Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

ON XnE POEMS OF OSSIAN. l6<)
fefl j it is the unity of one enterprife, the
deliverance of Ireland from the invalion of
Svvaran : An enterprife ^^hich has furely
the full Heroic dignity. All the incidents
recorded bear a conftant reference to one
«nd j no double plot is carried on j but the
parts unite into a regular whole : And as
the adion is one and great, fo it is an en-
tire or complete a^ion. For we find, as
the critic farther requires, a beginning, a
middle, and an end j a Nodus, or intrigue
in the poem; difficulties occurring through
CuthuUin's rafhnefs and bad fucceis ; thole
difficulties gradually furmount^d ; and at
lart the work conducred to that happy con-
clufian which is held elTentiai to ilpic Po-
etry. Unity is indeed obferved with greater
exaclnefs in Fingal, than in alnioft any o-
ther Epic compofition ; for not only is uni-
ty of fub^e^t maintained, but that of time
2nd place aifo. The Autumn is clearly
-pointed out as the feafon of the action ; and
from beginning to end the fcene is never
jhifted from the heath of Lena, along the
fea-Oiore. The duration of the adion in
Fingal, is much ffiorter than in the Iliad or
i^neid, but fure there may be Hiorter as
well as longer Heroic Poems ; and if the
authority of Ariilotle be alfo required for
this, he fays exprefsly that the Epic coinpo-
iition is indefinite as to the time of its da~
lation. Accordindv the aflion of th^ I^
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