for the general reader. The form of the publication is also too expensive; and we hope soon to see a smaller edition, with an abridgement of the notes, for the use of the mere lovers of poetry. (August, 1810.) The Lady of the Lake: a Poem. By WALTER SCOTT. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 434: 1810. MR. SCOTT, though living in an age unusu- | proof of extraordinary merit, a far surer one, ally prolific of original poetry, has manifestly outstripped all his competitors in the race of popularity; and stands already upon a height to which no other writer has attained in the memory of any one now alive. We doubt, indeed, whether any English poet ever had so many of his books sold, or so many of his verses read and admired by such a multitude of persons in so short a time. We are credibly informed that nearly thirty thousand copies of "The Lay" have been already disposed of in this country; and that the demand for Marmion, and the poem now before us, has been still more considerable,—a circulation we believe, altogether without example, in the case of a bulky work, not addressed to the bigotry of the mere mob, either religious or political. A popularity so universal is a pretty sure we readily admit, than would be afforded by any praises of ours: and, therefore, though we pretend to be privileged, in ordinary cases, to foretell the ultimate reception of all claims on public admiration, our function may be thought to cease, where the event is already so certain and conspicuous. As it is a sore thing, however, to be deprived of our privileges on so important an occasion, we hope to be pardoned for insinuating, that, even in such a case, the office of the critic may not be altogether superfluous. Though the success of the author be decisive, and even likely to be permanent, it still may not be without its use to point out, in consequence of what, and in spite of what, he has succeeded; nor altogether uninstructive to trace the precise limits of the connection which, even in this dull world, indisputably subsists between success |