Ossian Collection > Aspects of poetry

IX.] SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. 277
If any one were carefully to compare Dr. Clerk's
version just given with that of MacPherson, he could
not fail to observe that, whenever they differ, the
former is more exact and graphic, preserving all the
edges, whereas the latter is vague, less definite^ more
declamatory. And this, as far as I have observed, is
characteristic of MacPherson's translations throughout.
He attains rhythmical flow, stateliness, sometimes sub-
limity, of language ; but for these he sacrifices the
realistic force, the sharpness of outline, and the vivid
exactness which belong to the Gaelic, and are faithfully
preserved in Dr. Clerk's rendering. If this is true, it
has a very close bearing on the question whether Mac-
Pherson's English, or his Gaelic Ossian is the original.
Perhaps I ought to refrain from quoting, or even from
alluding to, a passage so familiar to all readers of
Ossian, as the address or hymn to the Sun. But it is
so remarkable in itself, and is of such undoubted anti-
quity, having been recovered from many other sources
besides MacPherson, that I shall venture to presume on
the ignorance of at least some of my readers, and once
more to quote it.
Dr. Clerk's literal, word for word translation of it runs
thus —
' O thou that travellest on high,
Round as the warrior's hard full shield,
Whence thy brightness without gloom,
Thy light that is lasting, O sun !
Thou comest forth strong in thy beauty.