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NOTES.
P. 6. stanza 14, and Preface to `The First Edition of the
Poems.' — In that passage in Lycidas, which fills us with such
awe, Milton says:
Looks towards Namancos and Bayona's hold.”
Although the cases are not quite parallel, I hope I shall not
be thought extravagant in calling upon old Merlin, a being
supposed to be endowed with supernatural powers, to
On the above passage in Milton, see Todd's edition, notes, and
among the Preliminary Notes, the interesting one,—“Mount
St. Michael.”
Preface to `The First Edition of the Poems.'—The felicity
and truth of Lord Byron's expression in relation to the octo-syllabic
verse, (quoted by me in the last paragraph but one,
of the above Preface,) left that expression impressed upon my
mind after the exception made by him was so far forgotten, that
when reminded of it by some newspaper notice of my poems,
I knew not where to turn to in Byron, for the passage. Having
since found it, I give it entire. — “Scott alone, of the present
generation, has hitherto completely triumphed over the
fatal facility of the octo-syllabic verse; and this is not the least
victory of his fertile and mighty genius.”
After this opinion from the great modern master of English
verse, respecting that wonderful man, it may be thought that
it would have become me better to have altogether omitted, at
this time, the passage in the Preface. And I would gladly have
done so, could I have done so honestly, after my oversight, and
while my convictions remained unchanged. The newspaper
notice to which I have referred, and which the passage in Byron
I used so much of Byron as made for my opinion, and purposely
omitted the rest. Had the writer of that article known
me, he would not have said this; and not knowing me, he should
not have presumed it.
As this is a question of mere common fair-dealing with the
reader, I need make no apology for the length of the note.
P. 60. It has been suggested to me that my allusion to
the story of `Cobbler Stout,' may not be understood by those
born since my nursery days. Were it not too long, I would
insert it here, for the benefit of such persons. The effect which
the Cobbler's treatment had upon the Little Egg-woman, (the
nature of which treatment my allusion will sufficiently explain,)
in leading her to question herself upon her personal identity, the
means which she took to solve so important a question, and the
melancholy conclusion to which these brought her, that she was
not herself, or, to use her own words,
general reader, but also one well worthy the study of the acute
controvertists in high matters, of the present day.
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