Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

( 36 )
mediately departed. Neither did tlie coil-
queft of the French in Italy, alter the lan-
guage of Italy-no more than the inva-
fions of the Romans and Danes in Scotland
made any change in the Celtic or the Gaelic,
the language of the country, particularly of
the Scots and Pids. Sometimes the con-
querors are allured to copy the manners
and language of the conquered, as the
■ Greeks did of the Pcrfian luxury, and Ro-
mans of the Grecians, particularly of its
language, as Plutarch in the Life of Cato
writes, that moil of the Romans fludied
their Belles Lettres.
Now the Ifles were not conquered, but
given up by Donald Bane to the Goths,
and that on condition that the natives
fhould neither be removed nor much dif-
turbed, but be at liberty to keep poffeffioii
of their lands and properties as before un-
der the Kings of Scotland, and only pay
tribute to the King of Norway, and acknow-
ledge him as their lawful King in room of
the other. Hence are the reafons why the
the Gaelic is not in the leaft adulterated over
all the Uiils and Barray ; and the continual
feuds.