SIR WALTER SCOTT
This selection forms the latter half of the sketch of Scott in the “Spirit of the Age.” The following dialogue between Northcote and Hazlitt, “Conversations of Northcote,” XVI, represents Hazlitt’s feelings for Scott: “N. ‘You don’t know him, do you? He’d be a pattern to you. Oh! he has a very fine manner. You would learn to rub off some of your asperities. But you admire him, I believe.’ H. ‘Yes; on this side of idolatry and Toryism.’ N. ‘That is your prejudice.’ H. ‘Nay, it rather shows my liberality, if I am a devoted enthusiast notwithstanding. There are two things I admire in Sir Walter, his capacity and his simplicity; which indeed I am apt to think are much the same.’”
[P. 227.] more lively. Cf. “Coriolanus,” iv, 5, 237; “it’s spritely, waking, audible, and full of vent.”
their habits. “Hamlet,” iii, 4, 135.
[P. 228.] Baron of Bradwardine and the others mentioned in this sentence appear in “Waverley.”
Paul Veronese (1528-1588), a painter of the Venetian school.
Balfour of Burley and the others in this sentence appear in “Old Mortality.” The quotation is from chapter 38.
Meg Merilees to Dominie Sampson, in “Guy Mannering.”
[P. 229.] her head to the east. Cf. “Guy Mannering,” chap. 15; “Na, na! not that way, the feet to the east.”
Rob Roy to Die Vernon, in “Rob Roy.”