Page:The Earliest English Translations of Bürger's Lenore - A Study in English and German Romanticism - Emerson (1915).djvu/65

 Taylor has in some respects surpassed Scott, and made what is on the whole the best version.

The next evidence that Scott's version of the Bürger ballad was highly esteemed is connected with the publication of Lewis's Tales of Terror and Wonder. As already noted Scott himself mentions the inspiration of Lewis's work in the Monk. In the spring of 1798 Scott's friend Erskine met Lewis in London, with the result that Scott was asked to assist him in his proposed compilation. In answer to Scott's offer of anything that he had, Lewis wrote a letter of thanks and later invited the author of William and Helen to dine with him in Edinburgh. Indeed, Lewis must have expected at this time to use Scott's poem, as shown by a letter in which he says: "In order that I may bring it nearer the original title, pray introduce in the first stanza the name Ellenora, instead of Ellen".

Why Lewis did not finally use Scott's poem is not clear, but a reasonable conjecture may be offered. Lewis was unusually free with his criticisms of Scott's verses, and caused the Scotch attorney to revise his Glenfinlas before it was accepted. It is to be inferred also from Lewis's letter that Scott had objected to making all the changes suggested. Lewis writes:

He then goes on to criticise Frederick and Alice, The Chase, and William and Helen. Scott made most of the changes suggested for the first two poems, but probably balked at making the more numerous ones in the last, after it had been once printed and so highly praised by his friends. At any rate William and Helen was not used by Lewis, and it remains today with all the faulty rimes and expressions Lewis pointed out. The latter, as we know, printed Taylor's first version in his Tales of Wonder, though without knowing the author.