Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

ON THE POEMS OF OSSIAN. 137
image, strong and full : Homer adds circumstances
and appendages, which amuse the fancy by enlivening
the scenery.
Homer compares the regular appearance of an army,
to ' clouds that are settled on the mountain-top, in the
day of calmness, when the strength of the north wind
sleeps.'* Ossian, with full as much propriety, com-
pares the appearance of a disordered army, to * the
mountain cloud, when the blast hath entered its womb,
and scatters the curling gloom on eTer3' side.' Ossian's
clouds assiune a great many forms ; and, as we might
expect from his climate, are a fertile source of imagery
to him. ' The warriors followed their chiefs like the
gathering of the rainy clouds, behind the red meteors of
heaven.' An army retreating without coming to action,
is likened to ' clouds, that having long threatened rain,
retire slowly behind the hills.' The picture of Oithona,
after she had detennined to die, is lively and dehcate.
* Her soul was resolved, and the tear was dried from
her wildly -looking eye. A troubled joy rose on her
mind, Uke the red path of the lightning on a stormy
cloud.' The image also of the gloomy Cairbar, medi-
tating, in silence, the assassination of Oscar, until the
moment came when his designs were ripe for execu-
tion, is extremely noble, and complete in all its parts.
* Cairbar heard their words in silence, like the cloud
of a shower ; it stands dark on Cromla, till the light-
ning bursts its side. The valley gleams ^vnth red light ;
the spirits of the storm rejoice. So stood the silent
king of Temora : at length his words are heard.'
Homer's comparison of Achilles to the Dog-Star, is
verj- sublime. ' Priam beheld him rushing along the
plain, shining in his annour, like the star of autumn :
bright are its beams, distinguished amidst the multi-
tude of stars in the dark hour of night. It rises in its-
splendour ; but its splendour is fatal ; betokening to
miserable men the destroying heat.'t The first ap-
pearance of Fingal is, in like manner, compared by
Ossian to a star or meteor. ' Fingal, tall in his ship,
stretched his bright lance before him. Terrible was
the gleam of his steel ; it was like the green meteor of
* Iliad, V. 522. t Iliad, xxii. 26.