Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

76 CRITICAL DISSERTATION
much less of him than we do of Fingal; who, nof
only in this epic poem, but in Temora, and through-
out the rest of Ossian's works, is presented in al]
that variety of lights, which give the full display ol
a character. And tliough Hector faithfully dis
charges his duty to his country, his friends, and his
family, he is tinctured, however, with a degree olj
the same savage ferocity, which prevails among aU!
the Homeric heroes. For we find him insulting ovei
tlie fallen Patroclus, with the most cruel taunts
and telling him, when he lies in the agony of death,
that Achilles cannot help him now ; and that in a
short time his body, stripped naked, and deprived i
of funeral honours, shall be devoured by the vul-i
tures. Whereas in the character of Fingal, concui '
almost all the qualities that can ennoble human na-
ture ; that can either make us admire the hero, ox
love the man. He is not only unconquerable ii;
war, but he makes his people happy by his -vvisdon^
in the days of peace. He is truly the father of his
jjeople. He is known by tiie epithet of " Fingal oi
the mildest look;" and distinguished, on every oc-
casion, by humanity and generosity. He is merci-
ful to his foes; full of affection to his children;
full of concern about his friends; and never men-
tions Agandecca, his first love, without the utmost
tenderness. He is the universal protector of the
distressed; "None ever went sad from Fingal."
— " O, Oscar ! bend the strong in arms ; but spare the
feeble hand. Be thou a stream of many tides againsi
the foes of thy people ; but like the gale that moves
the grass, to those who ask thine aid. So Trenmoi
lived; such Tratlial was; and such has Fingal been.
My arm was the support of the injured; the weak
rested behind the lightning of my steel." These
%fere the maxims of true heroism, to which he form-
ed his grandson. His fame is represented as every
where spread ; the greatest heroes acknowledge his
superiority; his enemies tremble at his name; and
the highest encomium that can be bestowed on one
whom the Poet would most exalt, is to say, that his
soul was like tlie soul of Fingal.
To do justice to the Poet's merit, in supporting
sBch a character as this, I must observe, what is