Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

Book IL F I N G A L. 121
" Forc'd back, like Reeds that to the Tempeft bend,
" Why will you longer with the Foe contend ?
350 *' Hafte! gain the Hills of dark-brown Deer." Hefaid,
And, like the Stag of Morven^ fwiftly fled
Along the Plain ; his Jav'lin fliining bright,
Behind him trembled like a Beam of Light.
Some into Gru7naV% timid Counfel came,
355 And fled like him, forgetful of their Fame :
But mofl:, to fhameful Flight preferring Death,
O'erwhelm'd by Numbers died on Lenas Heath.
Cuthullin
Another Particular is his Digreflions without Endj which draw our Atten-
tion from the principal Subjeft. I (hall only inftance one. Agamemnon^
Iliad, XIV. defiring Advice how to refift the Trojans, Diomedes fprings
forward, but before he offers Advice, gives the Hiftory of all his Progeni-
tors, and of their Charaders, in a long Train. And after all, what was
the fage Advice that required fuch a Preface ? It was that Agamemnon
fhould exhort the Greeks to fight bravely. At any Rate, was Diomedes fo
little known, as to make it proper to fufpend the Adion at fo critical a
ConjundUire for a genealogical Hiftory ?
R • V.362.