Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

i3tr A CRITICAL DISSERTATION, &cC.
much passjon, and support so much dignity through
out, is one of the most difficult works of genius, an
prcves thit translator to have been animated v/ith
sm-ill portion of Ossian's spirit.
I'he measured prose which he has employed, posse;
ses consiaerablt advantnges above any sort of versificj
tion he ' ?>uld have chosen. Whilst it pleases and fil
the ear with a variety of harmonious cadences, beii
at the same time, freer from constraint in the choic
and arrangement of words, it allows the spirit of tl
origin;-! to be exhibited with more justness, force, ar
simplicity. Elegant, however, and masterly as IV
Macpberson's translation is, we must nevei forge
whi'ist we read it, that w^e are putting the merit oft!
ori^^inal to a severe test. For, we are examining a po
stripped of his native dress: divested of the harmoii
of his own numbers. We know how much grace ai
energy the works of the Greek and Latin poets recei-
from the charm of versification in their original langu
ges. If, then, destitute of this advantage, exhibit
in a literal version, Ossian still has power to please
a poet ; and not to please only, but often to comnriar
to transport, to melt tlje heart ; we may very safely i
fer, that his productions are the offspring of true :
uncommon genius ; and we may boldly assign hir
' i^lace among those whose works are to last for ag£s.