Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

Book III. FINGAL. 225
them to great bodily Exertions. The Vaftnefs of the Objedls
which furrounded them. Lakes, Mountains, Rocks, Catarads,
extended and elevated their Minds : for they were not in the State
of Men who only know the Way from one Market-Town to an-
other. Their Want of regular Occupation led them, like the
ancient Spm-tans, to Contemplation, and the Powers of Conver-
fation ; Powers which they exerted in ftriking out the original
Thoughts which Nature fuggefted, not in languidly repeating
thofe which they had learned from other People.
They valued themfelves, without undervaluing other Nations.
They loved to quit their own Country to fee and to hear, adopted
eafily the Manners of others, and were attentive and infinuating
where-ever they went : but they loved more to return Home, to
repeat what they had obferved j and among other Things, to
relate with Aftonifliment, that they had been in the Midft of great
Societies, where every Individual made his Senfe of Independence
to conlift in keeping at a DIftance from one another. Yet they
did not think themfelves intitled to hate or defpife the Manners
of Strangers, becaufe they differed from their own. For they re-
vered the great Qualities of other Nations : and only made theif
Failings the Subject of an inoffenfive Merrioient.
When Strangers came amongft them, they received them, not
with a Ceremony which forbids a fecond Vifit, not with a Cold-
nefs which caufes Repentance of the firft, not with an EmbarrafT-
ment which leaves both the Landlord and his Gueft in equal Mi-
fery ; but with the mofl: pleafing of all Polltenefs, the Simplicity
and Cordiality of AfFedion, proud to give that Hofpitality which
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