Poetry > Lady of the lake

4
INTRODUCTION TO THE
had always thought the old Scottish Gael highly
adapted for poetical composition. The feuds,
and political dissensions, which, half a century
earlier, would have rendered the richer and weal¬
thier part of the kingdom indisposed to counte¬
nance a poem, the scene of which was laid in the
Highlands, were now sunk in the generous com¬
passion which the English, more than any other
nation, feel for the misfortunes of an honourable
foe. The Poems of Ossian had, by their popularity,
sufficiently shown, that if writings on Highland
subjects were qualified to interest the reader, mere
national prejudices were, in the present day, very
unlikely to interfere with their success.
I had also read a great deal, seen much, and
heard more, of that romantic country, where I
was in the habit of spending some time every
autumn ; and the scenery of Loch Katrine was
connected with the recollection of many a dear
friend and merry expedition of former days. This
poem, the action of which lay among scenes so
beautiful, and so deeply imprinted on my recollec¬
tion, was a labour of love; and it was no less so
to recall the manners and incidents introduced