Page:Marmion - Walter Scott (ed. Bayne, 1889).pdf/218

 entitled 'Letters from the North of Italy,' and escaped a prohibitory order from the Emperor of Austria by ingeniously changing his title to 'A Treatise upon Sour Krout,' &c. His other original works are, 'Apology addressed to the Travellers' Club; or, Anecdotes of Monkeys'; 'Thoughts and Recollections by one of the Last Century'; and 'Epistle to the Hon. J. Hookham Frere in Malta.' His translations are these:—'Amadis of Gaul: a Poem in three Books, freely translated from the French version of Nicholas de Herberay' (1803); 'Partenopex de Blois, a Romance in four Cantos, from the French of M. Le Grand' (1807); 'Court and Parliament of Beasts, translated from the Animali Parlanti of Giambatista Casti' (1819); and 'Orlando Furioso, translated into English Verse' (1825-1831). The closing lines of this Introduction refer to Rose's 'Amadis' and 'Partenopex.'

Ashestiel, whence the Introduction to the First Canto is dated, is on the Tweed, about six miles above Abbotsford. 'The valley there is narrow,' says Lockhart, 'and the aspect in every direction is that of perfect pastoral repose.' This was Scott's home from 1804 to 1812, when he removed to Abbotsford.

'''ll. 1-52'''. This notable winter piece is the best modern contribution to that series of poetical descriptions by Scottish writers which includes Dunbar's 'Meditatioun in Winter,' Gavin Douglas's Scottish winter scene in the Prologue to his Virgil's Æneid VII, Hamilton of Bangour's Ode III, and, of course, Thomson's 'Winter' in 'The Seasons.' The details of the piece are given with admirable skill, and the local place-names are used with characteristic effect. The note of regret over winter's ravages, common to all early Scottish poets, is skilfully struck and preserved, and thus the contrast designed between the wintry landscape and 'my Country's wintry state' is rendered sharper and more decisive.

l. 3. steepy linn. Steepy is Elizabethan = steep, precipitous. Linn (Gael. linne = pool; A.S. hlinna = brook) is variously used for 'pool under a waterfall,' 'cascade,' 'precipice,' and 'ravine.' The reference here is to the ravine close by Ashestiel, mentioned in Lockhart's description of the surroundings:—'On one side, close under the windows, is a deep ravine clothed with venerable trees, down which a mountain rivulet is heard, more than seen, in its progress to the Tweed.'

'''l. 16. our forest hills'''. Selkirkshire is poetically called 'Ettrick