Imustrefertoaveryearlyperiodofmylife，wereItopointoutmyfirstachievementsasatale-teller-butIbelievesomeofmyoldschoolfellowscanstillbearwitnessthatIhadadistinguishedcharacterforthattalent，atatimewhentheapplauseofmycompanionswasmyrecompenseforthedisgracesandpunishmentswhichthefutureromance-writerincurredforbeingidlehimself，andkeepingothersidle，duringhoursthatshouldhavebeenemployedonourtasks。Thechiefenjoymentofmyholidayswastoescapewithachosenfriend，whohadthesametastewithmyself，andalternatelytorecitetoeachothersuchwildadventuresaswewereabletodevise。Wetold，eachinturn，interminabletalesofknight-errantryandbattlesandenchantments，whichwerecontinuedfromonedaytoanotherasopportunityoffered，withoutoureverthinkingofbringingthemtoaconclusion。Asweobservedastrictsecrecyonthesubjectofthisintercourse，itacquiredallthecharacterofaconcealedpleasure；andweusedtoselect，forthescenesofourindulgence，longwalksthroughthesolitaryandromanticenvironsofArthur’sSeat，SalisburyCrags，BraidHills，andsimilarplacesinthevicinityofEdinburgh；andtherecollectionofthoseholidaysstillformsan_oasis_inthepilgrimagewhichIhavetolookbackupon。Ihaveonlytoadd，thatmyfriendstilllivesaprosperousJohnIrving，writertotheSignet，Edinburgh，died1850。
　　gentleman，buttoomuchoccupiedwithgraverbusiness，tothankmeforindicatinghimmoreplainlyasaconfidantofmychildishmystery。
　　Whenboyhoodadvancingintoyouthrequiredmoreseriousstudiesandgravercares，alongillnessthrewmebackonthekingdomoffiction，asifitwerebyaspeciesoffatality。Myindispositionarose，inpartatleast，frommyhavingbrokenablood-vessel；andmotionandspeechwereforalongtimepronouncedpositivelydangerous。ForseveralweeksIwasconfinedstrictlytomybed，duringwhichtimeIwasnotallowedtospeakaboveawhisper，toeatmorethanaspoonfulortwoofboiledrice，ortohavemorecoveringthanonethincounterpane。WhenthereaderisinformedthatIwasatthistimeagrowingyouth，withthespirits，appetite，andimpatienceoffifteen，andsuffered，ofcourse，greatlyunderthissevereregimen，whichtherepeatedreturnofmydisorderrenderedindispensable，hewillnotbesurprisedthatIwasabandonedtomyowndiscretion，sofarasreadingmyalmostsoleamusementwasconcerned，andstilllessso，thatIabusedtheindulgencewhichleftmytimesomuchatmyowndisposal。
　　TherewasatthistimeacirculatinglibraryinEdinburgh，founded，Ibelieve，bythecelebratedAllanRamsay，which，besidescontainingamostrespectablecollectionofbooksofeverydescription，was，asmighthavebeenexpected，peculiarlyrichinworksoffiction。
　　Itexhibitedspecimensofeverykindfromtheromancesofchivalry，andtheponderousfoliosofCyrusandCassandra，downtothemostapprovedworksoflatertimes。Iwasplungedintothisgreatoceanofreadingwithoutcompassorpilot；andunlesswhensomeonehadthecharitytoplayatchesswithme，Iwasallowedtodonothingsaveread，frommorningtonight。Iwas，inkindnessandpity，whichwasperhapserroneous，howevernatural，permittedtoselectmysubjectsofstudyatmyownpleasure，uponthesameprinciplethatthehumoursofchildrenareindulgedtokeepthemoutofmischief。Asmytasteandappetiteweregratifiedinnothingelse，Iindemnifiedmyselfbybecomingagluttonofbooks。Accordingly，IbelieveIreadalmostalltheromances，oldplays，andepicpoetry，inthatformidablecollection，andnodoubtwasunconsciouslyamassingmaterialsforthetaskinwhichithasbeenmylottobesomuchemployed。
　　AtthesametimeIdidnotinallrespectsabusethelicensepermittedme。Familiaracquaintancewiththespeciousmiraclesoffictionbroughtwithitsomedegreeofsatiety，andIbegan，bydegrees，toseekinhistories，memoirs，voyagesandtravels，andthelike，eventsnearlyaswonderfulasthosewhichweretheworkofimagination，withtheadditionaladvantagethattheywereatleastinagreatmeasuretrue。Thelapseofnearlytwoyears，duringwhichIwaslefttotheexerciseofmyownfreewill，wasfollowedbyatemporaryresidenceinthecountry，whereIwasagainverylonelybutfortheamusementwhichIderivedfromagoodthoughold-fashionedlibrary。ThevagueandwildusewhichImadeofthisadvantageIcannotdescribebetterthanbyreferringmyreadertothedesultorystudiesofWaverleyinasimilarsituation；thepassagesconcerningwhosecourseofreadingwereimitatedfromrecollectionsofmyown-Itmustbeunderstoodthattheresemblanceextendsnofarther。
　　Time，asitglidedon，broughttheblessingsofconfirmedhealthandpersonalstrength，toadegreewhichhadneverbeenexpectedorhopedfor。Theseverestudiesnecessarytorendermefitformyprofessionoccupiedthegreaterpartofmytime；andthesocietyofmyfriendsandcompanionswhowereabouttoenterlifealongwithme，filleduptheintervalwiththeusualamusementsofyoungmen。
　　Iwasinasituationwhichrenderedseriouslabourindispensable；
　　for，neitherpossessing，ontheonehand，anyofthosepeculiaradvantageswhicharesupposedtofavourahastyadvanceintheprofessionofthelaw，norbeing，ontheotherhand，exposedtounusualobstaclestointerruptmyprogress，ImightreasonablyexpecttosucceedaccordingtothegreaterorlessdegreeoftroublewhichIshouldtaketoqualifymyselfasapleader。
　　Itmakesnopartofthepresentstorytodetailhowthesuccessofafewballadshadtheeffectofchangingallthepurposeandtenorofmylife，andofconvertingapainstakinglawyerofsomeyears’
　　standingintoafollowerofliterature。Itisenoughtosay，thatI
　　hadassumedthelattercharacterforseveralyearsbeforeIseriouslythoughtofattemptingaworkofimaginationinprose，althoughoneortwoofmypoeticalattemptsdidnotdifferfromromancesotherwisethanbybeingwritteninverse。Butyet，Imayobserve，thataboutthistimenow，alas！thirtyyearssinceIhadnourishedtheambitiousdesireofcomposingataleofchivalry，whichwastobeinthestyleoftheCastleofOtranto，withplentyofBordercharacters，andsupernaturalincident。Havingfoundunexpectedlyachapterofthisintendedworkamongsomeoldpapers，Ihavesubjoinedittothisintroductoryessay，thinkingsomereadersmayaccountascurious，thefirstattemptsatromanticcompositionbyanauthorwhohassincewrittensomuchinthatdepartment。Andthosewhocomplain，SeetheFragmentalludedto，intheAppendixNoI。p。
　　notunreasonably，oftheprofusionoftheTaleswhichhavefollowedWaverley，mayblesstheirstarsatthenarrowescapetheyhavemade，bythecommencementoftheinundationwhichhadsonearlytakenplaceinthefirstyearofthecentury，beingpostponedforfifteenyearslater。
　　Thisparticularsubjectwasneverresumed，butIdidnotabandontheideaoffictitiouscompositioninprose，thoughIdeterminedtogiveanotherturntothestyleofthework。
　　MyearlyrecollectionsoftheHighlandsceneryandcustomsmadesofavourableanimpressioninthepoemcalledtheLadyoftheLake，thatIwasinducedtothinkofattemptingsomethingofthesamekindinprose。IhadbeenagooddealintheHighlandsatatimewhentheyweremuchlessaccessibleandmuchlessvisitedthantheyhavebeenoflateyears，andwasacquaintedwithmanyoftheoldwarriorsof1745，whowere，likemostveterans，easilyinducedtofighttheirbattlesoveragainforthebenefitofawillinglistenerlikemyself。Itnaturallyoccurredtomethattheancienttraditionsandhighspiritofapeoplewho，livinginacivilisedageandcountry，retainedsostrongatinctureofmannersbelongingtoanearlyperiodofsociety，mustaffordasubjectfavourableforromance，ifitshouldnotproveacurioustalemarredinthetelling。
　　Itwaswithsomeideaofthiskindthat，abouttheyear1805，I
　　threwtogetheraboutone-thirdpartofthefirstvolumeofWaverley。
　　ItwasadvertisedtobepublishedbythelateMr。JohnBallantyne，booksellerinEdinburgh，underthenameofWaverley，or’TisFiftyYearsSince，’’atitleafterwardsalteredto’TisSixtyYearsSince，’’thattheactualdateofpublicationmightbemadetocorrespondwiththeperiodinwhichthescenewaslaid。Havingproceededasfar，Ithink，astheSeventhChapter，Ishowedmyworktoacriticalfriend，whoseopinionwasunfavourable；andhavingthensomepoeticalreputation，Iwasunwillingtoriskthelossofitbyattemptinganewstyleofcomposition。IthereforethrewasidetheworkIhadcommenced，withouteitherreluctanceorremonstrance。
　　Ioughttoadd，thatthoughmyingeniousfriend’ssentencewasafterwardsreversedonanappealtothepublic，itcannotbeconsideredasanyimputationonhisgoodtaste，forthespecimensubjectedtohiscriticismdidnotextendbeyondthedepartureoftheheroforScotland，and，consequently，hadnotentereduponthepartofthestorywhichwasfinallyfoundmostinteresting。
　　Bethatasitmay，thisportionofthemanuscriptwaslaidasideinthedrawersofanoldwriting-desk，which，onmyfirstcomingtoresideatAbbotsfordin1811，wasplacedinalumbergarret，andentirelyforgotten。Thus，thoughIsometimes，amongotherliteraryavocations，turnedmythoughtstothecontinuationoftheromancewhichIhadcommenced，yetasIcouldnotfindwhatIhadalreadywritten，aftersearchingsuchrepositoriesaswerewithinmyreach，andwastooindolenttoattempttowriteitanewfrommemory，Iasoftenlaidasideallthoughtsofthatnature。
　　Twocircumstancesinparticularrecalledmyrecollectionofthemislaidmanuscript。Thefirstwastheextendedandwell-meritedfameofMissEdgeworth，whoseIrishcharactershavegonesofartomaketheEnglishfamiliarwiththecharacteroftheirgayandkind-heartedneighboursofIreland，thatshemaybetrulysaidtohavedonemoretowardscompletingtheUnionthanperhapsallthelegislativeenactmentsbywhichithasbeenfollowedup。
　　Withoutbeingsopresumptuousastohopetoemulatetherichhumour，pathetictenderness，andadmirabletact，whichpervadetheworksofmyaccomplishedfriend，IfeltthatsomethingmightbeattemptedformyowncountryofthesamekindwiththatwhichMissEdgeworthsofortunatelyachievedforIreland-somethingwhichmightintroducehernativestothoseofthesisterkingdominamorefavourablelightthantheyhadbeenplacedhitherto，andtendtoprocuresympathyfortheirvirtuesandindulgencefortheirfoibles。
　　IthoughtalsothatmuchofwhatIwantedintalentmightbemadeupbytheintimateacquaintancewiththesubjectwhichIcouldlayclaimtopossess，ashavingtravelledthroughmostpartsofScotland，bothHighlandandLowland；havingbeenfamiliarwiththeelderaswellasmoremodernrace；andhavinghadfrommyinfancyfreeandunrestrainedcommunicationwithallranksofmycountrymen，fromtheScottishpeertotheScottishploughman。Suchideasoftenoccurredtome，andconstitutedanambitiousbranchofmytheoryhoweverfarshortImayhavefallenofitinpractice。
　　ButitwasnotonlythetriumphsofMissEdgeworthwhich，workedinmeemulation，anddisturbedmyindolence。Ichancedactuallytoengageinaworkwhichformedasortofessaypiece，andgavemehopethatImightintimebecomefreeofthecraftofRomance-writing，andbeesteemedatolerableworkman。
　　Intheyear18078Iundertook，attherequestofJohnMurray，Esq。，ofAlbemarleStreet，toarrangeforpublicationsomeposthumousproductionsofthelateMr。JosephStrutt，distinguishedasanartistandanantiquary，amongstwhichwasanunfinishedromance，entitledQueenhoo-Hall。’’ThesceneofthetalewaslaidinthereignofHenryVI。，andtheworkwaswrittentoillustratethemanners，customs，andlanguageofthepeopleofEnglandduringthatperiod。TheextensiveacquaintancewhichMr。StrutthadacquiredwithsuchsubjectsincompilinghislaboriousHordaAngelCynnan，’’hisRoyalandEcclesiasticalAntiquities，’’andhisEssayontheSportsandPastimesofthePeopleofEngland，’’
　　hadrenderedhimfamiliarwithalltheantiquarianlorenecessaryforthepurposeofcomposingtheprojectedromance；andalthoughthemanuscriptborethemarksofhurryandincoherencenaturaltothefirstroughdraughtoftheauthor，itevincedinmyopinion
　　considerablepowersofimagination。
　　AstheWorkwasunfinishedIdeemeditmyduty，asEditor，tosupplysuchahastyandinartificialconclusionascouldbeshapedoutfromthestory，ofwhichMr。Strutthadlaidthefoundation。
　　ThisconcludingchapterisalsoaddedtothepresentIntroduction，seeAppendixNo。II。p。。
　　forthereasonalreadymentionedregardingtheprecedingfragment。
　　Itwasastepinmyadvancetowardsromanticcomposition；andtopreservethetracesoftheseisinagreatmeasuretheobjectofthisEssay。
　　Queenhoo-Hallwasnot，however，verysuccessful。IthoughtI
　　wasawareofthereason，andsupposedthat，byrenderinghislanguagetooancient，anddisplayinghisantiquarianknowledgetooliberally，theingeniousauthorhadraisedupanobstacletohisownsuccess。Everyworkdesignedformereamusementmustbeexpressedinlanguageeasilycomprehended；andwhen，asissometimesthecaseinQueenhoo-Hall，theauthoraddresseshimselfexclusivelytotheAntiquary，hemustbecontenttobedismissedbythegeneralreaderwiththecriticismofMungo，inthePadlock，ontheMauritanianmusic，Whatsignifiesmehear，ifmenounderstand？’’
　　Iconceiveditpossibletoavoidthiserror；andbyrenderingasimilarworkmorelightandobvioustogeneralcomprehension，toescapetherockonwhichmypredecessorwasshipwrecked。ButI