Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott (#1 in our
series by Walter Scott)
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Title: Ivanhoe
Author: Walter Scott
Release Date: Sep, 1993 [EBook #82] [Yes, we are more than one year
ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 4, 2002] [Most
recently updated: August 4, 2002]
Edition: 15
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, IVANHOE
***

Prepared by "John P Roberts, Jr"

IVANHOE;
A ROMANCE.
Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took
leave,----but seemed loath to depart!*
* The motto alludes to the Author returning to the stage * repeatedly
after having taken leave.
Prior.

INTRODUCTION TO IVANHOE.
The Author of the Waverley Novels had hitherto proceeded in an
unabated course of popularity, and might, in his peculiar district of
literature, have been termed "L'Enfant Gate" of success. It was plain,
however, that frequent publication must finally wear out the public
favour, unless some mode could be devised to give an appearance of
novelty to subsequent productions. Scottish manners, Scottish dialect,
and Scottish characters of note, being those with which the author was
most intimately, and familiarly acquainted, were the groundwork upon

which he had hitherto relied for giving effect to his narrative. It was,
however, obvious, that this kind of interest must in the end occasion a
degree of sameness and repetition, if exclusively resorted to, and that
the reader was likely at length to adopt the language of Edwin, in
Parnell's Tale:
"'Reverse the spell,' he cries, 'And let it fairly now suffice. The gambol
has been shown.'"
Nothing can be more dangerous for the fame of a professor of the fine
arts, than to permit (if he can possibly prevent it) the character of a
mannerist to be attached to him, or that he should be supposed capable
of success only in a particular and limited style. The public are, in
general, very ready to adopt the opinion, that he who has pleased them
in one peculiar mode of composition, is, by means of that very talent,
rendered incapable of venturing upon other subjects. The effect of this
disinclination, on the part of the public, towards the artificers of their
pleasures, when they attempt to enlarge their means of amusing, may
be seen in the censures usually passed by vulgar criticism upon actors
or artists who venture to change the character of their efforts, that, in so
doing, they may enlarge the scale of their art.
There is some justice in this opinion, as there always is in such as attain
general currency. It may often happen on the stage, that an actor, by
possessing in a preeminent degree the external qualities necessary to
give effect to comedy, may be deprived of the right to aspire to tragic
excellence; and in painting or literary composition, an artist or poet
may be master exclusively of modes of thought, and powers of
expression, which confine him to a single course of subjects. But much
more frequently the same capacity which carries a man to popularity in
one department will obtain for him success in another, and that must be
more particularly the case in literary composition, than either in acting
or painting, because the adventurer in that department is not impeded in
his exertions by any peculiarity of features, or conformation of person,
proper for particular parts, or, by any peculiar mechanical habits of
using the pencil, limited to a particular class of subjects.
Whether this reasoning be correct or otherwise, the present author felt,
that, in confining himself to subjects purely Scottish, he was not only
likely to weary out the indulgence of his readers, but also greatly to
limit his own power of affording them pleasure. In a highly polished

country, where so much genius is monthly employed in catering for
public amusement, a fresh topic, such as he had himself had the
happiness