But no one of that period was competent to construct a text that would seem satisfactory now.

The study of English philology was not sufficiently developed in that direction, nor did scholars appreciate either the difficulties or the requirements of text-criticism.

It is not to be wondered at that Scott failed, in this instance as well as afterwards in the case of the text of Dryden, to give a version that would stand the minute scrutiny of later scholarship.
His sympathies were rather with the scholar who opens the store of old poetry to the public, than with him who uses his erudition simply for the benefit of erudite people.

The diction of the Middle Ages was interesting to him only as it reflected the customs and emotions of its period.

He used the romances as authorities on ancient manners.