EDITOR'S NOTES. (2)

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[A] p. 104. “Tietania.” A little book on the art of tying the neckcloth, in the age of Brummel and his “failures.” Copies may occasionally be found on the bookstalls. It is not in the Abbotsford Library.

[B] p. 151. “I first persuaded her to quit the path of duty.” This remark of Tyrrel's is one of the many surviving traces of the original plot.

[C] p. 220. “Master Stephen.” A character of Ben Jonson's already referred to—he who wished for a stool to be sad upon.

[D] p. 223. “A Canon of Strasburgh.” Scott frequently refers, in accounts of the roof of the hall of Abbotsford, which he blazoned with his quarterings, to his deficiency in the sixteen necessary for a Canonry. Three shields, those connected with the Rutherfords of Hunthill, are vacant, or rather are painted with clouds.

[E] p. 238. “One of Plutarch's heroes, if I mistake not.” It was not a hero of Plutarch's, but Pindar the poet, who was warned by Persephone that he had neglected to honour her by an ode.

[F] p. 254. “They can scarcely say worse of me than I deserve.” In this remark of Clara's we have another trace of the original plot, involving Clara's lapse from virtue. The whole scene, with Mowbray's “You having been such as you own yourself,” was made unintelligible by Ballantyne's objection.

[G] p. 300. “A corbie messenger.” It seems unlikely that the Scots had a legend like the Greek one concerning the evil “corbie” or raven messenger to Apollo about his false lady-love, but no other explanation suggests itself.

Andrew Lang.

December 1893.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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