3^ 



From the most cursory glance of these lines, we should have no 

 hesitation in pronouncing Macpherson's the original, and Ross's the 

 imitation. An original writer is contented with a brief and simple 

 idea or description ; a translator generally amplifies, and an imitator 

 endeavours, as he ought, to improve. They often become paraphras- 

 tic, and hope to merit the praise of originality for some new accessory 

 thought or embellishment. The address of Moran to Swaran, in the 

 above lines of Macpherson, is brief and appropriate ; his object 

 being to intimidate the invaders by a statement of the number and 

 valour of the foes by whom they were about to be encountered. 

 This he makes simply and forcibly, at the same time paying a due 

 compliment to the leader. Ross's lines have those marks of imita- 

 tion which have been noticed. They are crowded with epithets. The 

 effort to improve is manifest, and the attempted improvement itself is 

 injudicious. Wherefore should Swaran be told of his own forces that 

 they were numerous, and impetuous, of desperate strokes and sharp 

 swords ? And how did Moran know all these particulars " of stran- 

 gers " who had only just landed, who had made no impetuous attack, 

 whose strokes were yet unfelt, and whose swords still slept in their 

 scabbards .'' 



Macpherson, line 42. 



Fingal says 

 That the king of ocean fell ! 

 But Swaran says, he stood ! ilV) o.:iii id ; 



Ross. 



Said Fingal the king. 

 The chief of the ocean has fallen in the vale. 

 He is not fallen, my answer was. 



The antithetical strength and brevity of Macpherson in these 

 lines, are too manifestly superior to his rival's, with their unnecessary 

 adjuncts, to require any comment. 



Macpherson. 

 Dark Cuthullin shall be great or dead. 



Ross. 



Cuchullin, as undaunted as he. 



Shall conquer in the field, or nobly die. 



i i-uh 



