The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-29
Nfsefllanp.
CRITICISM.
[FRoM TINE EpissvsoH Rrvrxw.l

nabie " Co. London, Longman y Co. 1905.
We eonGder this poem as an attempt to transfer
the reiinenents Of modern poetry The matter and
the manner of the ancient metrical romance. The
author, enamoured Of the lofty viiions of evalry,
and partial the trains in which they former
~ embodied feans to have employed all the relourees
OF his genius in endea,orng recall them TO tie ia
and admiration Of the public, and in adapting
10 the taite OF modern readers, pecies of poetry
which was the deGsh, Of the eourtly, but ha,
long ecaied to gladden. amy other eyes than thofs of
the fcholar and the anti,iuary. This isa romance,
therefore, competed by mnitrel OF the preent day
or iuch romance may fuppole would have
been written iii modern times, if that ftyle Of compo-
htion had continued TO be cultivated, and partaken
conleguenty of the improvements which every branch
OF literature has received Gnee the time oil 1t, defer
ton.
Upon this fuppoi.on, il evidently Mr.. Scot,'s
buGneis 10 retain all that good, and rrjea all
that was bad lii the models upon which he was TO
form himief adding the Grne time, all the iutc-
reit and the beauty which could poflbly be allim-
lated to the manner and fprit Of his original It was
his duty, therefore, to reform the rambling, oblcure,
and interminable narratives Of the ancient romanc
ca moderate their dyreiious,-to abridgs retrenoh
their unmerciful needies delcriptions,---and to
expuge altogether thofe feeble and prolific paiayx,
the rude hupdity of which, is 70 apt to excite the
dcTfhon OF modern readers at the fame time he was
torval, IT he COULD the force and vivacty of their
minute and varied reprefentations-th charaaerif.
tic implicitly OF their pictures of manners-,he ener-
gy and eoneieneis with which they frequently def
eribe great events-and the lively colouriny and ac-
eurats drawing by which they give the effect of re-
ahty to every fcene they undertake to delineate
In executing this arduous ta he was permitted 10
avail hmfelf of all of that variety of fyle and man.
ner which had been flnaioned by the ancient prac.
tice, and bound to embeIf his performance with all
the graces of dicion and versiiea,ion which could
be reconced to the implicitly and familiarity of the
ninftrel's fonp.
With what fuecels Mr. Scott. efforts have b..p
attended in the execution of this adventurou. under
tak'sg, our readers perhaps will b. better able 70
Judge IN the fsquei but, i'll the meantime we may
iiiey venture TO ailert. that he has produced very
beautiful and entertaining poem, ityle which may
LARRY be eoniitlered as original, and which will be
allowed TO Afford satisfactory EVIDENCE of the renu,
OF the author, even though he fhould fucceed in
converting the public to his opinion as to tn.
intereit or dgl.lty of the fubef We are ourfelve,
Inclined indeed to iuipef that his Partially for the
TRAINS OF antiquity, has mpofed l;tle upon the ie-
verify Of his Judgment and impaired the beauty of the
Preient imitation, by directing his attention rather
to what was characteristic, than to what was une.
eeptionabe in his originals Though he has ii,ar.d
too many OF their faults, however, he h., certainly
improved upon their beauties and while we can
ie4ceiy help reSretting, that the feuLs of Border
enieitatns LIQUID have monopolized as mush poetry
ssmight have 1rryed to itnmortalize the Who'll. ba
~
admire the interett aud masni6cenee which he hs,
contrived to communicate to fubiecf 70 unnroo,;c
ing.
Whatever may be thought of the conduct of the
man nory, the manner of Introducing il mutt be
allowed 20 be extremely poetca. An aged minftrel
who had harPed to King Charles the Good and
learned 70 love his at time when il was bononr
ca by all that was dtinguiled in rank or in genms
having fallen into neglect an Iniiery in the evil davs
OF the uiurpation, and the frivolous gaietie or
bitter contentious oil the luceeeding reiens i, renre
tented as wandering about the Border in poverty and
fotuce few years after the revolution In this finn
alton, he is driven, by want and wearirefs. RI f..L
ineiter IN the cattle of tho Dutchefs of BuccIeuch
and Monmouth; and being cheered BY the hofo;tal;-
~ offers to fing an ancient Grain,
relating to the old warriors Of her family and after
fome fruitefs attempts to recal the long-forgotten
melody, pours forth the Lay of the Lat Minifrel,
in fix cantos, very lkifuly divided by Gome recur-
renee to his own htiation, and ione complimentary
interruptions from his noble auditors.
The contraction of a fable ieems by no mean, the
forte of our modern poetical writers and no great
arrhce in that refpeet, to be expected perhaps
from an imtator of the ancient ronIaneer:. Mir
Scott indeed, has himielf Infatuated that he conf
dered the Rory an object of very subordinate inn
portance, and that he leis lolictous to deliver
regular narrative, than connect fuch ferries of
incidents might enable him to Introduce the man
with which they were afoeated. Though the con-
cePtion Of the fable is probably from theie caufe,,
exceedingly detective, it fsems neceilary to lay
fort ketch oft before readers, boh for the gra-
,6caion Of their curohty, and facilitate the APP
picaton of the remarks may be afterwards tempt
Cd 70 offer.
SIR Walter Scott Of Buceleuch, the Lord of Drank
fone, was ilain IN fhrmih with the Cars about The
middle of the Fifteenth century. He left daugh-
ter of mltchiel, beauty, infant fon, and high
minded DAME OF a widow, who, though very viz
tuous and dcvout psrion, was privately addicted to
the fudy Of magic, in which bs had been initiated
by her father. Lord Crantoun their neighbor was
1T feud with the whole clan of Scott but had fallen
desperately in love with the u,hter, who returned
his PadioD With equal iinc.rity and ardour though
withheld, by her dutyts her mother, from uniting
her 6eltihy with his. The poem opens with def
rrptOn oil the warii!tc etabliibment of Brapkfome-
hall and the firA Incident which occurs is dia-
logus between the 3irjt, Of the adjoining mountain
and river who, alter conlultirg the hars, declare
Chat good fortune can bles the msnfon till
pride BIZ qused, and love be free. The lady Whole
forbidden aude, had taught her to underltand the
language Of hofe Psaker. overhears this conyeriati-
on, and VOWS, il Ponible, retain her purpofe in
fpita Of it. She calls gallant knight Of her train,
therefore, and dreis him ride immediately 10 the