4»5-' 



spread her fair locks on the ground." The English verb, spread, for 

 instance, is often used, particularly in poetry, in a sense similar to 

 that of the Hebrew conjugation, Hiphil, and signifies not the action 

 of which we are the immediate agent, but of which we are the cause. 

 "He spread her locks," means that he was the cause of her locks 

 being spread, or dishevelled by her fall to the ground. When one 

 warrior is said to stretch another on the plain, the expression does 

 not mean, as Ross would interpret it, that he performed the office of 

 an old woman, by putting himself to " the trouble" of stretching the 

 limbs of a corse to prepare it for the coffin, but simply, that he slew 

 or laid him prostrate. Sad penance to be obliged to descend to cri- 

 ticisms like this! Ross says, the "blood ran purling down." So 

 would blood from the scratch of a pin or the prick of a needle. The 

 true poet says, the " bursting blood sounds from her side," thus 

 intimating the depth, the force, and the fatal effects of her death 

 wound, 



" Cruor emicat alte. 

 Non aliter, quam cum vitiato fistula plumbo, 

 Scinditur, et tenues, stridente foramine, longe 

 Ejaculatur aquas : atque ictibus aera rumpit." 



Ovid. 



Macpherson, 350. 



It bends behind like a wave near a rock ; 

 Like the sun-streaked mist of the heath. 

 Its sides are embossed with stones, 

 And sparkle like the sea round the boat of 



night. 

 Of polished yew is its beam ; 

 Its seat of the smoothest bone. 

 The sides are replenished with spears ; 

 The bottom is the foot-stool of heroes ! 



Ross. 



Behind, it bends down like a wave, 



Or mist round the cliff of a rugged rock ; 



Around it is the glare of gems. 



Like the sea round the vessel at night. 



Its beam is of shining yew. 



Its seat of polished bone, 



It is filled with spears. 



With shields, with swords, with heroes. 





