Chap. XX.] Poeh-y. 63 



who even placed Ossian on the same shelf with 

 Homer and Virgil ; who dwelt with rapturous" 

 praise on his stupendous merits ; and made the 

 most profuse acknowledgements to the man, who 

 was supposed to have brought to light such pre- 

 cious remains of ancient genius*. On the con^ 

 trary, many judges equally learned and acute 

 have denied the authenticity of the poems ascribed 

 to Ossian, and have insisted that they are forge- 

 ries by Mr. Macpherson himself f. Though this 

 controversy is far from being terminated, yet the 

 best supported and most probable opinion seems 

 to be, that the poems in dispute are neither whojly 

 the work of any ancient bard, nor entirely forged 

 by Macpherson ; but that the latter really made 

 large collections of ancient Gaelic poetry, which 

 he modified and connected in his own way, mak- 

 ing additions with freedom where he thought pro- 

 per, and forming an apparently regular work of 

 fragments which were never before united J. 



* Among the distinguished characters who have contended for 

 the authenticity of Ossian's poems may be mentioned Dr. Blair, 

 lord Karnes, Dr. Henry, Mr. Whitaker, and on the continent of 

 Europe a large number. 



f Dr. Johnson not only utterly denied the authenticity of these 

 poems, but also maintained that they had no merit. His opinion 

 on the former point may, with some qualification, be admitted; 

 but on the character of the work, it is difficult to suppose that so 

 acute and profound a critic could deliver such an unfavourable 

 judgement, without improper bias. Though the poetry of Ossian 

 has been extravagantly estimated, it is surely worthy of much 

 praise. 



I On the one hand, it is by no means credible that a man of 

 Macpherson's mediocrity of talents could be himseJf the aulhor 

 of the poems which bear the name of Ossian ; nor can it be sup- 

 posed that any one, however great his powers, coiUd compkteli/ 



