Such wiederholungen are not reasons for
rejection, in my opinion; but they are SUSPECT with people who do not
understand that they are a natural and necessary feature of archaic
poetry, and this fact Mr. Kittredge does understand.
Mr. Kittredge speaks of Sir Walter's unique success with Kinmont
Willie; but is Sir Walter successful? Some of his stanzas I, for one,
can hardly accept, even as emended traditional verses.
Mr. Kittredge writes--"Sir Walter's success, however, in a special kind
of balladry for which he was better adapted by nature and habit of mind
than for any other, would only emphasise the universal failure. And it
must not be forgotten that Kinmont Willie, if it be Scott's work, is
not made out of whole cloth; it is a working over of one of the best
traditional ballads known (Jock o' the Side), with the intention of
fitting it to an historical exploit of Buccleuch. Further, the subject
itself was of such a nature that it might well have been celebrated in
a ballad,--indeed, one is tempted to say, it must have been so
celebrated.
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