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

xxiv A DISSERTATION.
I fhould never have difputed with any nation. But the bard himleif,
in the poem, from which the above quotation is taken, cedes him
to Scotland,
FioN o Ai.BiN, fiol nan boich.
F 1 o N from Albion, ; \ice of heroes !
Were it allowable to v.ontradi>fl the authority of a bard, at tiiis dif-
tance of time, I lliould have given, as my opinion, that this enor-
mous Fion was of the race of the Hibernian giants, of Ruanus, or
fome other celebrated name, rather than a native of Caledonia,
whofe inhabitants, now at lealT:, are »ot remarkable for their fta-
ture.
If Fion Avas fo remarkable for his ftature, his heroes had alfo
other extraordinary properties. In iveight all thefofis ofjhangers yield-
ed to the celebrated Ton-iofal j and for hardnefs of /kull, and, per-
haps, for thicknefs too, the valiant Ofcar flood unrivalled and alone^
plTian himfelf had many fingular and lefs delicate qualilications, than
playing on the harp ; and the brave Cuchullin was of fo diminutive
a fize, as to be tr.ken for a child of two years of age, by the gi-
gantic Swaran. To illullirate this fubjeiTt, I fliall here lay before
the reader, the hiftory of fome of the Irilli poeius, concerning
Fion Mr.c Comnal. A tranflation of thefe pieces, if well executed,
might afford fatisfaclion to the public. But this ought to be the
work of a native of Ireland. To draw forth, from obfcurity, the
p.oems of my own country, has afforded ample employmciit to me ;
befides, I am too diffident of my own abihties, to undertake fuch a
work. A gentleman in Dublin accufed me to the public, of com-
mitting blunders and abfurdities, in tranllating thejanguage of my
own