This selection forms the latter half of the sketch of Scott in the "Spirit
of the Age." The following dialogue between Northcote and Hazlitt,
"Conversations of Northcote," XVI, represents Hazlitt's feelings for
Scott: "N. 'You don't know him, do you? He'd be a pattern to you. Oh! he
has a very fine manner. You would learn to rub off some of your
asperities. But you admire him, I believe.' H. 'Yes; on this side of
idolatry and Toryism.' N. 'That is your prejudice.' H. 'Nay, it rather
shows my liberality, if I am a devoted enthusiast notwithstanding. There
are two things I admire in Sir Walter, his capacity and his simplicity;
which indeed I am apt to think are much the same.'"
P. 227. _more lively_. Cf. "Coriolanus," iv, 5, 237; "it's spritely,
waking, audible, and full of vent."
_their habits_. "Hamlet," iii, 4, 135.
P. 228. _Baron of Bradwardine_ and the others mentioned in this sentence
appear in "Waverley."
_Paul Veronese_ (1528-1588), a painter of the Venetian school.
_Balfour of Burley_ and the others in this sentence appear in "Old
Mortality." The quotation is from chapter 38.
_Meg Merilees_ to _Dominie Sampson_, in "Guy Mannering."
P. 229. _her head to the east_. Cf. "Guy Mannering," chap. 15; "Na, na!
not that way, the feet to the east."
_Rob Roy_ to _Die Vernon_, in "Rob Roy."
_thick coming_. Cf. "Macbeth," v, 3, 38: "thick-coming fancies."
_Earl of Glenallan_, in "The Antiquary."
_Black Dwarf_ to _Grace Armstrong_, in the "Black Dwarf."
_Children of the Mist_, in "Legend of Montrose."
_Amy_ (Robsart) and _Varney_, in "Kenilworth."
_George of Douglas_, in "The Abbot."
P. 229, n. _the finest scene_. "Guy Mannering," chap. 51.
P. 231. _a consummation_. "Hamlet," iii, 1, 63.
_by referring to the authentic history_. At this point Hazlitt reproduces
in a footnote one of Scott's historical quotations in "Ivanhoe."
_flints and dungs_. See "Ivanhoe," chap. 43.
P. 232. _calls backing_. 1 "Henry IV," ii, 4, 165.
_Mr. MacAdam_, John Loudon (1756-1836).
_Sixty years since_. The sub-title of "Waverley" was "'Tis Sixty Years
Since."
_Wickliff_, John (c. 1320-1384), an important English forerunner of the
Protestant Reformation, the first translator of the Bible into English.
_Luther_, Martin (1483-1546), led the first successful revolt against the
authority of the Catholic Church.
_Hampden_, John (c. 1595-1643), an English patriot who by his refusal to
pay ship-money precipitated the rebellion against Charles I which ended in
the beheading of that monarch.
_Sidney_, Algernon (1622-1683), an English patriot who fought on the side
of Parliament against Charles I, and who, in the reign of Charles II, was
tried for treason by Jeffreys, the hanging judge, and condemned to
execution without proof. Sidney is the author of "Discourses Concerning
Government" in which he vindicates the right of resistance to the misrule
of kings.
_Somers_, John (1651-1716), took an important part in bringing about the
bloodless Revolution which drove James II from England in 1688.