Scott's character was almost wholly admirable. He was manly, courageous, faithful, and generous. Always popular, he was a lavish entertainer in his prosperous days. He did his work cheerfully and bore up without complaint against misfortune and suffering such as few men are called upon to endure.
As a poet he was fluent, vigorous, and spirited, but usually paid little attention to form and polish. He made no effort to become a careful writer; but this is sometimes compensated for by a certain robustness which most of his verses possess. His poetical genius is best shown in narrative, where the movement is rapid and the action full of exciting moments. If his poems lack intense passion and deep meditation, they are at least picturesque and interesting.
J. G. Lockhart, Scott's son-in-law, is the author of the most complete biography. A good shorter life is that by R. H. Hutton in the English Men of Letters Series.
Lochinvar [(Page 19)]
Published first in Marmion (1808) as "Lady Heron's Song."
[ [98] 2. Border; the country on the border between England and Scotland, a region of warfare and strife for many centuries.
[ [99] 8. The Esk River is in southwest Scotland, and flows into Solway Firth.
[ [100] 32. Galliard; a lively dance of the period.
[ [101] 41. Scaur; a steep bank of rock.