Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

ON THE FOEMS OF 0S3IAN. 163
peeled, that in any of thefe particulars, Of-
ilan could equal Homer. For Homer lived
in a country where ibcicty was much far-
ther advanced , he had beheld many more
objeds ; cities built and flouri(hing ; laws
initituted j order, difciplinc, ;ind arts, be-
gun. His field of obfervation was much
larger, and more fplendid j his knowledge,
of courfe, more extenfive j his mind alfo,
it fhall be granted, more penetrating. But
If Offian's ideas and objeds be lefs diverfi-
fied than thofe of Homer, they are all,
however, of the kind fitteft for poetry :
The bravery and gcnerolity of heroes, the
tenderaefs of lovers, the attachments of
friends, parents, and children. In a rude
age and country, though the events that
happen be few, the undiilipated mind broods
over them more j they flrike the imagina-
tion, and fire the paffions in a higher de-
gree -y and of ccnfequence become happier
materials to a poetical genius, than the
fame events when fcattered through the wide
circle of m.ore varied aclion, and cultivat-
ed life.
Homer is a more cheerful and fprightly
poet than Oilian. You diicern in him all
the Greek vivacity ; whereas OlBan uni-
formly maintains the gravity and folemnity
of a Celtic hero. This too, is in 2, great
meafure to be accounted for from the dif-
ferent fituations in which they lived, part-