he has left us of himself, I think he could not well have wooed in a different fashion from that which I have chosen to describe. As for Thorstein Raudi,' or the red, that is a name which occurs in Nothern 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 familiarized 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 characterize it as 'A posie of gelly flowers, eche differing from other in color and odor yet all swete.' This may not be. As it is, however, you have it; and with it, the sincere regard of Your old and affectionate friend, GLASGOW, OCT. 13, 1832. W. MOTHERWELL. |