Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

114 CRITICAL DISSERTATION
time of life. He had stetcbed this in the description
of his own son Oscar ; but as he has extended it more
fully in FUlan; and as the character is so consonant
to the epic strain, though, as far as I remember, not
placed in such a conspicuous light by any other epic
poet,it maybe worth while to attend a little to Ossian's
management of it in this instance.
Fillan was the youngest of all the sons of Fingal ;
younger, it is plain, than his nephew Oscar, by whose
fame and great deeds in war we may naturally sup-
pose his ambition to have been highly stimulated.
Withal, as he is younger, he is described as more rash
and fiery. His first appearance is soon after Oscar's
death, when he was employed to watch the motions of
the foe by night. In a conversation with his brother
Ossian, on that occasion, we learn that it was not long
since he began to lift the spear. • Few are the marks
of my sword in battle ; but my soul is fire.' He is with
some difficulty restrained by Ossian from going to at-
tack the enemy ; and complains to him, that his father
had never allowed him any opportunity of signalizing
his valour. ' The king hath not remarked my sword ;
I go forth with the crowd; I return without my fame.'
Soon after, when Fingal, according to custom, was to
appoint one of his chiefs to command the army, and
each was standing forth, and putting in his claim to
this honour, Fillan is presented in the foUoAving most
picturesque and natural attitude : * On his spear
stood the son of Clatho, in the wandering of his locks.
Thrice he raised his eyes to Fingal ; his voice thrice
failed him as he spoke. Fillan could not boast of
battles; at once he strode away. Bent over a distant
stream he stood; the tear hung in his eye. He struck,
at times, the thistle's head with his inverted spear.'
No less natural and beautiful is the description of Fin-
gal's paternal emotion on this occasion. ' Nor is he un-
seen of Fingal. Sidelong he beheld his son. He beheld
him with bursting joy. He hid the big tear with his
locks, and turned amidst his crowded soul.' The com-
mand, for that day, being given to Gaul, Fillan rushes
amidst the thickest of the foe, saves Gaul's life, who
is wounded by a random an-ow, and distinguishes him-