Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

io8 F I N G A L. Book II.
Where, fings the Bard, is fallen Crugal now ?
Forgot on Earth the valiant Chief lies low !
But
'facitus, de mor. Germ. cap. 3.) " have Poems that are rehearfed in the
" Field, and kindle the Soul into a Flame. The Spirit with which thefe
" Songs are fung, predidls the Fortune of the approaching Fight ; nor is
" their Manner of Singing on thefe Occafions fo much a Concert of Voices
" as of Courage. In the Compofition they fludy a Roughnefs of Sound,
" and a certain broken Murmur. They lift their Shields to their Mouths,
" that the Voice, being rendered full and deep, may fwell by Repercuffion."
The Fate of Battles depended not a little on the Encomiums and Inveftives
of the Bards. To be declared Incapable of ferving the Sovereign in any
Military Station, is now deemed an indelible Reproach. To incur the
Satire of the Bard, by a cowardly Behaviour, was reckoned in former Times
the laft Degree of Infamy and Misfortune.
We are told by Torfaus, a Norwegian Hiftorian, that in Time of Sea
Engagements, if near the Coaft, the Scalds of Norway were fometimes
landed in a fecure and convenient Place, and ordered to mark every Event
diftinftly, fo as to be afterwards able to relate them in Verfe. The fame
Author informs us, that Olaus, the Saint, had in a Day of Aftion ap-
pointed ftrong Guards for his three principal Poets, after giving them
Inftruftions of the fame Kind.
In like Manner in Britaw, when a great and decifive Battle was fought,
the Bards were employed in doing Honour to the Memory of thofe gallant
Men, who had facrificed their Lives in Defence of their Country, and in
extolling the Heroes who had furvived the Slaughter of the Day. In the
Year 13 14, Edward iht Second, oi England, invaded Scotland &x. the Head
of