121 



Similes, far from being crowded together in heaps, are not even 

 frequent. The descriptions are generally brief, sometimes highly 

 animated and picturesque. That of the horse or slender colt in the 

 poem of" the Sixteen Men," occupies only three lines, and is as far 

 from the elaborate, bombastic, epithet-abounding, description of 

 Cuchullin's steeds in Macpherson, as nature and simplicity are from 

 art and affectation. 



Cla<Xf<x be<Jij<x b; <x)j\ <x ce<xn, 

 ClQanjojb cean <xjr^ fo^n^ eabc/tom." 



" On a colt he came 

 Of well-formed knees and mouth, and slender frame. 

 Small ears, light flank, and bold expanded chest." 



Oisin's description of the fair enchantress in the poem of the 

 Chase is more florid, and is certainly not equalled by any thing in 

 Macpherson's poems. Addressing Saint Patrick, he tells him that 

 Fionn — 



By a lake of crystal sheen. 

 Spies a nymph of loveliest form and mein. 

 Her cheeks as the rose were crimson brighti 



Her lips the red berries' glow ; 

 Her breast as the blossoms downy white. 



Her brow as the virgin snow. 

 Her locks were like the molten gold. 



Her eye as a freezing star : 

 Shouldst thou, O sage, such nymph behold, 



Her beauty thy peace might mar. 



These extracts are leading us from our subject ; notwithstanding 

 we are tempted to give another as beautifully descriptive of rural 

 scenery. It is taken from the commencement of the poem, entitled 

 "Bhin Bolbin." 



vol.. XVI, K 



