ESSAY.

Evening Star, Issue 2808, 16 February 1872, Page 3

ESSAY.

On the “ "Writings of Sir Y alter Scott and their influence on the present age.” ( Continued.J Within two months from the publication “ Uokeby,” “ The Bridal of Ineimain made its appearance. This is a most lively and fascinating romance, and quite characteristic of Scott. Efforts were made to deceive the critics, and Mr l .rskinc le nt his aid. The writer in the Quarterly Itcview was completely hoodwinked. He declared it to be an initiation of Mr Scott’s style of composition, and that if it is inferior m vigour to some of his productions, it equals or surpasses them in elegance and beauty. ‘ ‘he Lord of the Isles” was published mhvi), and the interest it excited was very much heightened by'the growing success of the mysterious Waverley. This poem possesses all the defects, beauties, and irregularities of the great minstrel. Scott has the happy knack of telling his story- in such a pithy, fresh, and original manner, that ho stirs up the imagination of his readers in a way truly astonishing. Had this poem been written by any other, he would at once have taken a high place in the literary world ; but Scott ha i “achieved such extraordinary success by his first efforts th t it was almost impossible for him to add anything to his fame as a poet. The following passage will show that jt is not devoid of beauties : Bruce, with the pilot’s wary eye, The slackening of the storm could spy. “ One effort more, and Scotland's free ! Lord of the Isles, my trust in thee Is firm as Alsa rock ; Bush on with Highland sword and targe ; I with my arrick spearmen, charge ; Now forward to the shock !” At once the spears were forward thrown, Against the sun, the broadswords shone ; The pibroch lent its maddening tone, And loud King Robert’s voice was known—- “ Garrick press on -they fail! they fail; Press on, brave sons of Innisgail, The foe is fainting fast! Each strike for parent, child, and wife, For Scotland, liberty, and life, The battle cannot la’t !”

After “ The Lord qf the Isles” appeared “ riarold the Dauntless” in 1817, and this was certainly the least successful of his poetical works, though there are here and there some life-like pictures, fresh vigorous yerses, and quaint humour. Here closes Scott’s career as a popular poet. It is necessary to show how successful Scott was as a poet, as there is great danger of our allowpi" his un quailed reputation as a novelist to C ’overa''ad‘'W his claims to poetical distinction, We should never forget that he first became known to the world as a poet; and had he written nothing more than his lyrics his name would have lived for ever. “ Lochinvar," “ Jock O’ Hazeldeau,” “Eosabelle,” and “ Norah’s vow” will he sung and admired as long as tenderness and melody, force and fresbnes, gaiety and humor shall please the ear, and stir up the fancy, and touch the heart. His poems achieved a wide spread aud brilliant popularity, which time has been unable to dim, the ever-changing fashions to weaken, nor new favorites to alienate. They are, iml ed, among the real gems of English literature, and possess the grand qualities of being both enjoyable and healthy. Wp dq not for a moment affirm that Scott is the first of poets aa 'he is the first of novelists. He has not the penetration of Shakspeare, nor toe sublime creativeness of Milton, nor the scholarly wit of Pope, iv>r the intensity and tenderness of Burns, nor the fiery glow of Byron, nor tho sweet music of Tennyson, but still he has excellencies peculiarly his own, which at once adorn literature and elevate humanity. His writings are open, candid, and sincere, free from anything indelicate or pernicious, and, while they do not obtrude morality, they teach it, because on every page there is some reflection of his own chivalrous, upright nature. His vividness and originality, his power and pathos, his wonderful vigor, and rugged sweetness, his graceful fancy a,id brilliant yet chastened imagination, are universally admitted and admired. Although Scott retired in favor of Byron, it is bub fair to state that the splendid success which attended these Eastern Tales was due in a great moasirfi to the taste which Scott had created for that eityle of poetry- Byron was 'the ii.st io acknowledge hlo proud p.silion, and presented him with a copy of his works, inscribed “To the Von rch of Parnassus from one of his subjects.” Among Scott’s miscellaneous works, the editions of Dryden and Swift, the “ Life of Napoleon,” and the “ Talcs of a Grandfather,” deservedly occupy a high place in literature. His success as a romance writer was unpreepdenfedt Ncvcf jq the history of 'literature did any create puch an intense amount of excitement as the P Author of Waverley.” His very succ sg will he our best excuse for not reviewing the Waverley Novels in detail, as the characters are so numerous that it would be vain to attempt it. Thcte is nothing more astonishing in the novels of Sir Walter Scott than the complete and comprehensive grasp with which he places the whole state of society before us, There are, no doubt, mistakes in detail, and confusion of chronology and topography, and the like ; but in spite of these inaccuracies, it is nevertheless true that in the novels of Sir Walter Scott we have an insight given to ps into individual characters. Do we know any sovereign fn Europe, past or present, with the same intimacy that we know Louis XL from Quentin Durward” S Where can wc find historical characters more truthfully and artistically presented than Richard Cmur de Lion and Saladin, Mary and Elisabeth, or the character of James the First so happily described as in the “Fortunes of Nigel”? But what shows the genius of the man more than anything else, is that from the very neuks and dark places of history he has brought out characters that were never known before. You see the Covenanters in all their phases coming out of thejr hidingplaces. You see the tradesmen in Perth. You see the tradesmen in Loudon ; and you see the Templars ami Jews of the Middle Ages, Surely this is the reproduction of history. Who can say that ho has been tinfajr tq the Covenanters,” when "the most Christian character in all his novels is that of Bessy McClure, as well as that model of a patriot aud a gentleman, Henry Morton, in “ Old Mortality,” not to mention the still more celebrated character of Jeanie Deans, in the “Heart of Midlothian” ? (To be voiUhui'.'J.)