Edited by W.J. Rolfe.
Houghton. .75

The ancient manners, the habits and customs of the aboriginal
race by whom the Highlands of Scotland were inhabited, had always
appeared to me peculiarly adapted to poetry. The change in their
manners, too, had taken place almost within my own time, or at
least I had learned many particulars concerning the ancient state
of the Highlands from the old men of the last generation. I had
always thought the old Scottish Gael highly adapted for poetical
composition.... I had also read a great deal, seen much, and
heard more, of that romantic country where I was in the habit of
spending some time every Autumn; and the scenery of Loch (p. 214)
Katrine was connected with the recollection of many a dear friend
and merry expedition of former days. This poem, the action of
which lay among scenes so beautiful and so deeply imprinted on my
recollections, was a labor of love, and it was no less so to
recall the manners and incidents introduced. The frequent custom
of James IV, and particularly of James V, to walk through their
kingdom in disguise, afforded me the hint of an incident which
never fails to be interesting if managed with the slightest
address or dexterity.--_Introduction to the Edition of 1830._

The Lady of the Lake was first published in 1810. This edition has
many notes by Mr. Rolfe.

SCOTT, WALTER.
The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
Edited by W.J. Rolfe.
Houghton. .75

The Poem, now offered to the Public, is intended to illustrate
the customs and manners which anciently prevailed on the Borders
of England and Scotland.... The date of the Tale itself is about
the middle of the sixteenth century, when most of the personages
actually flourished. The time occupied by the action is Three
Nights and Three Days.--_Original Preface._

The Lay of the Last Minstrel was first published in 1805. This edition
has many notes by Mr. Rolfe.

SCOTT, WALTER.
Marmion.
Edited by W.J. Rolfe.
Houghton. .75

The present story turns upon the private adventures of a
fictitious character, but is called a Tale of Flodden Field,
because the hero's fate is connected with that memorable (p. 215)
defeat and the causes which led to it