Ossian Collection > Essay on the authenticity of the poems of Ossian

92 ON THE AUTHENTICITY
Larthon, in the close of the seventh book
of Temoia.
Of such episodes, indeed, skilfully intro-
duced, and, in general, allied to the subject
of the work, a great portion of the Fingal
and Temora consists.*
Thus we may be enabled, in some measure,
to form an estimate of the amount of Mr
Macpherson's labours, in this respect. He
found, it is imagined, the disjointed mem-
bers of our poet scattered abroad in tradi-
tion ; and, it will perhaps be allowed, that
he has brought them together again with
no small felicity. But, it would seem,
that, excepting this labour of collecting,
and arranging, and translating, Macpher-
son has furnished nothing else, besides the
exercise of good taste, and a sound criti-
* Cesarotti, the Italian translator of Ossian, is of this
opinion; and he remarks^ that, in one instance, Macpher-
son has misplaced an episode.