OF THE CANONGATE; BY THE AUTHOR OF "WAVERLEY," &c. SIC ITUR AD ASTRA. Motto of the Canongate Arms. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR CADELL AND CO., EDINBURGH; AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON. 1827. INTRODUCTION. ALL who are acquainted with the early history of the Italian stage are aware, that Arlechino is not, in his original conception, a mere worker of marvels with his wooden sword, a jumper into and out of windows, as upon our theatre, but, as his party-coloured jacket implies, a buffoon or clown, whose mouth, far from being eternally closed as amongst us, is filled, like that of Touchstone, with quips, and cranks, and witty devices, very often delivered extempore. is not easy to guess how he became possessed of his black vizard, which was anciently It |