Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 2

ON THE POEMS OF OSSIAN. 427
tick fituations, tlvAii what his works prefent. His
grc.*L art in managing them lies In giving vent
to the fmiple and natural emotions of tlie heart.
We meet with no exaggerated declamation j no
fubt lie refinements on forrow 5 no fubftltution
of defcription in place of paflion. Offian felt
Aiongly himfelf J and the heart when uttering
its native language never fails, by powerful
fympathy, to affcd the heart. A great variety
of examples might be produced. We need only
open the book to find them every where. What,
for inftance, can be more moving, than the la-
mentauons of Oithona, after her misfortune?
Gaul, the fon of Morni, her lover, ignorant of
what Ihc had fulTered, comes to her refcue.
Their meeting is tender in the higheft degree.
He propofes to cng ige her foe, in finglc combat,
and giv(>s her in charge what fhe is to do, if he
himfelf Ihall fall. '' And Ihall the daughter of
•« Nuath live r" Ihe replied with a burfting figh.
*' Shall I live in Tromathon and the fon of
" Mc-ni low ? My heart is not of that rock j
*' nor my foul carelefs as that fea, which lifts
" its bl Je waves to every wind, and rolls beneath
" the ftorm. The blaft, which fliall lay thee low,
" fliall >pread the brarxhes of Oithona on earth.
^' We fliall wither together, fon of car-borne
?* iSlorni ! The narrov/ houfc is pleafant to me ;
*' and