452 



ON THE LANGUAGE 



be allowed to have lived earlier than in the second, or later than in the 

 third or fourth century of the Christian era. So that the poems of Ossian 

 must be of an antiquity not less by three or four centuries than the descent 

 of Caesar upon the British coast. And consequently we have at this moment 

 a living proof of the existence of traditionary poems of the highest preten- 

 sions to genius, sublimity, and regularity of structure, that have been kept 

 afloat in the memories of different generations for upwards of a thousand 

 years, and some of them with but few variations, or loss of their original 

 integrity. 



To account, in some degree, for this striking and isolated fact, we must, 

 in the first place, recollect, that these poems are strictly national ; and, by a 

 perpetual appeal to national passions and feelings, must have deeply interested 

 every one who heard them in their preservation. Secondly, we know from 

 the writings of Julius Caesar, that the British druids, and, consequently, the 

 British bards, on his landing were imbodied into distinct colleges, subject to 

 a discipline of rigid study, and compelled to commit to memory so great an 

 extent of verses, that many of them Required not less than twenty years to 

 complete this part of their education; it being held impious to record sacred 

 poems in written characters, or to transmit them in any other way than by 

 tradition from race to race. And, lastly, it should not be forgotten that poetry 

 constituted the noblest science of these early times, and that the highest 

 honour a hero could receive was to be celebrated in deathless verse. To die 

 unlamented by a bard was deemed, indeed, so great a misfortune as even to 

 disturb the ghosts of the deceased in another state. " They wander," says 

 the son of Fingal, " in thick mists beside the reedy lake ; but never shall 

 they rise without song to the dwelling of the winds." 



Ossian seems to have been wonderfully skilled in the language of all the 

 passions. Equally vehement, gentle, and sublime, he could rouse at his will 

 the fury of the brave, or melt him to tears of tend^ness. The following 

 passage, being part of the address of Fingal to his grandson Oscar, is full of 

 heroism and fine feeling; and I give it from the version of Dr. Donald Smith 

 rather than from that of Mr. Macpherson, as being not only more literal, but 

 more beautiful : — 



Son of my son ! said the king, 



Oscar, pride of the generous youth ! 



1 saw the gleaming of tliy sword, 



And I gloried to behold thee victorious in the battle: 



Tread close on the fame of thy fathers, 



And cease not to be what they have been. 



When Trenmor lived, of glorious deeds, 



And Tratlial, the fatlj«r of heroes, 



They fought every battle with success. — 



Oscar : bend thou the strong in arms ; 



Protect the weak of hand, and the needy. 



Be as a spring-tide stream in winter 



To resist the foes of the people of Fingal ; 



But like the soft and gentle breeze of summer 



To those who ask thine aid. 



So lived the conquering Trenmor ; 



Such after him was Trathal, of victorious prowess, 



And Fingal — the support of the feeble. 



On a day when Fingal had but few in his train, 

 By the fall of the soft murmuring Roya, 

 There was seen to sail in the midst of the ocean 

 A boat that conveyed a lovely woman. 

 It neither halted nor slackened 

 Till it reached the river-fall : 

 When out of it rose the beauty of female form. 

 She shone as a beam of the sun ; 

 Her look exceeded her figure. 



"Branch of beauty ! covered with the dew of grief,'* 

 This calmly I said, 



"If blue [naked] swords can defend thee, 

 Our dauntless hearts will second them." 



"Thy protection 1 claim, for thou art Fingal," 

 Replied the daughter of youth ; 



" By the excellence of thy might, and by thine eloquence, 



I claim speedy and opportune protection. , 



Thy countenance is a sun to the forlorn, 



Thy shield is the dwelling place of laerey. 



