Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

250 F I N G A L. Book IV.
Tears dimm'd her Cheek; fhe mournful took her Stand
175 Befide the King, and rais'd her lliadowy Hand
In A6t to fpeak ; but failing Heart to fay.
In Silence turn'd her weeping Eyes away.
To
V. 176. But failing Heart to fay ^(^ C.I The Embarraffhient of ^^a«ifa-«
is very natural. She came to plead in Behalf of her Countrymen, and her
Brother Swaran in particular; but what could be faid in Favour of a Prince
who unjuftly invaded the Territory of another, and had already, in a
haughty Manner, refufed the civil Offer made him by Fingal? The raifing
her dim Hand over the King, the turning away her Eyes, and afterwards
departing fuddenly on the Winds, are Circumftances well-imagined and
affefting. Several other Appearances of Spirits might be pointed out, as
among the mod pifturefque and fublime Paflages o{ Offian's Poetry. The
Circumftances of them are confiderably diverfified ; and the Scenery always
fuited to the Occafion. Could a human Imagination conceive any Thing
more awful than the following Vifion ? " Ofcar Qowly afcends the Hill.
The Meteors of Night fet on the Heath before him. A diftant Torrent
faintly roars. Unfrequent Blafts rufh through aged Oaks. The half-
enlightened Moon finks dim and red behind her Hill. Feeble Voices are
heard on the Heath. Ofcar drew his Sword." Nothing could prepare
the Fancy more happily, than the Scene defcribed, for the Introdudlion of
an Apparition. " Trenmor came from his Hill, at the Voice of his mighty
Son. A Cloud, like the Steed of the Stranger, fupported his airy Limbs.
His Robe is of the Mift of Lano, that brings Death to the People. His
Sword is a green Meteor, half-extinguiflied. His Face is without Form,
and dark. He fighed thrice over the Hero ; and thrice the Winds of Night
roared