Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

304 F I N G A L. Book V.
Amidll their falling Men — Swift to and fro,
Their flafhing Swords dealt many a furious Blow,
45 Which louder fell, than when with all th^ir Weight,
The hundred Hammers of the Furnace light:
The Clang of Armour echo'd to the Skies,
And Fire in Sparkles darted from their Eyes.
Such
ordinary Manner*. Tn reading the former Defcripcions of Exploits at-
chieved by fecondary Charafters, we can hardly conceive in what Manner
the Poet will fupport the Pre-eminence of his chief Hero, when he is in-
troduced on the Scene : but when he makes his Appearance, we fee with
Aftonifliment, that the Bard has referved his chief Strength for the im-
portant Occafion, and raifed fuch a Climax as all Antiquity cannot parallel.
We v/ould defire the implicit Admirers o{ Homer, to compare the Battle
between Achilles and He£for, with the Defcription of this Combat between
Fingal and Swaran. Achilles throws his Spear at HeSor, whom it mifles ;
and it is brought back to him by Minerva. Hetlor launches his Spear at
Achilles, but cannot penetrate his Shield. Then he draws his Sword, in
order to attack the Grecian Hero, who kills him at one Thruft, by dire<ft-
ing the Point of his Spear to that Part of the Neck which was left unco-
vered at the Joining of the Armour. Thefe are the Minutite of Homer's
Combat ; which, in our Opinion, are much inferior, in Variation and
Dignity, to thefe before us of the Scottijh Bard.
• %it thf Critical Rtvif'w, No. 72. ior January 1762.