40 



! ' Laing says, " this hyperbolical rant is derived from Milton's imi- 

 tation of Virgil :" 



" Caught in a fiery tempest shall be hurled 

 Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey 

 Of wracking whirlwinds." 



" Ilium expirantem transfixo pectore flammis. 

 Turbine corripuit, scopuloque infixit acuto." 



Milton. 



^N. 1. 



Macpherson' s lines partake of the spirit of the great originals from 

 whom he borrowed. They are strong and full of imagery. Ross's, 

 as usual, are crowded with unnecessary epithets. The conflict of 

 hosts would have been sufficiently significative without either hottest 

 or embattled. The battle of shields is much better. 



Macpherson, 161. 



To me CuthuUin replies. 

 Pleasant is the noise of arms. 

 Pleasant as the thunder of heaven 

 Before the shower of spring. 



Ross. 



Pleasant to me, said the chief of heroes. 

 Is the hard crash of contending arms ; 

 Pleasant as the thunder on the hills 

 When the soft rain of spring descends. 



These lines of Macpherson have the character of originality, 

 Ross's of imitation. In the former we see the first ideas as they spring 

 fresh and vigorous in the mind of a poet, in the other an abortive 

 attempt to surpass them by epithets and amplification. 



Macpherson, 165. 



But gather all the shining tribes. 

 That I may view the sons of war. 

 Let them pass along the heath, 

 Bright as the sun-shine before a storm. 

 When the west wind collects the clouds, 

 And Morven echoes over all her oaks. 



Ross. 



Let the mighty sons of Erin arise. 



Let each band form itself in shining arms : 



With speed let them sweep along the heath, 



As a sun-beam on the mountain top. 



When the west wind blows from the sea, 



And collects the thickening clouds : 



A sound is heard from the tufted Morven, 



And from the leafless oak on the plain. 



