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

38 A CRITICAL DISSERTATION
It is a great advantage of OHian's mythology, that it is not local
and temporary, like that of mod other ancient poets ; which of
coiufe is apt to feem ridiculous, after the fuperftitions have pafi';;i.l
away on which it was founded. Oflian's mythology is, to fpeak
fo, the'mythology of human nature; for it is founded on what
has been the popular belief, in all ages and countries, and under all
forms of religion, concerning the appearances of departed fpirits.
Homer's naihinery is always lively and amufing; but far from be-
ing always fupported with proper dignity. The indecent fquabbles
among his gods, furely do no honour to epic poetry. Whereas
Ollian's machinery has dignity upon all occafions. It is indeed ;i
dignity of the dark and awful kind j but this is proper ; becaufe co-
incident with the ftrain and fpirit of the poetry. A light and gay
mythology, like Homer's, would have been perfectly unfuitable
to the fubjects on which Oflian's genius was employed. But though
his machinery be always folemn, it is not, however, always dreary
or difmal ; it is enlivened, as much as the fubjecl would permit, by
thofc pleafant and beautiful appearances, which he fometimes in-
troduces, of the fpirits of the hill. Thefe are gentle fpirits ; de=
fcending on fun- beams; fair-moving on the plain; their forms
white and bright ; their voices fweet ; and their vifits to men pro-
pitious. The greateft praife that can be given, to the beauty of a
living wom.an, is to fay, " She is fair as theghoftof the hill; when
'' it moves in a fun-beam at noon, over the filence of Morven *."
• " The hunter lliall hear my voice from his booth. He fhall
" fear, but love my voice. For fweet fhall my voice be for my
*< friends J for pleafant were they to me -f."
Befides ghofts, or the fpirits of departed men, we find in Offian
fome inftances of other kinds of machinery. Spirits of a fuperior
nature to ghofts, feem to be fometimes alluded to, which have
power to embroil the deep ; to call forth winds and ftorms, and
pour them on the land of the ftranger ; to overturn forefis, and to
fend death among the people 'I- ^^'^^ have prodigies too ; a fliower
of blood ; and when fome difafter is befalling at a diftance, the
found of death heard on the firings of Oflian's harp § : all per-
* P- J4' +P. 212. jVid. P. 39, 114, 13, 102, i8o.
§P.i33. 168.
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