Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 3

ON THE POEMS OF 0S3rAl.% I91
behaviour, ftrode away wltli lilentjoy, t«
rejoin the reft of the (hades *.
It is a great advantage of 0(nan\s my-.
thology, that it is not local and temporary,
like that of moil: other ancient poets ;
which of courfe is apt to leem ridiculous,
after the fuperliitions have pafled away on
which it was founded. OfTian'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 coun-
tries, and under all forms of religion, con-
cerning the appearances of departed fpirlts.
Homer's machinery is always lively and
amufing j but far fiom being always fup-
ported with proper dignity. The indecent
fquabbles among his gods, furely do no ho-
nour to epic poetry. Whereas Offian's
machinery has dignity upon all occafions.
It is indeed a dignity of the dark and aw-
ful kind ; but this is proper ; becaufe co-
incident with the ilrain and fpirit of the
poetry. A light and gay mythology, like
Homer's, vi'ould have been perfe6tly un-
fuitable to the fubjecls on which Offian's
genius was employed. But though his
machinery be always folemn, it is not,
however, always dreary or difmal ; it is en-
livened, as much as the fubjefl would per-
mit, by thofe pleafant and beautiful appear-
amces, which he fometimes introduces, of
♦ Odjff. lib. If,