Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

xlvi PREFACK.
Laing, after having, as he imagines, completely
deprived the poems of all pretensions to antiquity,
then gives a real account of their origin, which
he pretends cannot be very remote, on account of
the many modern terms they contain, and the si-
milarity of numberless passages to the \vritin2:s of
ancient and modern poets. At last he would per-
suade us, that Mr. M'Pherson was not only the
author, but publicly avowed it. Mr. Laing would
likewise persuade us, that religion is essential to
epic poetry; and that the silence of Ossian's com-
positions, in this respect, is a strong proof against
their authenticity.
The notions of the northern tribes, in genera',
were not so absurd. At the dispersion, they car-
ried with them the religion of Noah and his im-
mediate descendants. Their only temples were
woods or groves, where they worshipped the Su-
preme Lord of the Universe. It is evident, the
partial favour of such a being must always pre-
ponderate, and consequently detract from the
merits of the conqueror. The Celtic bard, there-
fore, kept heavenly agency out of sight, and left
the victory to be decided by the strength, prowess,
and superior address of the combatants.
Mr. Laing would likewise persuade us, that in
Ossian's time, the Caledonians, having no other
vessels but what were made of wickers, covered
with hides, could not navigate the seas, nor pass
into different parts, as described in these poems.