plied by their compositions. Even the remarkable death of Absalom 

 has not escaped him, for he tells us, that " Clonar is pierced by 

 Cathmor, nor yet lay the chief on earth : an oak seized his hair 

 in his fall." — Temora, book viii. This Cathmor had his prototype 

 in Homer's Axylus. — II. vi. 14. Who is described as 



4>tXoc av^pwiroKTi 

 Havrag yap ^tXtEdKEv, oS(f> tin oiKta vaiCjv. 



T. liV lo one lo't d-^uo 



A friend to human race. 

 Fast by the road his ever open door. 



Obliged the wealthy and relieved the poor. ^ ,,,,;»,, i ; ^„ ; . ^ , ?T 



Pope. 



But Macpherson was determined that his hero should exceed 

 H<imer's, and accordingly he assures us, that "seven paths led to his 

 halls. Seven chiefs stood on the paths, and called the stranger to the 

 feast! But Cathmor dwelt in the wood to shun the voice of praise!"— 

 Temora, book i. 



What generous hospitality in a hunting age, when venison was 

 the only food ! What delicate refinement of soul to withdraw from 

 the loud huzzas of the people, or " the applause of listening senates," 

 was it.'' to dwell in the wood while his seven chiefs presided at the 

 feast, and, from flowing shells, drank deep to the health of their mu- 

 nificent, but, ah ! too sensitive benefactor ? But notwithstanding his 

 extreme sensibility, he was a " high-bounding king, who hewed 

 down the ridge of shields," and performed for Clonar the same office 

 as Job performed for Absalom! " Clonar is pierced by Cathmor!" 

 Justice, however, compels us to admit that this deed was prior to 

 the seizure of the unhappy warrior's hair by the oak. 



Virgil describes Acestes as coming down from the top .of a moun- 

 tain, roughly clad in the skin of a Libyan bear : . * , r 



a' ''iO 9tu 

 K 2 



