Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian > Volume 1

IxxXiV A CRITICAL DISSERTATION
clans is known to be very ancient: and it is as
Avell known that there is no passion by which a
native Highlander is more distinguished than by
attachment to his claii, alld jealousy for its honour.
That a Highland bard iii forging a work relating
to the antiquities of his country, should have in-
serted no circumstance which pointed out the rise
of his own clan, which ascertained its antiquity,
or increased its glory, is, of all suppositions that.
can be formed, the most improbable; and the
silence on this head, amounts to a demonstration
that the author lived before any of the present
great clans w ere formed or known.
Assuming it then, as we well may, for certain,
that the poems, now under consideration, ara
genuine venerable monuments for very remote
antiquity ; I proceed to make some remarks upon
their general spirit and strain. The two great
characteristics of Ossian's poetry are, tenderness
and sublimity. It breathes nothing of the gay
and cheerful kind ; an air of solemnity and serious-
ness is diffused over the whole. Ossian is per-
haps the only poet who never relaxes, or lets him-
self down into the light and amusing strain ; which
I readily admit to be no small disadvantage to
liim, with the bulk of readers. He moves per-
petually in the high region of the grand and the
pathetic. One key note is struck at the begin-
ning, and supported to the end; nor is any orna-
ment introduced, but what is perfectly concordant
w ith the general tone or melody. The events re-
corded, are all serious and grave; the scenery
throughout, wild and romantic. The extended
heath hy the seashore; the mountain shaded with
Kiist- the torrent rushing through a solitary val-