The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott

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Title: Ivanhoe
A Romance

Author: Walter Scott

Posting Date: June 25, 2008 [EBook #82]
Release Date: September, 1993

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IVANHOE ***

Produced by John P. Roberts, Jr.

IVANHOE

A ROMANCE

By Sir Walter Scott

Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart,
And often took leave,--but seemed loath to depart! [1]
--Prior.

INTRODUCTION TO IVANHOE.

The Author of the Waverley Novels had hitherto proceeded in an unabated
course of popularity, and might, in his peculiar district of literature,
have been termed "L'Enfant Gate" of success. It was plain, however, that
frequent publication must finally wear out the public favour, unless
some mode could be devised to give an appearance of novelty to
subsequent productions. Scottish manners, Scottish dialect, and
Scottish characters of note, being those with which the author was most
intimately, and familiarly acquainted, were the groundwork upon which he
had hitherto relied for giving effect to his narrative. It was, however,
obvious, that this kind of interest must in the end occasion a degree of
sameness and repetition, if exclusively resorted to, and that the reader
was likely at length to adopt the language of Edwin, in Parnell's Tale:

"'Reverse the spell,' he cries, 'And let it fairly now suffice. The
gambol has been shown.'"

Nothing can be more dangerous for the fame of a professor of the fine
arts, than to permit (if he can possibly prevent it) the character of a
mannerist to be attached to him, or that he should be supposed capable
of success only in a particular and limited style. The public are, in
general, very ready to adopt the opinion, that he who has pleased them
in one peculiar mode of composition, is, by means of that very talent,
rendered incapable of venturing upon other subjects. The effect of this
disinclination, on the part of the public, towards the artificers of
their pleasures, when they attempt to enlarge their means of amusing,
may be seen in the censures usually passed by vulgar criticism upon