Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

ON THE POEMS OF OSSIAR. I7I
ly preparing us for the events he is to in-
troduce J and in particular the preparation
for the appearance of Fingal, the previous
expedations that are raiied, and the ex-
treme magnificence fully anfwering thefe
expeclations, with which the hero is at
length prefented to us, are all worked up
with fuch ikilful condud, as would do ho-
nour to any poet of the mod refined times*
Homer's art in magnifying the character of
Achilles has been univerfally admired. Oi^
fian certainly (hows no lefs art in aggran-
dizing FingaL Nothing could be more
happily imagined for this purpofe than the
whole managem-ent of the lafl battle, where-
in Gaul, the fon of Morni, had befought
Fingal to retire, and to leave to him and
his other chiefs the honour of the day.
The generofity of the king in agreeing to
this propofal ; the majefty with which he
retreats to the hill, from whence he was to
behold the -engagement, attended by his
bards, and v/aving the lightning of his
fword J his perceiving the chiefs over-
powered by numbers, but from unwilling-
re/s to deprive them of the glory of vic-
tory, by coming in perfon to their affifl-
ance, firfl; fending Ullin, the bard, to ani-
mate their courage ; and at lafL, when the
danger becomes more prefling, his riung in
his might, and interpofing, like a divinity,
to decide the xiuubtful fate of the day j are
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