Ossian Collection > Report of the Committee of the Highland Society of Scotland, appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the poems of Ossian

52 REPORT ON THH
mnd an Tore nimhe,' the Death of Dermid ; * Ma/
Mharbhadb Brail* the Death of Bran ; and ' Urnigh
Ossìan^ Offian's Prayer ; of which, having procur-
ed tranflations from a gentleman in the neighbour-
hood, Mr Hill publiihed thefe tranllations, with the
original
Inftead of
« I can hardl/ believe thy tale, thou clerk loith thy white book,
that Fingal, or any fo generous as he, fliould be in captivity ei-
ther to God or man.' On which Mr Hill inquires, in a note,
* Why was light hair efteemed an opprobrium Ì the Erfe them*
felves are a red-haired race.*
fn page 25. -fianza z6,
' Nois tha deireadli air tois
■Scuir do d' chaois afliean fhirle,'
'.s rendered in Hr Hill's pamphlet,
' Now the lail things are become firll ; change thou thereforc-
thy ways, old man with the grey locks.' Now there is no fuch
word in the Gaelic as chaois ; the couplet (hould be written thus,
as in other copies of tlie poem :
' Nois tha deire ar taois
Scuir dod bhacis a fliean fair leith.'
» Now that thy age is at a clofe, ceafe from thy vanity, grey old
man.' But upon the foregoing mi Hake of the tranfcribcr, and
want of knowledge in the tranflator, Mr Hill founds a charge of
plagiarifm from the fcriptural pafiage in St Matthew, chap. 20.
verfe 16. 'So the lall fhall be firil, and the firft lad ; for many
are called, but few chofen.'