Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal > Volume 1

THE POEMS OF OSSIA-A. 27
soon after liappened did not at all contribute to enlarge
their ideas, or mend their nationni character.
About the ye;ir 426, the Romans, on account of do-
mestic commotions, entirely forsook Britain, hndmg
it impossible to defend so distant a frontier. The Picts
and Scots, seizing this favourable opportunity, made
incursions into the deserted pro\nnce. The Britons,
enervated by the slavery of several centuries, and
those vices which are inseparable from an ad\ anced
state of civility, were not able to withstand the impe-
tuous, though irregular attacks of a b.^^barous enemy.
In the utmost distress, diey applied to their old mas-
ters die Romans, and (aiier the unfortunate state of
the empire could not spare aid) to the Saxons, a na-
tion equally barbarous and brave with the enemies of
whom they were so much afraid. Though die bra-
%^ery of the Saxons repelled the Caledonian nations
for a time, yet the latter found means to extend them-
selves considerably towards the south. It is, in this
period, we must" place the origin of die arts of ci^ il
life among the Scots. The seat of government was
removed from the mountains to the plain and more
fertile provinces of the south, to be near the common
enemy, in case of sudden incursions.
Instead of roving through unfrequented wilds, in
search of subsistence, by means of hunting, m.en ap-
plied to agriciJture and raising ot corn. This man-
ner of life was the first means of changing the nation-
al character. The next thing which contributed to
it was their mixture with strangers.
In the countries which the Scots had conquered
from the Britons, it is probable the most of the old in-
habitants remained. Tiiese incorporating with the
conquerors, taught them agriculture, and other arts,
which they themselves had received from die Romans.
The Scots, however, in number as well as power, be-
ing die most predominant, retained still their language,
^nd as many of the customs of their ancestors as suit-
ed widi die nature of die country they possessed. Evcq