Ossian Collection > Critical dissertation on the poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

-4 A CRITICAL DUSERTATION
" main", like a blaft, that roars lonely on a fea-furrounded rock, af-
" ter the winds are laid. The dark mofs whifties there, and the
*' diftant mariner fees the waving trees *."
Upon the whole ; if to feel ftrongly, and to defcribe naturally,
be the two chief ingredients in poetical genius, Oflian muft, after
fair exatiiinr.tion, be held to poilcfs that genius in a high degree.
The queilion is not, whether a few improprieties inay be
pointed out in his works ; whether this, or that palTage, might
not have been worked up with more art and fkill, by fome
writer of happier times? A thnufar.d fuch cold and frivolous
crii cilms, are. altogether indecilive as to his genuine merit.
But, h;is he the fpirit,.the f.re, the infpiration of a pcet .^ Does he
utttr tiie \oce of nature ? Does he elevate by his feniiments ? Does
he intercfl by his defcriptions ? Does he paint to the heart as well a3
to the fancy r Does he make his readers glow, and tremble, and
weep? Thefe are the great charafterifticks of true poetry. Where
tlicle are found, he mull be a minute critic indeed, who can dwell
upon flight defefts. A few beauties of this high kind, tranfcend
whole volumes of faultlefs mediocrity. Uncouth and abrupt,
OlTian may fometimes appear by reafon of his concifenefs. But he is
fublime, he is pathetick, in an eminent degree. If he has not the
cvtcnfivc knowledge, the regular dignity of narration, the fulnefs
2nd accuracy of defcription, which we find in Homer and Virgil,
yet in flrength of imagination, in grandeur of fentiment, in native
maiefty of paflion, he is fully their equal. If he flows not always
like a clear ftream, yet he breaks forth often like a torrent of fire. Of
art too, he is far from being deftitute; and his imagination is re-
markable for delicacy as well as ftrength. Seldom or never is he ei-
ther trifling or tedious ; and if he be thought too melancholy, yet he
is always moral. ThougJi his merit were in other refpe<51? much Icfs
than it is, this alone ought to entitle him to high regard, that his
writings are remarkably favourable to virtue. They awake the tcn-
derefi: fympathie?, and infpire the moft generous emotions. No
reader can rife from him, without being warmed with the fenti-
ments of humanity, virtue and honour.
*P. 217.
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