Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

122 F I N G A L. PooK 11.
Cuthnllin flood upon his flaming Car
Of many Gems, amidft the hopelefs War.
360 He laid a mighty Chief of Lochliii dead,
And turning round, in Hafle to Connal faid :
To wield the Sword, O firft of mortal Men \
You taught this Arm of Death, nor taught in vain.
Though
V. 362. To 'wield the Sword, ^c-l From this we learn that Connal had
been Cuthidlin^ Preceptor, and taught him the Ufe of Arms ; which ac-
counts for that Hero's refpeftful Deference towards him on all Occafions,
though the Intrepidity of Youth makes him fometimes deviate from his
prudent Counfels. Cuthullhfs, taking the old Man into his Chariot, when
in evident Danger of perifhing amidft the Enemy, is like where Diomed,
In the 8th Book of the Iliad, refcues Nejlor from the Fury of the Trojans.
Horner^ indeed, in faying that had not Jupiter interpofed, Tydides alone
had driven the whole Army of Troy to their Walls, is what may be termed
the Bombaft in Fidion, it being impoffible for one Man to rout a whole
Army, where there were feveral Heroes of equal Strength and Valour
with himfelf, without the immediate Interpofition of fome Deity. The
firft Time I read this Paflage, it ftruck me in the fame Light, though
then at an Age when the moft incredible Fiftions are apt to go down. It
may not be improper to acquaint the Reader, that the Remarks already
made, or any others I may make hereafter upon Homer, are not done with
any invidious Defign of depreciating the much-admired Works of that
celebrated and amazing Genius -, but only to point out fuch Blemiflies, as
are incident to all human Performances, and from which his, great as Ive
was, are not exempt.