J. F. Campbell Collection > Temora, an ancient epic poem, in eight books

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T E M O R A:
A N
EPIC POEM,
BOOK SEVENTH.
* T? ROM the wood-fkirted waters of Lego, afcend, at times,
X^ grey-bofomed mifts ; when the gates of the weft are clofed,
on the fun's eagle-eye. Wide, over Lara's ftream, is poured the va-
pour dark and deep : the moon, hke a dim fhield, is fwimming thro'
its folds. With this, clothe the fpirits of old their fudden geC~
t tures
* No poet departs lefs from his fubje£t judgment, amidft the wildeft flights of ima-
than Oflian. No far-fetched ornaments are gination. It is a common fuppofition
introduced; the epifodes rife from, and are among mankind, that a genius for poetry
indeed eflential to, the ftory of the poem, and found fenfe feldom centre in the fame
Even his lyric fongs, where he moft in- perfon. The obfervation is far from bein»
dulges the extravagance of fancy, natural- juft ; for true genius and judgment muft
)y fpring from his fubjedt. Their propriety be infeparable. The wild flights of fan-
and connexion with the reft of the poem, cy, without the guidance of judgment,
Ciew that the Celtic bard was guided by are, as Horace obfcrves, like the dreams
of