Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

10 Dissertation on
find them in the circle of stones, and unheeded by the
world. A toty.1 disregard for the order, and utter
abhorrence of the Druidical rites, ensued. Under
this cloud of public hate, all that had any knowledge
of the religion of the Druids became extinct, and
the nation fell into the last degree of ignorance of
their rites and ceremonies.
It is no matter of wonder then, that Fingal and
his son Ossian disliked the Druids, who were the
declared enemies to their succession in the supreme
magistracy. It is a singular case, it must be
allowed, that there are no traces of religion in the
poems ascribed to Ossian, as the poetical compo-
sitions of other nations are so closely connected
with their mythology. But gods are not neces-
sary, when the poet has genius. It is hard to
account for it to those who are not made acquainted
with the manner of the old Scottish bards. That
race of men carried their notions of martial honour
to an extravagant pitch. Any aid given their
heroes in battle, was thought to derogate from
their fame ; and the bards immediately transferred
the glory of the action to him who had given that
aid.
Had the poet brought down gods, as often as
Homer has done, to assist his heroes, his work
had not consisted of eulogiums on men, but of hymns
to superior beings. Those who write in the Gaelic
language seldom mention religion in their pro-
fane poetry ; and when they professedly write of
religion, they never mix, with their compositions^
the actions of their heroes. This custom alonq
even though the religion of the Druids had not
been previously extinguished, may, in some mea-
siu'e, excuse the author's silence concerning the
religion of ancient times.
To allege that a nation is void of all religion,
would betray ignorance of the history of mankind.
The traditions of their fathers, and their owu