of such slender dimensions as the present, with historical annotation, would, I think, have gone far to mar its appearance as a book, as well as to have given it an air of pedantry which I dislike. In this I may be wrong; but according to my apprehension, the only pieces in the volume which need the desiderated illustration, are the first three. These, I may mention, are intended to be a faint shadowing forth of something like the form and spirit of Norse poetry; but all that is historical about them is contained in the proper names. The first, "Sigurd's Battle Flag," does not follow the story as given in the Northern Sagas, but only adopts the incident of the Magic Standard, which carries victory to the party by whom it is displayed, but certain death to its bearer. "Jarl Egill Skallagrim's Wooing Song" is entirely a creation, and nothing of it is purely historical, save the preserving of the name of that warrior and Skald. From the memorials, however, he has left us of himself, I think he could not well have wooed in a different for fashion from that which I have chosen to describe. As "Thorstein Raudi," or the red, that is a name which occurs in Northern history; but, as may well be supposed, he never said so much in all his life about his sword or himself, as I have taken the fancy of putting into his mouth. The allusions made to Northern mythology, are, or should be, familiar to almost every one. The Scottish words and Scottish mode of orthography, adopted in a few other little pieces, will, I dare say, be quite intelligible even to English readers. They have been long familiarised with our vernacular dialect, through the writings of Burns and Scott; and if they cannot yet master its difficulties, all that can reasonably be said of them is, that they are very unapt scholars. And now, my dear Kennedy, having made these explanations, for the satisfaction of the courteous and gentle reader, I, in the fulness of a friendly heart, inscribe this Volume to you, as an earnest of the admiration I entertain for your genius, and as a tribute of my unabated affection and friendship towards you, amidst all the vicissitudes and turmoil of this weary life. I wish I could with any degree of modesty, apply to it the title of an old poetical miscellany, and characterise it as "A posie of gelly flowers, eche differing from other in colour and odour yet all sweete." This may not be. As it is, however, you have it; and with it, the sincere regard of Your old and affectionate Friend, W. MOTHERWELL. GLASGOW, Oct. 13, 1832. |